lethargic chicken with droopy wings

[Tatiana110]

Not sure what happened overnight and within few hours in the morning - yesterday all the birds were healthy and active. They are almost 4 months old. It is a mixes flock of Light Sussex, Barred Rocks, Ameraucanas and Welsummers.

6 am this morning one Light Sussex cockerel had trouble to raise his head or hold his neck. He'd try to raise the neck, but it would slowly come down until his beak touches the dirt. His eyes and nostrils were all clear, comb was bright red (usual color). He was not eating of drinking. At noon, we decided to end his misery - I was scared it was something infections . All the internal organs were nice and clean, no sign of anything.

After we finished with the cockerel, I went to check the rest of the birds, and sure thing, there was another bird with droopy wings, Light Sussex again. By now she also developed droopy neck, like the cockerel, but I manage to feed her, although she refuses to drink. Her droppings are absolutely normal, color and consistency. Eyes are clear, comb and wattles are red, the usual color.

I am not sure what is going on here, and very scared this is something contagious. The sick pullet is isolated and brought indoors.

Now I see another bird (Light Sussex again!) acting strange, appearing sleepy most of the day. No droopy wings or neck, she is eating well with everybody else, but after the meal she'd sleep on the perch or on my knees.

Please help - what can this be and what should I do?

For now, I gave all the birds Oregano drops into water + garlic and hot peppers + herbal tea with immunostimulant herbs.

 

[Tatiana110]

I forgot to mention that she can raise her head fine, but not able to hold it for too long. The neck is always straight, it just bents down.

 

[Tatiana110]

The pullet is still alive as of this morning, but very weak and cannot stand. However, she seems to be holding her neck better today, and wings are not as droopy as yesterday. But the legs do not hold her, so she sits all the time.

She eats well. I gave her vitamins with electrolytes, and continue to give her herbal tea via syringe - she refuses to drink since yesterday morning. She ae some yogurt, mealworms, and a few grains. She refused all greens except kale. So she is very picky at what she eats. Her poop is normal, no diarrea.

The poor thing makes very quiet sounds, almost like mourning for help.

The rest of the chickens seems to be fine this morning, the yesterday's sleepy pullet is walking around and pecking at food, although not eating much, but no droopy wings or neck with any other birds.

Did anyone had similar thing?

Almost looks like some poisoning, but I am not sure. The only new thing in the food was a new bag of oats just opened on Sunday, and my mother in law brought some dandelions and clover from the forest.