12 week old Jersey Giant- possible botuslism, how often to flush?

[muscovylove]

She seemed to have a crooked neck yesterday, a little slow, 2pm. By 5 she was standing alone, and walking off balance as if drunk- but straight. At 6 I brought her in as she was standing behind one of my little pens with a drooping neck. She'd hang her head and close her eyes. A wonderful person on here has been messaging me and advising espsom flush, with molasses.

This morning, so it's been over 12 hours that she's been acute, she's not much worse, but her neck is twisting. I gave her 10cc of Espom (1tsp to 1fl oz) and molasses. Tubed her, because I was not giving her enough with the dropper clearly. She was standing up about an hour later, but neck still twisted. I gave her 10 cc more, sort of based on the thread about botulism in the Emergency/Diseases thread. Yesterday she looked exactly like the pullet in the pictures- exactly.

Possible sources, I do have ducks- I change my water daily, and it's been raining/muddy. It's not warm at all yet, we had frost yesterday morning in Portland. I bought her from a store that vaccinates for Merek's, but I'll call there when they open later today.
Another source is a can of cat food that had been opened that morning (temp for the day wasn't above 60.) High quality cat food, venison- that couldn't be a source, could it? Even if there were maggots- cat food wouldn't have botulism?

No respiratory symptoms at all, she definitely has limp neck. She chirps very quietly- no sores in the mouth. Yesterday she ate when I put her beak in some mush, but I was advised to hold off on food while I do the flush. She did have diarrhea yesterday, nothing this morning yet.

I am so grateful for the help I've been getting already from my new friend, and if anyone else has advice- mostly how often do I flush?

I was up much of the night reading about botulism, wry neck, crook neck, all that. Based on what I'm seeing I think it's botulism.

 

[realsis]

based on my chicken health manual a flush can be Either Ebsom salt flush OR molasses flush.if you flush with molasses you use 1 pint molasses per 5 gallons of water for no MORE than 8 hours. if your choosing a Ebsom salt flush its 1 teaspoon salt in 1/2 cup water squirted down birds throat for TWICE daily for two to three days or until bird recovers. those are the TWO flushes and instructions on flushing from The Chicken Health Handbook. so I'd pick ONE of these two flushes and follow the directions. don't mix both flushes together. its ONE or the other or it can be too harsh on the system of the bird. the flushes are treatment for botulism so it should be helpful. I hope this helps you and your bird out. best of luck to you.

 

[muscovylove]

Thanks! I chose to flush with both sort of based on the story of the 12 week old pullet her on the website. I know it's harsh, but I feel like in her condition I wanted to make the gamble.
She is now standing, head drooping. So we are back to where we were last night. I'm really really hoping that I'm seeing progress, she is pooping horrible brown diarrhea, assuming from the flush.

I didn't know it's best to keep her in a cool place rather than warm- I did have the heat lamp above her, but that's off now.