Hen Looking Up Instead of Forward...

[Brillig]

Hi Y'all...

I have a beautiful Lemon Orpington hen who has recently not been roosting at night...Instead, she sleeps on the floor and she sleeps with her head on the ground, her neck twisted so she is looking up (kinda like when they look at the sky to see a hawk)...Today, about three days in, she's showing signs of being unsteady on her feet...I tried to nudge her with my foot and she fell over and struggled to right herself...I have no idea what I'm facing here...and, I'm hoping whatever it is, it's treatable, or at the very least, NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!

Thoughts???

 

[Mimi13]

Unfortunately I have no idea, but I too am curious and wishing you and hoping for the best.

 

[Brillig]

She's about three years old, so I'd be surprised if it were wry neck...She's a big girl and has always been very healthy and beautifully feathered...I changed their food a couple of months ago because the stuff I was buying from Southern States was too low in protein and the hens stopped laying and were looking pretty ragged...Now everyone looks great...No one is laying, but it's not really spring here yet...I give them veggie scraps several times a week and scratch grains every day...

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Hi Y'all...

I have a beautiful Lemon Orpington hen who has recently not been roosting at night...Instead, she sleeps on the floor and she sleeps with her head on the ground, her neck twisted so she is looking up (kinda like when they look at the sky to see a hawk)...Today, about three days in, she's showing signs of being unsteady on her feet...I tried to nudge her with my foot and she fell over and struggled to right herself...I have no idea what I'm facing here...and, I'm hoping whatever it is, it's treatable, or at the very least, NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!

Thoughts???

I'm sorry your hen is doing poorly, I'm gonna tag some members that can maybe help, but I know the first thing they will ask is to see pictures and a video so get a look at what's happening. To post a video you need to post it on YouTube and copy the link on your thread. @Eggcessive @staceyj @Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi Y'all...

I have a beautiful Lemon Orpington hen who has recently not been roosting at night...Instead, she sleeps on the floor and she sleeps with her head on the ground, her neck twisted so she is looking up (kinda like when they look at the sky to see a hawk)...Today, about three days in, she's showing signs of being unsteady on her feet...I tried to nudge her with my foot and she fell over and struggled to right herself...I have no idea what I'm facing here...and, I'm hoping whatever it is, it's treatable, or at the very least, NOT CONTAGIOUS!!!

Thoughts???

She's about three years old, so I'd be surprised if it were wry neck...She's a big girl and has always been very healthy and beautifully feathered...I changed their food a couple of months ago because the stuff I was buying from Southern States was too low in protein and the hens stopped laying and were looking pretty ragged...Now everyone looks great...No one is laying, but it's not really spring here yet...I give them veggie scraps several times a week and scratch grains every day...

The twisting of the neck sounds like a symptom which is called Wry Neck - chickens of any age can develop this. There are some common causes - vitamin deficiency, diseases like Marek's, Newcastle, Avian Lymphoid Leukosis and injury.

You mention changing feed - from what to what? Photos of the bag or tags?
Have you added birds to your flock in the last 30days?
If you have photos of her and her poop that may be helpful.

I would get her hydrated, offer her 400IU Vitamin E and give her 1/4 tablet B-Complex.
Any chance she got into something toxic or moldy while ranging?
Check to make sure her crop is emptying, look for lice/mites and feel her abdomen for any bloat while you are caring for her.

 

[Brillig]

It's not likely she got into anything moldy, but I can't rule that out...I don't have a tag for the old feed, but I can probably find one on-line...No new birds...

How would I go about hydrating her and getting these vitamins into her if she's not eating???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's not likely she got into anything moldy, but I can't rule that out...I don't have a tag for the old feed, but I can probably find one on-line...No new birds...

How would I go about hydrating her and getting these vitamins into her if she's not eating???

How lethargic is she? Photos or video would be helpful.

Do you have any syringes? You can drip fluids beside her beak for her to take in or you can syringe fluids into her - as show in the photo and link below. Careful she does not aspirate. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/
Tubing fluids is another option if you have any aquarium tubing or catheters.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ures-updated-9-15-2016.1064392/#post-18827506

 

[Brillig]

I'm going to give her some plain water now to make sure she stays hydrated...I have Vitamin E, but no B complex on hand...Should I give her the E anyway??? I heard they need Selenium to process vitamin E...

 

[Brillig]

So...She was upright and walking around just now...Looking pretty normal...I REALLY have only noticed the neck thing and the roosting on the ground for the last three nights...Today was the first time I noticed it during the day and it seems to have improved...I'll check again tonight and start treatment tomorrow if I go out there and find her looking worse tonight...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm going to give her some plain water now to make sure she stays hydrated...I have Vitamin E, but no B complex on hand...Should I give her the E anyway??? I heard they need Selenium to process vitamin E...

So...She was upright and walking around just now...Looking pretty normal...I REALLY have only noticed the neck thing and the roosting on the ground for the last three nights...Today was the first time I noticed it during the day and it seems to have improved...I'll check again tonight and start treatment tomorrow if I go out there and find her looking worse tonight...

Yes, I would give her the vitamin E. Feed has Selenium or you can give her egg for that, I would not buy any "extra" Selenium to give her.
Vitamin B-Complex you can pick up and add anytime.

So, she is suddenly better now? For the last 3 days have you been giving her extra care - fluids/food and she's been protected from the flock? I wonder if she was dehydrated or picked on. Did she finally lay an egg? Laying on the floor with the neck stretched out for days, then suddenly being normal without extra is odd.