Hen having what appears to be seizures

[Marshaharrell]

I have a hen that I believe is a buff Orpington. We got her from someone giving away 2 chickens about a year ago. I’m not sure how old she is, but she only lays an egg once every few weeks, so we are thinking older. She has an obvious cataract and moves a lot slower than the other hens, but she’s done pretty well until lately. A few days ago, we found her on her side, flailing and jerking her neck. I thought she was dying but brought her in to comfort her. Five minutes later, she was back to normal. I just found her like this again. Again, she was fine, up and eating blueberries in 5 minutes. Is there something I can give her to help this? She has a good appetite and is pretty responsive otherwise. She will be moving into her own area with one other older hen later today, as I want to get her away from roosters. We feed them layer pellets, scratch and fruits and veggies. They get probiotics and electrolyte powder in their water.

 

[Cayuga momma]

I would keep her isolated incase this is something contagious.
It sounds to me like Epidemic Tremor or Avian Encephalomyelitis.
This is something that she could have got when she was younger and it could have also caused the cataracts. This is not contagious so if she has it she isn't a carrier.
I could be totally wrong so keeping her isolated until you can figure out what is it is important.

 

[rebrascora]

It could also be Marek's. The "cataract" as you describe it could very well be ocular Marek's, The disease has dormant phases and outbreaks are triggered by stress so if she is being pestered by a rooster or worse, young cockerels, that could well be triggering these episodes. I would start her on a good poultry supplement like Nutri Drench to support her immune system and a probiotic or fermented feed to keep her digestive tract healthy, as well as giving her some peaceful space away from the boys.

 

[kklowell]

At least one of my birds may also be having seizures. I say "at least" because I found one of my leghorns looking like she was at death's door this morning (on her side, feet quivering, unable to stand, and no reaction when I picked her up) so I isolated her and went to work. I came home a couple of hours later and she was walking around pecking things on the ground. I told my wife about it and she said she saw the same thing yesterday, but when I showed her which hen it was she said the one she saw yesterday was one of the brown ones. I'll be watching the flock to see if it happens again.

 

[rebrascora]

@kklowell

How old are your birds? Were they vaccinated for Marek's?

 

[Eggcessive]

Could she have been dust bathing inside the coop or run? Just asking since they can appear to be dying somethimes. She may be suffering from seizures, which some chicken owners report here sometimes. I doubt that it would be avian encephalitis, since that occurs in chicks under a month of age. Wry neck would be another possibility, and that can be caused by head injury, vitamin deficiency, or some diseases, such as Mareks or respiratory diseases. Wry neck is usually treated with 40 micrograms of vitamin E once or twice daily with a little selenium, a mineral that can be found in supplements, egg, tuna, sunflower seeds and brazil nuts. Make sure that she is getting enough to eat and drink, or she will need to be fed. It would be good to see a photo of her eyes.

 

[kklowell]

Could she have been dust bathing inside the coop or run? Just asking since they can appear to be dying somethimes. She may be suffering from seizures, which some chicken owners report here sometimes. I doubt that it would be avian encephalitis, since that occurs in chicks under a month of age. Wry neck would be another possibility, and that can be caused by head injury, vitamin deficiency, or some diseases, such as Mareks or respiratory diseases. Wry neck is usually treated with 40 micrograms of vitamin E once or twice daily with a little selenium, a mineral that can be found in supplements, egg, tuna, sunflower seeds and brazil nuts. Make sure that she is getting enough to eat and drink, or she will need to be fed. It would be good to see a photo of her eyes.

She wasn't dust bathing because she had no reaction when I nudged her and then picked her up. She was acting normally an hour or two after, and ever since as well. I'm continuing to watch her in case it happens again.