I have an epileptic chicken!--(?) Video

[chickNjake]

Well, I do believe my chicken has epilepsy

I didn't even know prior to today that chickens could even have epilepsy... but mine does.

I have had my EE, Muffy, for about a year and she was about laying age when we got her, so about a year and a half old.
in the past month I've gone into the coop a few times to find Muffy on the ground and she would proceed to have a seizure. So I would take her to the basement and kept her in a controlled environment(temp, light, etc.) for the night. I wasn't sure of the cause of these attacks, but today she was in the middle of the run flailing around in the dark and I decided it was "time." for what? I wasn't sure. so I just watced her for about an hour, and lo and behold, nothing happened. So, giving up, I turned out the lights and heard "flap, flap, flap" so I turned the lights on and moved her head forward which, amazingly, stopped the attack! So I had a lead, and I went and got my video camera so I could put a video on here

I am aware that this is not, in any way, good for the bird, and probably hurts her a lot. I did not do this for enjoyment, but to have something to get a better diagnosis and learn to help her!

So i took the video and shined a flashlight in her eye and let her continue only long enough as necessary. (some may find this graphic)
PS: that is food on the newspaper, not poop.

I'll try to make the video better quality (not take a new video tomorrow. I'm going to bed in a few minutes)
Freaky, huh?

 

[chickeepoo]

Sure looks like epilepsy- and she seems alright after her seizure is over? Surely someone here has seen this before…

 

[chickNjake]

she is a little dazed afterward for a bit, but after an hour she is completely normal.

 

[william9792]

i have never seen anything like that at all, it looks like it hurts. hope you can fix her soon

 

[sammi]

I wasn't able to see the whole seizure..

could she have gotten into any thing bad? (kitchen scraps gone bad, moldy feed, stagnant water with algae..moldy hay/straw..etc..)

have a read..might help..
suggestion of human liquid vitamins in link..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins..Enfamil rand, no iron..3 drops once a day on beak..taper off for another week.

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

 

[Kimiko]

Hmmm, first things that come to mind are 1) lead or other consumed toxin 2) something like a yolk embolism can cause a cerebrovascular accident (stroke), with subsequent seizures.

Fayoumi's have an autosomal recessive gene mutation that cause a reflex epilepsy with photogenic and/or sound triggers--which looks an awful lot like this. Especially if you can reliably trigger seizures.

I would say it's fascinating, but it's not so much for your chicken

Do you have any chicks from her?

 

[MoodyChicken]

Rescue Remedy at a high dose will keep her in a relaxed state, that may help. If not, there are probably other herbs out there that will help. I'll try to find something tomorrow. She may have suffered a head injury, in which case Hypericum may help with nerve damage or function. The best thing you can do for her is restrain her with a towel and place her in a dark, warm room the next time she has a seizure.

Edit: forgot to mention... I had a bird with a similar condition. He made a complete recovery with Hypericum; however, he required treatment twice daily.

 

[dlhunicorn]

a while back there were several threads on problems with a hatchery (AE > avian encephalomyelitis)... I am wondering if this birds problem is not associated with that
http://www.lahinternational.com/pdf/AETechnicalBulletin_w.pdf

 

[chickNjake]

Quote:
what is yolk embolism? I found one site that said something like a stuck/broken egg, but I'm not sure. She's been laying consistently even one yesterday.

yes, we've had a few chicks from her, only kept one here he is--
he hasn't ever had any problems

I guess I should stop hatching her eggs (?) would they be alright to eat?

thank you SOOOOO much all who've posted replys!!

 

[Kimiko]

Avian Encephalomyelitis affects chicks <4 weeks old with a head and neck tremor. Disease in older birds is typically limited to reduction in egg production and hatchlings with encephalomyelitis signs.

Egg yolk embolism occurs in birds who eat a primarily seed diet and have lipemia (fat) in the blood. These fat globules can cause a stroke if lodged in the central nervous system.

Birds can also get fatty liver disease where their liver doesn't process toxins correctly and they have neuro signs--these are not typically limited to seizures and often follow a progressive course.