banty cochin neck twisting behavior

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
When a bird is broody it will often go too long without water and feed... now putting a piece of watermelon (or similar) in the nest with her to give her something to peck at a that will not spill and contaminate the nest (damp etc) is an excellent way of avoiding dehydration issues (dehydration is similar to salt poisoning which will also produce this symptom) ...a bird which has just come thru the winter period and goes broody is often minimally deficient in several nutrients... you can give four drops of POLYVISOL ENFAMIL formulation into the beak of this bird once a day for a week then taper off the next to correct the B vit deficiencies (get the enfamil formulation as some of the other do not have the specific B vit that you pointed out in the article). You can also add a human vit E tab (p ri ck open and squeeze out contents into feed) through her feed on a regular basis ... Wheatgermoil is also an excellent thing to add to your birds feed and also offer live culture yogurt (plain not flavored) freechoice.

 

[jaime]

WOW thank you for the detailed advice! I contacted a poultry specialist and she too believes, based on the information, that vitamin deficiency is the root problem. I Am most appreciative of the advice and I will defineitly get the product formulation and supplements you described. I hope, with concerted effort to bring her nutrition above and beyond her prior condition that the spastic behavior will go away.

The poultry specialist explained that a hen must be in deficiency at least 3 weeks before the spastic behavior is seen, and if not dealt with can result in paralysis...so i will be on this like white on rice. I love my birds, and they teach me so much, and Im glad I can resolve this now. I suspect it will take at least a week to see some improvements, but I am hopeful (she is kinda confused by her spasms and tries then to run into her nest for comfort I think)

 

[dlhunicorn]

The double whammy so to speak in your case is that birds are often deficient in calcium right after a winter period because 1) they eat less and all their resources are being used on top of that to regulate body temperature and keep warm
and
b) vit D is crucial for calcium absorption (even when they have enough in their diet) and vit D is a "sun" vitamin and the dark days will often cause deficiiency (which is why it is advised to give a general poultry supplement in the winter )
if on top of that a bird goes broody immdiately following the winter period (eating less...going outside less) ...well it is all rather obvious isnt it?
The POLYVISOL enfamil also provides vit D3 so that will also be addressed.

 

[red-hen]

I'm so glad this mystery is starting to make some sense. I have a strong feeling that you've nipped this in time. I'll keep crossing fingers and toes, of course.

Keep us updated. I have to know how she does.

(And I'm learning a lot here too)

 

[jaime]

Thank you unicorn and red-hen for your words of support and also the very sage advice and explanations. I am truly thankful for the help and sharing your knowledge.

I got the Polyvisol soultion with the whole range of vitamins, as you directed, she got her first dosage today! It was easy to administer because she tries to bite alot (my one biter, but she only does it if you bother her in her broody time).

 

[red-hen]

Have you had any luck with your little hen?

 

[jaime]

So far do good. I have been giving her the Poylvisol vits for about 4 days now. I have been hand feeding her each day to ensure she gets food (so I can guarantee she's had a full crop each day). She is so hard to get out the nest area---her committment to broodiness is unparalleled!! I do think there has been a minor decrease in the stargazing behaviour......in terms of everything else, she seems well. I am monitoring her very closely each day with optimism and shooting to get her totally normal. Will keep ya posted, thanks for thinking of me!

 

[jaime]

My stargazing hen is improving now in a more obvious way. When I open the coop (she is still broody), her neck, as of about 2 days ago, is no longer arched back!!!!!! Hoooray! This is a major improvement and a good indication that the hand feeding and daily vitamins are taking effect. She still does the strange movement when she drinks water.....I think its a little triggered by the normal motion of dipping the head back when gulping water.

I think if i keep it up for another week, (and if she ever stops being broody!), this will be overcome! Thanks so much for helping me I am truly thankful!

 

[red-hen]

That's good news.

I'm so glad to hear the updates as I still think about your little hen every now and then wondering how she is doing. Keep up the good work and keep us updated when you can.