Hen has limp neck and lethargic

[Bigbluefrog]

Wry neck was just a thought, I'm not sure if that's what she has. Keep keeping her in a quiet place in the house, giving her sugar water, the vitamin B and E, and selenium and see if she improves. I'll tag some more knowledgeable people and see if they can give you more advice. @azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

Thank you for your help- learning lots today!
And I appreciate the tagging of others.
The more we do this the more we learn.
It is helpful to have a plan of action -

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Okay, I will read up on this.
Never culled a chicken before- is there a kind way to do this?
I will give her some time before we do that though. Giving her lots of vitamins and water. She ate some today but not very much.

If you lift her head and support her neck can she eat/drink on her own?

You may need to syringe or tube fluids into her, but you'll have to manipulate her neck up a bit to do that.

As for putting down a hen that's in misery, I use the broomstick method (cervical dislocation). Others will hopefully chime in with their thoughts.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

If you lift her head and support her neck can she eat/drink on her own?

You may need to syringe or tube fluids into her, but you'll have to manipulate her neck up a bit to do that.

As for putting down a hen that's in misery, I use the broomstick method (cervical dislocation). Others will hopefully chime in with their thoughts.

Yes, if I lift her head she seems to have some movement. I will read up on culling- never done it before. I don’t want her to suffer but will try a few more days to see if she is improving. So far she is eating small amounts.
Very small like a tablespoon of eggs. And I mixed vitamin B and E in a syringe and gave that to her.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

She does drink on her own in downward position with priding. Should I be lifting her head for this? I do put her beak into the food. And she had some interest but not like a normal healthy chicken.
So hard when the animals are sick- I have an injured dog too- been carrying the 60 pound dog up and down steps. Both knees are bad and she doesn’t qualify for surgery. Ahh we are blessed to have them though. Thanks for the help!

 

[Bigbluefrog]

If you lift her head and support her neck can she eat/drink on her own?

You may need to syringe or tube fluids into her, but you'll have to manipulate her neck up a bit to do that.

As for putting down a hen that's in misery, I use the broomstick method (cervical dislocation). Others will hopefully chime in with their thoughts.

Okay so raise her head when giving liquids or food. Got it.
I have a syringe filled w water and liquid vitamin B. She drank a small amount - still no poop. 48 hours. When lifting her head I hear her breathing is more exaggerated for a few breaths. Cat came in and meowed and the chicken made a sound like “bawk”.
So how often do you feed them? I was trying for 4 times a day morning, late morning, noon, and evening.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

How is she doing?

Barely drinking water and refuses food- even scrambled eggs w sugar. Her neck looks twisted- don’t know. Being a good caretaker is tough - I know we should cull but I wanted to see if she improves- well she did poop so that is good

 

[Bigbluefrog]

How is she doing?

 

[smott]

Read about botulism poisoning. It can cause a limp neck in chickens. It is a treatable condition as well, but would probably need veterinary care.

 

[Bigbluefrog]

Update- researched humane ways to cull but my husband said give her one more day.
So she is still staying in her luxury suite with scrambled eggs vit E and B. I didn’t know I could give her two vitamin E! Will do that now. I mixed it in her water. Today she actually reached for the eggs and ate more than the past few days. Head is still down and kinda twisted neck.
So far she will drink water w vit B liquid and E.

I didn’t know that so the last few days she really didn’t get any food in then. Just barely moves her beak.

update - today we decided to cull, she wouldn’t eat anymore barely drank and we were just making her suffer more.
I held her thanked her for all the eggs, walked her by the hen house and said goodbye to the other hens.
I would like to say thank you for all the advice! Appreciate the kindness and the information.
We gave her the best life, and past few days I made her scrambled eggs with sugar and vit b and e with lots of liquid.
I am sad but I know we did what was right for her.

 

[Tookie]

Update- researched humane ways to cull but my husband said give her one more day.
So she is still staying in her luxury suite with scrambled eggs vit E and B. I didn’t know I could give her two vitamin E! Will do that now. I mixed it in her water. Today she actually reached for the eggs and ate more than the past few days. Head is still down and kinda twisted neck.
So far she will drink water w vit B liquid and E.

update - today we decided to cull, she wouldn’t eat anymore barely drank and we were just making her suffer more.
I held her thanked her for all the eggs, walked her by the hen house and said goodbye to the other hens.
I would like to say thank you for all the advice! Appreciate the kindness and the information.
We gave her the best life, and past few days I made her scrambled eggs with sugar and vit b and e with lots of liquid.
I am sad but I know we did what was right for her.

I'm sorry she didn't get better, though you did the right thing.