Hen off balance and other issues

[LindseyDMD]

Hi y'all,

I am growing more and more concerned about one of my hens. She is about 7 months and we were told she is a "Red Star" (looks like a RIR, imo). I have noticed a few weeks ago her comb is wilted and not as red as it once was and she was doing weird things with her neck. For instance, she would suddenly turn her head to the side and look up real quick and do this every so often. Then I noticed she would fall over sometimes when walking or going down the coop ramp. She has even started sleeping in the nesting box as opposed to the ladder as she used to every night. She would sleep on the top rung with her sister, and then began sleeping on the bottom one and acted like she wanted to go to the top but could not. Sunday night she made it to the top rung finally, but last night and tonight I have found her in the box.

At first with her neck movements I thought she was developing wry neck, so I ran to TSC and I now have Nutridrench and Durvet Vitamins & Electrolytes that I alternate in the water. Her appetite is the same and she is very interested in things, but just seems to fall behind her sister when it comes to running/walking/flying. I have also noticed quite a few feathers in the coop and the run within the past few days.

Does anyone have any earthly idea what my poor girl has?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your pullet. She may have wry neck (torticolis, crook neck) which is only a symptom. Some reasons for wry neck are head injuries, vitamin deficiencies, hereditary tendency, and it is seen in certain diseases such as Mareks and others. Videos posted to YouTube with a link here may help us see what you are seeing. I would start treating with poultry vitamins that contain thiamine, vitamin E, and selenium which is also found in egg. Make sure that she is getting plenty to eat and drink, in case she is being bullied from food and water, or if she is sick.

 

[micstrachan]

Wry neck sounds likely. Also thinking molting might be compounding the issue. Can you give her a little extra protein (egg, tuna, sardines, ground beef, etc.)?

 

[LindseyDMD]

Thank you both for your responses!

After watching her for a few days and doing some more research, I *think* she may have something different. Her sudden head movements only last a split second and she otherwise can hold herself properly at all times. Her eating is a little off, though. I have watched her eat and drink, but she has become very messy.

Could she have bad eyesight or maybe something wrong her ears?

I will definitely start giving more protein in addition to the vitamins. Hope that will show improvement.

 

[Eggcessive]

Posting a video could help. Some chickens will exhibit abnormal neck movements that have to do with a neurological problem, while others may have movements that have to do with crop adjustment or a crop impaction. Those can look like wry neck, but wry neck is itself a neurological symptom. Many diseases can cause these signs, so looking at any other symptoms (crop problems, respiratory signs, imbalance or weakness in an extremety, eye changes) can help to figure it out. Until then vitamins would be good to try.

 

[LindseyDMD]

Please let me know if it works, it is my first Youtube video. If it does, she does a good example at 0:29. I also tried to get a good angle of her dirty vent. That is new. I thought it was from her sleeping in the nesting box, but the box is clean.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @LindseyDMD Welcome To BYC

Can she see well - have you performed an "informal test" to check that?

Her head movement could be neurological, but it's almost as if she is moving the head to see. It won't hurt to treat her for symptoms as mentioned in the previous posts (Vitamin E, B1 and Selenium) @Eggcessive may have a better idea.
Check her ears for any ear mites or infection and her crop to see that it's emptying overnight.

Since she is not roosting, look at the bottom of her feet for any signs of scabs, cuts, etc.

What I don't see you mention is if she ever laid any eggs? If she did lay eggs, did she have any problems such as soft shell eggs, etc.?

Can you get a fecal float to rule out worms and Coccidiosis?

I know...more questions than answers

fwiw - To me, she is a red sexlink (production bird) so "Red Star" she would be (there's other names for red sexlinks, it depends on patents and crossings). RIR have deep rust colored feathering, yellow legs, etc.

 

[LindseyDMD]

Hi @LindseyDMD Welcome To BYC

Can she see well - have you performed an "informal test" to check that?

Her head movement could be neurological, but it's almost as if she is moving the head to see. It won't hurt to treat her for symptoms as mentioned in the previous posts (Vitamin E, B1 and Selenium) @Eggcessive may have a better idea.
Check her ears for any ear mites or infection and her crop to see that it's emptying overnight.

Since she is not roosting, look at the bottom of her feet for any signs of scabs, cuts, etc.

What I don't see you mention is if she ever laid any eggs? If she did lay eggs, did she have any problems such as soft shell eggs, etc.?

Can you get a fecal float to rule out worms and Coccidiosis?

I know...more questions than answers

fwiw - To me, she is a red sexlink (production bird) so "Red Star" she would be (there's other names for red sexlinks, it depends on patents and crossings). RIR have deep rust colored feathering, yellow legs, etc.

Hello!!

I have not, but I certainly try and do a sight test. It's just odd how this came on suddenly. Also, the video shows how much her comb has paled and wittled. It was just like her sister's when we got her. And the people we adopted them from gave us a large bag of their food, so they have not had diet changes. Is the comb a sign of anything?

As far as laying, she does everyday with no fail. They are beautiful eggs.

I looked at her droppings yesterday from when she slept in the box, and they looked good. Nothing watery, and they were a brown/dark green.

I thought mites might also have been it, but the box is clean and we couldn't find any on herself or her legs. Her legs look great!

Only thing I haven't done is check the crop. Stupid question, but I am new at all of this - how would I do so, and what am I looking for?

 

[getaclue]

Check her ears, eyes, and crop. Mites or something else in, or near the ears can cause this.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello!!

I have not, but I certainly try and do a sight test. It's just odd how this came on suddenly. Also, the video shows how much her comb has paled and wittled. It was just like her sister's when we got her. And the people we adopted them from gave us a large bag of their food, so they have not had diet changes. Is the comb a sign of anything?

As far as laying, she does everyday with no fail. They are beautiful eggs.

I looked at her droppings yesterday from when she slept in the box, and they looked good. Nothing watery, and they were a brown/dark green.

I thought mites might also have been it, but the box is clean and we couldn't find any on herself or her legs. Her legs look great!

Only thing I haven't done is check the crop. Stupid question, but I am new at all of this - how would I do so, and what am I looking for?

Yes, the comb can be an indicator of health - I do wonder how old she is - if she is going to start molting soon - the comb turns paler and begins to shrink, you will start to find feathers in the coop/run, there's usually a reduction or stopping of egg laying. When you inspect her again, look to see if you find any new growth of pin feathers, check around the vent for any lice too. Good photos and info on lice/mites http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

For the crop - feel it when she goes to bed, it should feel firm and full. Check it again, first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should be flat. What you are wanting is for the crop to empty it's contents overnight. Checking during the day while she is actively eating is not a good indicator of how the crop is functioning. Here's a good article along with photos - you don't need to treat any crop issues unless it's not emptying.http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2014/06/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour.html

For food- what type of feed did the previous owners give you? Do you also provide oyster shell free choice?