Dizzy hen with droopy head - need help determining what's going on - came on suddenly.

[chick n lay dee]

Hi there - would LOVE some help figuring out what's going on with my hen - over the course of a day-and-a-half she has started acting strange - dizzy and her head is droopy and sort of twists to one side. When she tries to eat she misses the food she's aiming at. I gave her some water with electrolytes and also put a little teramycin on her food just to try something since it seems to be moving fast. Any ideas what the heck is going on? Bacterial? Do worms cause that? Please send me some tips if you've had a similar instance. Thank you!!

 

[Jenny28]

Is sour crop a possibility? Does she seem to be standing almost upright with her back kind of arched? You could pick her up and feel her crop, it would feel soft and squishy- esp. in the morning, or you might even be able to see it, like she swallowed a golf ball. If so, put her somewhere quiet by herself(in your basement?) and give her honey for a few days. May or may not work.

 

[chick n lay dee]

Hi there - thanks for this. Yes, she does have that stance you described and she does have a squishy crop - how do you administer the honey? I've heard trying apple cider vinegar in the water, but have not tried the honey method. Let me know - thank you!

 

[Jenny28]

I've used apple cider vinegar before, but I find honey to work better. It's nature's medicine I usually just use about a teaspoon in a dropper or a spoon right down the throat every couple of hours. And, like I said before, keep her in a dark quiet place until she gets better or she will get pecked to death. I've had one get better using honey, and one that did not and needed to be culled. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!