Ridged egg and head twitching UPDATE:Things are getting WORSE HELP

[tlm724]

I have 15 Rhode Island Red laying hens. They are approx. 1 year old. This winter (in Vermont) they developed cold symptoms, sneezing,coughing and head twitching. I had a heat lamp on when it was bitter cold but didn't have much ventilation. I treated them with a broad spectrum antibiotic (Oxytetracycline) in their drinking water for ten days. This seemed to help with the cold symptoms however they are back to twitching their heads every 5 seconds or so, the whole flock does this.They act like a dog slinging off water. My birds free range during the day and all seem to eat and drink well. Some feather pecking around the tops of the tails, I spray that area with Blu kote. I get a serverely ridged egg every three days but I don't know which hen is laying it. Are the normal eggs safe to eat? I only get about 8 eggs daily but have 15 hens?? I have never wormed them, I didn't know I had too, should I ? I change the wood shavings every 1-2 weeks throughout the year, I recently disinfected the coop and pressure washed it. I give them the best food I can get and two handfuls of cracked corn as a treat daily ,sometimes table scrapes and fresh water with electralites and vitamins and minerals everyday to help with their health problems for now. Can someone please advise me as to what is causing the head twitching and ridged egg.I just want my girls better and have tried everything I could think of, I need help

 

[tlm724]

Any one have any thoughts on this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[threehorses]

Head slinging, to me, indicates parasites. I'd pick the girls up and look carefully at them for any signs of the nearly-microscopic parasites that roam their feather shafts and skin. It takes a patient, careful eye and some time. Checking around their neck and vent area usually helps out.

Technically, you could treat symptomatically with dusting powder (including their premises and nests). It wouldn't hurt, could help.

The one hen laying the ridged eggs - I'd just maybe consider her a potential candidate for soft shells later. But at the moment I wouldn't worry too greatly. Might be a good time to evaluate the freshness of your feed and, if you're feeding a lot of grains, increase the complete feed to help with cal/phos levels. (Grains are high in phosphorus which sometimes interferes with a chicken's need for calcium when laying.)

I hope this helps.

Nathalie

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Im not very experianced in this field. At least this will help keep it at the top. Could they possibley have mites. Or lice. maybe that is why they twitch all the time, they itch..

I dont know. But its a thought

 

[tlm724]

I spent most of the day with my girls.I did multiple inspections for mites/lice but saw not signs other then some feathers missing on their backs and butts,sprayed Blu Kote on them. I have one hen that is very sleepy,she just stands around with her eyes closed, she has no interest in food or even their favorite cracked corn. I get more and more confused the more searchs and reading I do, feels like information overload. I just need basic information to help me save my girls. Should I get Ivermectin and apply it to their shoulder area? Please help me help them !!!Thanks so much

 

[dlhunicorn]

do they seem congested? is their mucusous/exudate dripping when they "sling" their heads? (if so it may indeed indicate an upper respiratory infection) You said earlier that the ventilation was insufficient > this needs to be addressed immediately as birds are very sensitive to ammonia buildup (do you use a "deep litter" ?)
If you have not given the coop a good clean out now is the time to do so and take care of any ventilation problem.

 

[tlm724]

I addressed the ventilation problem i March and I clean the coop every 10 to 14 days faithfully. I never let the litter build up. As stated in my first post they did show signs of respiratory probelms but the anibiotics seemed to work.They do all have diarrhea now too, some is brown and others are cream colored. I have been battling this problem for 2 months now and I fear that my luck with them is running out, I am so upset.

 

[newchickenfamily]

Since you have so many girls, you may want to spend the money to have a vet check out at least one to hopefully tell you what's wrong and what to do! It would be awful to lose your whole flock! If it was me, I'd get some help from someone who can treat poultry ASAP. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Indiana hens]

Sounds like ecoli. Which can turn septic. Would develop into lung disorder.

 

[dlhunicorn]

E. Coli (collibacillosis) seems to be a catch all here lately ...
the main underlying facotr for this is usually sanitation.
If you google collibacillosis there are tons of articles available for review. E. coli is one of the "normal" flora of the intestine (not all strains are pathogenic or if so do not always cause illness)...
I think consulting a vet is a good idea if you are sure that sanitation/ventilation is not a problem... a proper poultry vet will have the know-all to help you diagnose ... it could be so many things and if affecting your whole flock then you may need diagnostics