Do I need to Cull, or can it get better?

RinaRoo

Songster
Apr 19, 2019
299
753
151
North Carolina
I have a Polish hen that recently had bumble foot. Did the surgery, and things were going great. She was out free ranging, on top of the coop after two days, her fav spot to sleep.

Yesterday when I got home from work, and went to grab her to change the bandage, I found her on the floor of the coop laying down with her head upside down like wry neck, but she's 1.5 years old, so I suspect brain damage.

I have her in the house in a cage, got her to drink water, but her head is still unstable, it just swings around most of the time and it seems like she can't walk.

She did manage to lay an egg last night. Is there hope for her, or should I just put her out of her misery?
 
I think that depends on the time you’re willing to sacrifice.

I personally would start her on vitamins to see if she makes any improvement. I’d give her a week or so, then make my decision if she hasn’t progressed any or had gotten worse.
 
I have a Polish hen that recently had bumble foot. Did the surgery, and things were going great. She was out free ranging, on top of the coop after two days, her fav spot to sleep.

Yesterday when I got home from work, and went to grab her to change the bandage, I found her on the floor of the coop laying down with her head upside down like wry neck, but she's 1.5 years old, so I suspect brain damage.

I have her in the house in a cage, got her to drink water, but her head is still unstable, it just swings around most of the time and it seems like she can't walk.

She did manage to lay an egg last night. Is there hope for her, or should I just put her out of her misery?
I'm sorry about your hen :hugs
Can you post some photos of her? The foot, the way she is? Video of her actions?

What makes you suspect brain damage? Was the infection that bad or do you think she fell, was picked at, etc.?
Wry Neck is a neurological symptom - injury, disease like Mareks' and vitamin deficiency are a few common causes.

Have you noticed if she ate any moldy feed or got into anything toxic?
 
Wry neck is common, and it can be treated with vitamin E and B1 thiamine, plus a small amount of egg or sunflower seed for selenium. The cause may have been an injury, a vitamin deficiency, or could be a symptom of something else. Give her supportive care, help her to eat some wet chicken feed several times a day to make sure that she is getting enough. If she gets picked on, separate her , but if not leave her with her flock. I would give my chicken at least 2 weeks before deciding to cull, but that is always a personal decision.
 
I suppose there's a possibility of moldy food, but I'd expect that in my other hens/pullets as well. I'm thinking maybe she fell, or was picked on.

It looks just like wry neck, but the research I've seen thus far seems to say that it's a chick problem mainly.

What is a good source of the vitamins she may need?
 

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