Last Thursday, i had two 10 month old hens starting to act "sleepy." Wed they were both completely normal. All day they would move very little and stop and close their eyes unless approached. Then they would run just out reach like usual but stop and close eyes again.
By Friday, one of the hens (buff Brahma) stopped walking around and just stood there "sleeping." The other, was lethargic. That afternoon I picked them up and looked them over. I saw no signs of injury. They felt a little thin but not terrible and their crops were full. So I isolated them and gave them garlic water but no food. They drank a little but not much.
On sat not much changed. I offered a very small ration of food to check if either was eating but it went untouched. But on sunday the buff could no longer stand without losing its balance and it looked like wry neck was beginning. The other was in a daze. Moving around a little but otherwise acting sleepy. But her crop was still full. Should have been a red flag, but I had already assumed their affliction and didn't think anything of it. You know what happens when you assume.
I sent them both in with my wife on monday for necropsy. We have a history of mareks in the flock and assumed with the neurological signs that would be the diagnosis.
Instead, the buff had a brain infection. She looked healthy other than having lost a little weight from not eating for 3 days. They said the infection began in her ear and progressed through the bone in to her brain. Since chickens are very good at concealing injury or illness, she didn't show any signs until had reached her brain and by then it was too late.
The other had an impacted crop. These last few days have been unseasonably warm overall and there is a little premature "green up" of spring beginning to happen. Her crop was stuffed full of green grass.
They will be missed. The buff was very beautiful and was my wife's favorite bird and the other was a good layer.
Just thought I would share in case anyone encountered similar symptoms in their birds.
By Friday, one of the hens (buff Brahma) stopped walking around and just stood there "sleeping." The other, was lethargic. That afternoon I picked them up and looked them over. I saw no signs of injury. They felt a little thin but not terrible and their crops were full. So I isolated them and gave them garlic water but no food. They drank a little but not much.
On sat not much changed. I offered a very small ration of food to check if either was eating but it went untouched. But on sunday the buff could no longer stand without losing its balance and it looked like wry neck was beginning. The other was in a daze. Moving around a little but otherwise acting sleepy. But her crop was still full. Should have been a red flag, but I had already assumed their affliction and didn't think anything of it. You know what happens when you assume.
I sent them both in with my wife on monday for necropsy. We have a history of mareks in the flock and assumed with the neurological signs that would be the diagnosis.
Instead, the buff had a brain infection. She looked healthy other than having lost a little weight from not eating for 3 days. They said the infection began in her ear and progressed through the bone in to her brain. Since chickens are very good at concealing injury or illness, she didn't show any signs until had reached her brain and by then it was too late.
The other had an impacted crop. These last few days have been unseasonably warm overall and there is a little premature "green up" of spring beginning to happen. Her crop was stuffed full of green grass.
They will be missed. The buff was very beautiful and was my wife's favorite bird and the other was a good layer.
Just thought I would share in case anyone encountered similar symptoms in their birds.
