~What to give for Vitamin Deficiancy ~HELP??

Date sort Score sort
Amanda4TCU

Amanda4TCU

In the Brooder
8 Years
Apr 26, 2011
28
0
22
Deep in the Heart of TX
Hello - -
I have an 8 month old bantam cochin who was just a fabulous happy free-ranging hen until a few days ago.
Here are symtoms:

~Cannot walk or stand at all (real trouble going forward - she just tips onto her beak).
~Head sometimes falls forward to the ground when she attempts to eat or drink.
~It's like she cannot eat or drink alone...I have to pick her up, put her in my lap and support her for her to eat.
~She is only scooting backwards on her feet.
~She has a full appetite..eating like normal.

I have read it maybe a vitamin deficiancy.....can anyone help - - -
What exactly do I need to give her?
Any more advice?

I have started her on the yogurt/oatmeal/egg yolk mash this morning AND
I am leaving for the store to get Polyvisol w/o iron soon....

THANKS!
 
you can also try crushing up some vitamin B complex. Good luck!
hugs.gif
 
Hillbilly Hen - -Thanks....is this like adult human vitamins I buy at the store? Sorry to sound so dumb but I have never given my hens vitamin B.....
Do I just crush up one or a half tablet and mix into food?
 
Yes, the human kind. I just crush it up and mix a bit with some food. I wouldn't give him the whole tablet. If it's just for him a pinch should be fine. You don't sound dumb, the only reason I know about it is because I had to look it up on here before too. Now I give it to my babies while they are on medicated chick starter, I mix a crushed tablet in a gallon of water for them.
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Yes, I agree with vitamin B complex. You can buy it at any pharmacy. Crush a tablet into powder and sprinkle it into her feed. Continue for about a week and observe your hen and see if she can walk. I recommend you visually inspect her for lice/mites, check her for scaly leg mites, check the bottom of her feet for bumblefoot. Good luck.
 
Dawg53....thank you...I will pick up the vit B complex today. I have inspected her for mites and bumblefoot but she is clean as a whistle...I just don't understand but it's heartbreaking. She just seems to be getting worse but hopefully the vit B will be a good boost for her. I moved her into the house to keep her safe.

Hillbilly Hen...thanks again - I never realized there is so very much to learn caring for chickens!!! I have also nursed another cochin hen back to health this week who had sour crop! Man, it's like taking care of a herd of toddlers...lol....
 
It's also possible she couldve jumped down from a high roost or some high place and injured her legs or feet, a sprain or tendon pull. It couldve affected her forward walking abilities as a result of the injury. What she'll need is to be placed in a cage or crate and given alot of rest and relaxation, giving time for the injury to heal. The vitamin B complex should help. There's no telling how long it'll take to heal. I've had them heal in as little as 3 days and in one instance, only one leg was able to heal after a couple of months of confinement in a cage with one hen I had. She was able to hop around on one leg, but couldnt do much scratching around as chickens like to do.
 
Man, ok, thanks! I am going to start the vit b and the polyvisol today.
I will keep all posted!
(she seems to be getting worse....when she extends her neck for a drink her neck just falls and plunges into the water....I'm having to hold her close and tucked under my arm for support so she can eat and drink..poor thing)
 
Amanda, good luck with your hen.
hugs.gif
fl.gif
I am by no means an expert, just passing along some info that I have learned here on BYC. There are a lot more far knowledgeable folks here, dawg is one of them from what I have read.
 
Quote:
Thanks Hillbilly Hen.....I just got home from the store and gave "Dora" her first dose of vit B complex and Polyvisol. She is having a bit of a time eating now but hopefully she will pull through.....I'll keep you posted.....
 

Similar threads

C
Goose - vitamin deficiency??
Replies
1
Views
185
Yardfulla poopers
Yardfulla poopers
L
B2/Riboflavin Deficiency Treatment?
Replies
6
Views
622
HollowOfWisps
HollowOfWisps
S
Vitamin Deficiency & chicks
Replies
1
Views
223
Eggcessive
Eggcessive
dmartin101
Is this just a vitamin deficiency?
Replies
3
Views
725
dmartin101
dmartin101
AussieRed
Vitamin deficiency
Replies
3
Views
1K
SkyAJK
SkyAJK

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom