Silkie hen with Palsy? Poor Balance?

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SweetMissDaisy

SweetMissDaisy

Songster
11 Years
Apr 21, 2008
283
8
141
On the Farm, Central TX
I have a young silkie hen (just shy of 1 year old) who has recently within the past couple of weeks started moving her head in a sort of "palsy" motion, back and forth. It seems to be progressing. (Sort of like an elder Katherine Hepburn...) Anyone have experience with something like this?

Feed: Layer + extra protein via 22% protein feeds
Water: Fresh Daily
Lots of grass and veggie treats, etc.

Is it possible for a head injury to cause this kind of symptom?

She seems to have normal droppings, and doesn't seem to have any other symptoms.

Puzzling...
 
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Thanks Emily... I'm hoping someone has some suggestions for me...
BTW, I lived in Eugene for 10 years before moving to central Texas. Sure do miss it!
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I just moved here and it is certainly an acquired taste. I'm wondering if your little girl got stomped in the head or something. I am just nursing one with Wry neck and that was my first thought until I actually read your post. Giving it some vitamin E would help the Wry neck if that is what it is. How is she doing today?
 
You know, it must have been part of your thread that I saw late last night about wry neck. I gave her Vit E last night - she ATE the entire capsule before I could even get her situated on the counter! Clearly she hasn't lost her appetite or vision!
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She doesn't seem as palsy today, but she still makes the movements with her head. I will give more Vit E today... do you know how much to give daily?
 
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This is very common in silkie chicks. You will want to get her Poly-visol vitamins right away. You can buy them at walmart or just about any grocery store. Seperate her from the flock as she can easily get stepped on while her neck is twisted--be prepared, they also flip over on the backs and their neck goes upside down at times. Administer about 1/4 -1/2 dropperful every 6 hours for the first few days and then every 12 when symptoms start to go away. Stay on top of this and administer for atleast a week. Sometimes it takes even longer, but will go away. It's just a vitamin deficiency. Also, make a wet mash out of water and feed as it's easier for them to grab the food especially when theire little neck is twisted like that. No big water bowls as they can flip over and drowned--just a waterer will do. Change the wet mash every 6 hours or so as it can go bad. Keep us posted!
 
Mine likes getting the Vit. E, too. M@M@2four has good advice and obviously knows more than me. I think I caught mine pretty much off the bat, so recovery seems faster. Just keep trucking along with the program and she'll be ready to go PDQ. Good luck and keep us posted on her progress.
 
Thank you so much, ladies! I've got three little silkie hens (all of them the same age, just shy of 1 year) and this is the first time I've heard (or seen) anything like this!

I've got 7 new silkie chicks in a brooder right now, so I will keep a close eye on them as well. (The chicks are new stock, not from my hens.)

I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give the other two girls some daily Vits just to be sure they don't come down with the same issue.
 
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Absolutely! I drop about 1/4 dropperful every couple days(not all the time) in their waterers. This is very common in silkies more so in other chicks/chickens, but still can occur with any breed. Good luck!
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Oh, one more thing, if you have any yogurt or grapes they will chow down on these! It's good nutrition and vitamins while they're down and also good for your healthy chicks/chickens as well!
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Kepp us posted!
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