Head Droops, Little Neck Control, Eyes Closed

[MusicGarden]

Nice to meet a fellow chick-lover in the Islands! Thanks for caring and posting good wishes. I love "the girls" and they've brought an immense amount of joy into my life, so I'm certainly praying we can keep Brownie going. She used to be so skittish but once she started laying, she became much more friendly, allowing me to pet her, etc.

 

[Twink]

Hello, I wanted to share my recent experience with a Silkie chick (about 4 months old) that had similar symptoms to your chicken. The chick is one of 6 raised by a Silkie hen of mine. I have been raising chickens for about 4 years and have a flock of about 55. One day I observed that this particular chick seemed to be very occupied looking underneath herself. Then I saw her stagger backwards, still with head down. When I picked her up her head swung like a pendulum, very frightening. Prior to this the chick appeared to be quite normal. The other chicks from her group were doing well. The only thing I could think of that was a bit different with this chick was that I went straight from a non medicated chick start to lay mash.
I talked with a friend who suggested that I give the chick Water Soluble Baby Vitamins (the human kind of baby.) I isolated the chick and fed her grower and the vitamin water. Within 3 days she was much improved: walking normally and with her head up. I continued this routine for 10 days and I am very happy to report that she is active and seems fine. I will not skip Grower again!

 

[chickenzoo]

If no one else is showing anything, I'd just watch them. Often it is only one bird that eats something they shouldn't have. Hope she continues to improve for you....

 

[Lacy Blues]

If one chicken gets into something, generally all of them do. A molasses flush for 4 hours won't hurt them but may indeed help them. I'd go ahead and do the whole flock.

Something I do (because I know the molasses flushes toxins from their bodies) is feed Wet COB. That is Corn, Oats, Barley with molasses. I add that and dry cat food to my daily feeding of lay pellets. To 3 scoops of lay pellets, I add one scoop of COB and one scoop of cat food. Each bird ends up with a very small amount of the cob and I "believe" it keeps things functioning well. I've been feeding this for almost 2 years now and have had no incidences that would cause me to change. They still get digestive upsets from time to time but hey, they're chickens! I fret over them pretty bad when they get sick and baby them through it til they're back out in the flock.

 

[MusicGarden]

If one chicken gets into something, generally all of them do. A molasses flush for 4 hours won't hurt them but may indeed help them. I'd go ahead and do the whole flock.

Something I do (because I know the molasses flushes toxins from their bodies) is feed Wet COB. That is Corn, Oats, Barley with molasses. I add that and dry cat food to my daily feeding of lay pellets. To 3 scoops of lay pellets, I add one scoop of COB and one scoop of cat food. Each bird ends up with a very small amount of the cob and I "believe" it keeps things functioning well. I've been feeding this for almost 2 years now and have had no incidences that would cause me to change. They still get digestive upsets from time to time but hey, they're chickens! I fret over them pretty bad when they get sick and baby them through it til they're back out in the flock.

Many thanks for this.... will give it a try

 

[MusicGarden]

If no one else is showing anything, I'd just watch them. Often it is only one bird that eats something they shouldn't have. Hope she continues to improve for you....

Thank you, chickenzoo, for all of your help! She's definitely better after the molasses flush; then electrolytes and vitamins via dropper. Able to keep neck up pretty consistently, tries to stand, but pretty wobbly, did take a about 2 steps in her box which surprised us! Both eyes open for awhile, first time since I found her dropped on Friday morning! I'm so appreciative of everyone's help--especially yours!

 

[chickenzoo]

Your welcome. We all try to help best we can. I hope she continues to improve for you, they are such endearing creatures.

 

[MusicGarden]

UPDATE on this Post:
Yesterday, Brownie returned to the flock, to our utter amazement! We'd planned various incremental ways to reintroduce her and make sure all was well. She is one determined bird!
On Wednesday, she was standing steadily for the first time since last Friday when I discovered her completely dropped on the roost and began my communications with all of the helpful people in this forum. Once the botulism suggestion was brought up and I compared notes of her symptoms, it seemed the best possible diagnosis. We did the four-hour molasses flush after which she began to have some control over her neck. We started feeding her electrolytes and big bird vitamins, per others' recommendations here. Three days ago she was hankering for food and was ravenous when fed. Two days ago she was able to stand steadily, so we took her into the free range yard by herself for some time. We then let her mix with all of the others for free ranging, but had her sleep separately that night.
Yesterday, we let her again free range for many hours with the others, then she ate with them, and the last time we checked, she had already gone to roost with them, right next to her one sister. She seems set to go and when I spoke to our dogs' vet the other day, he was incredulous as he said that usually a bird in the condition we found Brownie would have never made it. He was also surprised to hear about the molasses flush.
I cannot thank all of you posters enough for everything you share here that makes it easier for all of us!
Blessings of Gratitude from Hawaii to one and all!