“No one has ever seen this” neurological symptoms!

[Idahomomma]

About 6 weeks ago we had to cull a 3 mo old speckled Sussex that was walking backwards in circles AND had tons of cutaneous black scabs of some sort. The vet has never seen it, didn’t think it was consistent with mareks. Said it wasn’t notes or parasites. Now, our buff Orpington who is about 5 months old (bought at the same time from same supplier) who is laying has starting jerking her neck almost all the way around. No cutaneous scabs like the Sussex but clearly acting as drunk as the Sussex did. Now I’m starting to worry when the vet said the Sussex must’ve had a genetic problem that maybe this is in fact a contagious problem. 5 other hens close to the same age show no symptoms. Quality feed and fresh water, 1 zucchini from the garden daily For the flock. Not free range. Well loved. Two vets are stumped, reputable farmer we get the chicks from has never seen anything like it. Any thoughts? Time to cull the buff and send in for necropsy?

 

[Idahomomma]

*wasn’t mites. Also picture doesn’t do it justice, she is jerking back and forth trouble pecking at food it looks like and sometimes turning her neck almost all the way around.

 

[abpatchy]

First thing: seperate her from the others to be on the save side.
Then I would try vitamins... especially Vitamin B. It won't hurt her but it could help.

I have heard of cases where the chicken was doing crazy things like that and vitamins helped.
Now the scabs could hav e been fowl pox?

 

[ChuskaMtns]

This sounds like Wry Neck. Easily resolved with Vitamin E and Selenium. Tractor Supply has a gel made for goats but works very well for wry neck, just give her a bit on her beak at least twice a day.
I agree that the other sounds like Fowl Pox which the vectors are mosquitoes. There is a vaccine for it but once they get it and if they recover they're immune for life.

 

[Meredith Brouillette]

I agree with separating her from others just in the case of Mareks. Vitamin B is great for any neurological problem. Keep us updated please, this is a quite strange case.