Neurological problem in chicken?

Chicken poppy

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May 9, 2021
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Unfortunately i don’t have hopes this chicken will make it. She’s one of favorites but has not been looking too good over the past few days. Wondering if anyone can identify the following symptoms and hopefully help with some cure.
I don’t have pictures or videos available to post of her right now, but can maybe try and get some soon.

She is a satin bantam cochin mix, and a little over the start of laying age. She is low on the pecking order and has gotten picked on by the bigger chickens. I feel like this could give her some brain problems since i know some bantams have a different skull shape. She isn’t the lowest on the pecking order, though.

I noticed her eyes are droopy and half closed all of the time, and i think it started with one eye. It looks like she’s half asleep. Her wings and tiny tail are not droopy.

She isn’t eating or drinking a lot right now.
She itches her face a lot, and shakes her head when she sneezes.
She adjusts her crop every few seconds.
She acts spacey and her head drifts up and down, and she is very unbalanced. She’s also pretty weak.


I have no idea what to give her. I’m going to give her some nutri drench, and i gave her some electrolytes. Any other thoughts or tips would be greatly appreciated. I hope she pulls through. :(
 
Hi, sorry about your hen.

I definitely would get her on vitamins. Nutra Drench is good.

I'd also give her a half tablet of 25 mg of Benadryl every 12 hours too for a couple of days. It sort of sounds to me like she could have allergies due to the sneezing and scratching her face.
 
Yes vitamins, if the hens are picking on her too much you might want to separate her to lower stress and prevent her from sustaining any injuries. If she stops eating or drinking you can try dropping water by or in her beak. I like to use plain Greek yogurt with live microbiomes because it’s very healthy and it’s easy for them to eat usually, I do this with my lethargic hens who won’t eat on their own. Does she walk around, you said her wings and tail aren’t drooping but is she lethargic, and are her eyes the only problem. Make sure there’s nothing wrong with her crop or vent, and that there’s no swelling anywhere.
 
She is a satin bantam cochin mix, and a little over the start of laying age. She is low on the pecking order and has gotten picked on by the bigger chickens. I feel like this could give her some brain problems since i know some bantams have a different skull shape.

I noticed her eyes are droopy and half closed all of the time, and i think it started with one eye. It looks like she’s half asleep. Her wings and tiny tail are not droopy.

She isn’t eating or drinking a lot right now.
She itches her face a lot, and shakes her head when she sneezes.
She adjusts her crop every few seconds.
She acts spacey and her head drifts up and down, and she is very unbalanced. She’s also pretty weak.
Can you please get photos of her and her poop?

A video of her actions would be helpful. Upload video to YouTube and provide a link OR upload to the BYC Gallery. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-upload-videos-to-the-gallery.1631126/

Itching her face a lot and adjusting her crop. Does she have any lesions or canker inside the beak? Is her crop emptying? Does she have infection in the ears? Any lice or mites on the face or head?
Does she have any mucous from the nostrils (she's sneezing)?

What do you feed? I'd start her on vitamins. Give 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily for a few weeks. Poultry Nutri-Drench is o.k., but it's not going to give you therapeutic dosing that is suggested to treat neurological issues.

Work on hydration and see if you can entice her to eat. Wet mushy feed or bits of egg are often of interest.
 
Can you please get photos of her and her poop?

A video of her actions would be helpful. Upload video to YouTube and provide a link OR upload to the BYC Gallery. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-upload-videos-to-the-gallery.1631126/

Itching her face a lot and adjusting her crop. Does she have any lesions or canker inside the beak? Is her crop emptying? Does she have infection in the ears? Any lice or mites on the face or head?
Does she have any mucous from the nostrils (she's sneezing)?

What do you feed? I'd start her on vitamins. Give 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily for a few weeks. Poultry Nutri-Drench is o.k., but it's not going to give you therapeutic dosing that is suggested to treat neurological issues.

Work on hydration and see if you can entice her to eat. Wet mushy feed or bits of egg are often of interest.
Thanks for your reply. Yes i’ll try getting some photos today.


No lesions or cankers that i saw. She looks completely clear of lites and mites. Crop seems to be emptying normally but hard to tell since she isn’t eating a lot. No mucous.

Thank you
 

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