Neurologic problem? Wryneck? Chicken very quickly getting worse...

[Sc Owell Farm]

I agree with Wyorp Rock, that Mareks could be a concern. Usually they will show symptoms at an earlier age, though. Have you added any new chickens to your flock this year? I would try the vitamins for at least a couple of weeks. Make sure that she can reach food and water. If she cannot stand, I would consider using a chicken sling chair, which are simple to make. Here is a good thread for examples of slings, esp. posts 5,11, and 12:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

We have two young turkeys that started free ranging with them about... 3 weeks ago. They're the only new birds. I love the chicken sling! She seems so uncomfortable so making one for her today!

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

@Eggcessive , @Wyorp Rock , need your help on this.

Thank you so much for calling in help for us! I'm so appreciative of the advice and guidance!

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

Friends, I've read that Selenium and ployvisol we're recommended in some other threads.

Would you suggest I add this to the vitamin e and b complex regimen?

 

[Eggcessive]

Selenium can be overdosed. Just a little is needed to help with the uptake of vitamin E. Most of the time, a small bit of scrambled egg is all that is necessary. E and B1 thiamine are the 2 important vitamins to give. I prefer the inexpensive human super b complex tablets which are sometimes under $5 at Walgreens or Walln
mart sometimes. PolyVisol baby vitamins are expensive, hard to find sometimes, and you need to find the kind without iron.

I don’t like force feeding. It could cause aspiration. I prefer to mix a watery mush with chick feed, egg, water, and maybe a dot of plain yogurt. Tube feeding is something to consider.

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

Selenium can be overdosed. Just a little is needed to help with the uptake of vitamin E. Most of the time, a small bit of scrambled egg is all that is necessary. E and B1 thiamine are the 2 important vitamins to give. I prefer the inexpensive human super b complex tablets which are sometimes under $5 at Walgreens or Walln
mart sometimes. PolyVisol baby vitamins are expensive, hard to find sometimes, and you need to find the kind without iron.

I don’t like force feeding. It could cause aspiration. I prefer to mix a watery mush with chick feed, egg, water, and maybe a dot of plain yogurt. Tube feeding is something to consider.

Thank you for the response. I was nervous about the selenium so I appreciate the advice. She isn't eating at all on her own, even the scrambled egg. I was able to find PolyViSol without iron, so going to try some of that.
We live in a rural area where finding supplies is difficult. Going to find some tubing to keep on hand though. We've found that just using a small spoon to tip a little in her mouth has been most effective with what we have on hand, but tubing seems the much better option.

 

[Eggcessive]

The dosage of PolyVisol without iron is 2-3 drops daily.

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

The dosage of PolyVisol without iron is 2-3 drops daily.

Sounds good. We got her in the sling and she seems to be far more comfortable now. Excellent idea!

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

Just an update: today is day 8 of vitamins. She hasn't seemed to make much progress, but neither does she seem to be declining.

She had some diarrhea from the small amounts of food we've been giving her, so we have her a warm bath with Epsom salt while we cleaned the sling. In the bath she decided she wanted to stand. While she has no balance, she was able to stand for several minutes with me keeping her from toppling over.

It's finally a nice day, a little over 60, so I held her on my lap to sun dry. Here she started to perk up: she held her head straight and her tail went up. She made the first attempt to preen we've seen, though it didn't last long. I set her down and she stood again and with my help took a few steps. The whole time in the sun she was cooing at me, some of the first noise she's made.

Back in the sling she took the most food we've been able to give her since this started.

I know we have a long way to go, but it was a good day

 

[Sc Owell Farm]

@Wyorp Rock and @Eggcessive I'm now over two weeks of treatment and sadly she is not making improvements. She's gone a back downhill.
I trust your opinions and am sadly asking if the right thing to do is put her down at this point. If so, what is the kindest way to do this while not interfering with a necropsy?

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Wyorp Rock and @Eggcessive I'm now over two weeks of treatment and sadly she is not making improvements. She's gone a back downhill.
I trust your opinions and am sadly asking if the right thing to do is put her down at this point. If so, what is the kindest way to do this while not interfering with a necropsy?

Thanks again for all your help.

I'm sorry that she's declining.

If you feel she's in pain and suffering, then putting her down is the right thing to do.

For me, I use cervical dislocation using the broomstick method.

Just asking here, are you in SC? If so, were you planning on taking the body to your state lab or shipping? If taking the body, usually the lab will euthanize for you if you wish. I know it's the weekend, but often labs have staff on the weekend so it may be something to call and find out about in the morning?