My 7 month old barred rock hen was laying with her head under her out in her run today when I checked on the flock to give them their morning feed. She's one of the original 5 chickens I got before I got into the hobby. One of the healthiest and toughest. I've had extremely bad coccidia in this flock since about April, but its never affected any of the original 5 like her before and I'm beginning to think this is something else. Instead of just being puffed up and weak she is having episodes of weakness. Reminds me a bit of a seizure, but no shaking or spasming. I do notice her eyes seem to flicker a bit, but that could be my imagination.
I rushed her inside when I found her originally not feeling well. Took her to work to the vet, but he didn't look at her. She acted perfectly fine after a while. She was eating treats out of my hand. She was back to holding her head up by the time I got to my job. And also the vet filling in for my normal boss isn't much into looking at a chicken. Well, driving home she was in the carrier and suddenly her head twisted under her and her beak began opening and closing like she was swallowing. She kind of sprawled out and seemed a bit unaware of what was happening. Got her into the garage and she couldn't stand up.
After a minute or two she finally could stand, but her head just kind of drooped to the floor. So I made up a temporary stay for her in a kennel. Went to check on her a few minutes later and instead of being twisted with her head under her she was sitting up and supporting it again!!!
WHAT is going on?? I checked the other chickens in the flock. Nobody else is acting off. The only other sick bird is one with bad cocci that can't handle it and never has. He's also in the garage. I checked her stools while she was at the office and she did have cocci, but this seems almost neurological.
I rushed her inside when I found her originally not feeling well. Took her to work to the vet, but he didn't look at her. She acted perfectly fine after a while. She was eating treats out of my hand. She was back to holding her head up by the time I got to my job. And also the vet filling in for my normal boss isn't much into looking at a chicken. Well, driving home she was in the carrier and suddenly her head twisted under her and her beak began opening and closing like she was swallowing. She kind of sprawled out and seemed a bit unaware of what was happening. Got her into the garage and she couldn't stand up.
After a minute or two she finally could stand, but her head just kind of drooped to the floor. So I made up a temporary stay for her in a kennel. Went to check on her a few minutes later and instead of being twisted with her head under her she was sitting up and supporting it again!!!
WHAT is going on?? I checked the other chickens in the flock. Nobody else is acting off. The only other sick bird is one with bad cocci that can't handle it and never has. He's also in the garage. I checked her stools while she was at the office and she did have cocci, but this seems almost neurological.
