Can't keep head up, eyes closed won't eat

[1 Farm Girl]

I went down to the coop this morning and noticed in the run about 9am my light brahma 7mo old had her head down, I thought she was dying, couldn't breath or injured. Took her and put her in the garage, not sure if it's an injury or maybe she might have freaked out from a predator coming by the coop and maybe hit her head causing injury.
She looks ok, no signs of blood, crop empty, no egg that I can feel. Tried syringe feeding and drinking doesn't even want to do that, gave vitamin b & selenium together. I'm not sure what else I can do she has been like this all day...should I cull her or wait it out. I don't think its wry neck, she is 7mo old and was doing great.
The rest of my 15 hens are healthy and good, although we just had a recent hit of dry fowl pox, not everyone had it. Anyone have an idea?
Here are some photos, I'm holding her up with towels under her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can she stand if you sit her up or move her legs or wings. It sounds unfortunately like Mareks disease, but botulism might be a possibility if she has paralyzed legs and wings. Mold in feed (aflatoxin poisoning) is another problem that can cause neurological signs such as wry neck. I would give a poultry vitamin that includes thiamine (vitamin B1,) as well as E, and selenium. I would keep up the vitamins and try to get her drinking. With wry neck, sometimes adding a lot of water to some feed, and holding the chicken to eat several times a day is necessary. I hope she gets better.

 

[1 Farm Girl]

Can she stand if you sit her up or move her legs or wings. It sounds unfortunately like Mareks disease, but botulism might be a possibility if she has paralyzed legs and wings. Mold in feed (aflatoxin poisoning) is another problem that can cause neurological signs such as wry neck. I would give a poultry vitamin that includes thiamine (vitamin B1,) as well as E, and selenium. I would keep up the vitamins and try to get her drinking. With wry neck, sometimes adding a lot of water to some feed, and holding the chicken to eat several times a day is necessary. I hope she gets better.

Thanks anyways, we put her down as it was probably best.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Sorry mine died that way are yours any better?

 

[orrpeople]

Im so sorry to hear about your girl. If you find you have a similar experience with any of your other birds, may I recommend refrigerating the carcass, then sending it in for a necropsy? Answers are often not too fun (we just received a Marek's diagnosis), but you will know what you are dealing with, and there's tremendous information and support here to help you out.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Was there anything to add to how she was acting? Botulism can kill them quickly, but it is not contagious unless another chicken gets into the toxin, which is usually from eating a dwad animal or fish carcasse. Sometimes it can be found in rotted vegetation or maggots if it has been without air.
Mareks on the otherhand is contagious and spread by carrier chickens or wild birds. Severe wry neck can be a sign, along with a paralayzed leg or wing.
Many diseases and head injuries can cause wry neck, so hopefully it wasn't something that will affect another.

 

[1 Farm Girl]

Sorry for your loss. Was there anything to add to how she was acting? Botulism can kill them quickly, but it is not contagious unless another chicken gets into the toxin, which is usually from eating a dwad animal or fish carcasse. Sometimes it can be found in rotted vegetation or maggots if it has been without air.
Mareks on the otherhand is contagious and spread by carrier chickens or wild birds. Severe wry neck can be a sign, along with a paralayzed leg or wing.
Many diseases and head injuries can cause wry neck, so hopefully it wasn't something that will affect another.

Good point, when I saw her i thought she couldn't breath so my hubby gave cpr (believe or not) and she revived! Her head was down drooping and could not lift by herself, unless I set her down and head back then she was ok, eyes closed and every now and then she would perk up and then same thing, her legs were all good and could stand. I forgot to mention we sprayed our fruit trees recently, I have a few persimmons in the run and she was eating one partially so I immediately grabbed it and through it away as my husband reminded me we were supposed to wait a week before eating, Maybe some toxic reaction that is all I can think of. If it was mericks the others would be sick and they all seem fine today. Btw where would I send the hen to do a necropsy?

 

[featherhead007]

That makes me so sad. Sorry you lost that beautiful bird. I lost a prize winning polish rooster, who died in my arms, so I know how it feels, and there was nothing I could do, he died so quickly reasons unknown? My 7 new ameraucana chicks, now 4 days old, keep my mind occupied. But I still miss that lovely
mop headed rooster!

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks can strike at different times. Some chickens may have a natural immunity. I think looking at possible poisonous plants is a good idea. Here is a good link about Mareks that has other disease symptoms that look like Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Here is a good link that lists state vets and poultry labs for necropsies:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[micstrachan]

I’m so sorry for your loss. I think you made the humane decision.