good evening.
Today I unfortunately went to t he coop as always Andrea found my 2 year old hen Mrs. Lee on the ground, unable to pick herself up.
I immediately thought she was dead, so I went to pick her up, and she was very much alive. SHe is unable to move her head upright. It's almost as if she has wry neck, or stargazing.
I will include a video at the end of this post.
My gut tells me botulism, however I have no expierence with this symptom.
I have never had a chick, or an adult hen that had wryneck, or stargazed.
I found her this morning, and immediately started vitamins thinking it was a vitamin deficiency, however I don't think that is the case at all.
Her symptoms came on suddenly, and it just doesn't feel like a vitamin defeciancy.
The whole flock is on layer pellets(MG brand, here in Texas)
I have been using this brand for awhile now.
Here is some info:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Mrs Lee is a Lavendar Orpington, yes she feels a bit lighter than she should
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Sh is unable to hold her head upright, it falls down, and twists like a stargazer, that was the first thing at I noticed. She seems to have no control when I try to stand her up, however I truly believe it's because her head keeps falling down and twisting.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I found her this morning like this on the floor of the coop
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? Not yet
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No, and I have looked her over,
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
That's a very good question, I am leaning toward botulism, considerening she and the rest of her flock free range daily
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have to tube feed her, however if I put a mealworms in between her beak, she will swallow it no problem, she just can't make contact with the food on her own.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She hasn't pooped since I separated her and brought her inside
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I originally started her on polyvisol, and nutridrench, then gave her a few drops of vitamin B complex thinking it may be a vitamin defeciancy.
I then worried she needed food and water, so I mashed up her pellets, and mixed it with water then tube fed her that.
Then after reading about botulism, I thought I should flush her system out with the salt water, so I did that.
I feel like a add child who can't make up her mind, but I want to give her a shot!
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I need to treat her myself
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I have a video....
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use- pine shavings in the coop
Today I unfortunately went to t he coop as always Andrea found my 2 year old hen Mrs. Lee on the ground, unable to pick herself up.
I immediately thought she was dead, so I went to pick her up, and she was very much alive. SHe is unable to move her head upright. It's almost as if she has wry neck, or stargazing.
I will include a video at the end of this post.
My gut tells me botulism, however I have no expierence with this symptom.
I have never had a chick, or an adult hen that had wryneck, or stargazed.
I found her this morning, and immediately started vitamins thinking it was a vitamin deficiency, however I don't think that is the case at all.
Her symptoms came on suddenly, and it just doesn't feel like a vitamin defeciancy.
The whole flock is on layer pellets(MG brand, here in Texas)
I have been using this brand for awhile now.
Here is some info:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Mrs Lee is a Lavendar Orpington, yes she feels a bit lighter than she should
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Sh is unable to hold her head upright, it falls down, and twists like a stargazer, that was the first thing at I noticed. She seems to have no control when I try to stand her up, however I truly believe it's because her head keeps falling down and twisting.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
I found her this morning like this on the floor of the coop
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? Not yet
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No, and I have looked her over,
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
That's a very good question, I am leaning toward botulism, considerening she and the rest of her flock free range daily
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have to tube feed her, however if I put a mealworms in between her beak, she will swallow it no problem, she just can't make contact with the food on her own.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
She hasn't pooped since I separated her and brought her inside
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
I originally started her on polyvisol, and nutridrench, then gave her a few drops of vitamin B complex thinking it may be a vitamin defeciancy.
I then worried she needed food and water, so I mashed up her pellets, and mixed it with water then tube fed her that.
Then after reading about botulism, I thought I should flush her system out with the salt water, so I did that.
I feel like a add child who can't make up her mind, but I want to give her a shot!
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I need to treat her myself
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I have a video....
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use- pine shavings in the coop