Shaking/twitching head lethargic 8 week old chick

[aseawho]

About a week ago, my 8-week-old pullet was pecked on the head by my adult hen. She was distressed but started eating and drinking normally within an hour.

She seemed normal until 3 days ago when I noticed she was not coming out of the coop like the rest of our chicks so took her in the house, so I could keep an eye on her.

Now she is very lethargic, laying in one spot, twitching her head multiple times per minute, losing her balance, occasionally closing one eye.

Yesterday her poop was dark green. She is eating and drinking by herself.

Today she was eating, drinking grooming herself and walking - her balance was still off but way better than yesterday. But now a few hours later she started breathing with her mouth open/panting. She is still very much twitching with her head.

I have been giving her Vitamin E and selenium.

Could it just be wry neck? She does not twist her head at all. She is vaccinated against marek's and coccidiosis.

I'm assuming it's neurological from the injury but I don't know how to help her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would go to Walmart, CVS, etc. and get a bottle of Vitamin E and B-Complex.

Give her 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily along with a treat of egg or tuna to help with the uptake of E. (The egg and/or tuna is sufficient for Selenium).

How much Selenium were you giving?

 

[aseawho]

She passed away.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry to hear about your chick

 

[CrazyChickLady64]

She passed away.

So sorry.

 

[Madock35]

We are new to this with backyard chickens.I have one that is very lethargic. She hasn't been going into to coop at night like the others. I actually pick her up and put her in the coop. In the morn, I find her in the nesting box and she doesnt come out for an hour. She always makes left turns and seems to lose her balance and can't balance on the ledge. She is very slow moving but eats, drinks and poops fine. We plan on bringing her in tonight and separating her but have no idea what's wrong, just strange behavior for the last 2 weeks. She is probably 2maybe 3 months old but hasn't started laying yet. Any help?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We are new to this with backyard chickens.I have one that is very lethargic. She hasn't been going into to coop at night like the others. I actually pick her up and put her in the coop. In the morn, I find her in the nesting box and she doesnt come out for an hour. She always makes left turns and seems to lose her balance and can't balance on the ledge. She is very slow moving but eats, drinks and poops fine. We plan on bringing her in tonight and separating her but have no idea what's wrong, just strange behavior for the last 2 weeks. She is probably 2maybe 3 months old but hasn't started laying yet. Any help?

Welcome To BYC

What are you feeding?

Photos of her and her poop?

Is she being picked on by the others?

How many in the flock, how much space in the coop/run (sq. ft) and do you have any cockerels?

If possible, I'd leave her with the others and treat her while she's in the coop. Separation from the flock is stressful and re-introducing a single bird can sometime be difficult.

Do look her over for injuries, look in her ears for infection, check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight. While checking her over note any lice/mites and if she can see well.

She's been off for a couple of weeks?

Start with giving vitamin therapy. Give 400IU Vitamin E along with 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily. A bit of egg daily will help with the uptake of E. Watch to see that she's eating/drinking well.

 

[Madock35]

We only have 5 hens and 1 rooster. The others are doing fine. We have had her inside for a week and treating her with corid. She was still eating and drinking but yesterday nothing in her crop so don't think she ate much and today hasn't moved, sleeping all day. We plan on moving her outside still in the kennel, to keep her separated, tomorrow. As far as food, they eat fermented feed, chicken feed and scratch, as well as microgreens of wheatgrass, fennel, flax, cilantro, whichever I have started. They have oregano, mint, sage all available in the yard plus we have added it to their feed. They get mealworms and grubs daily as a treat. They hear the bag and come running. She has been eating and drinking fine until yesterday and today. We orally give her a dose of poutry cell vitamins and corid water in the evening.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We only have 5 hens and 1 rooster. The others are doing fine. We have had her inside for a week and treating her with corid. She was still eating and drinking but yesterday nothing in her crop so don't think she ate much and today hasn't moved, sleeping all day. We plan on moving her outside still in the kennel, to keep her separated, tomorrow. As far as food, they eat fermented feed, chicken feed and scratch, as well as microgreens of wheatgrass, fennel, flax, cilantro, whichever I have started. They have oregano, mint, sage all available in the yard plus we have added it to their feed. They get mealworms and grubs daily as a treat. They hear the bag and come running. She has been eating and drinking fine until yesterday and today. We orally give her a dose of poutry cell vitamins and corid water in the evening.

We have had her inside for a week and treating her with corid.

We orally give her a dose of poutry cell vitamins and corid water in the evening.

If you are treating for Coccidiosis with Corid (Amprolium) she should be drinking that as her only source of water throughout the day. If she's not drinking well, then you'll need to syringe the mixed water into her several times a day to get the medication into her and to keep her hydrated.


Liquid Corid dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid Dose is 1 1/2tsp per gallon of water given for 5-7 days as the only source of drinking water.
Do not add any extra vitamins/electrolytes that contain B1(Thiamine) to food or water during the course of treatment.

 

[Madock35]

Well she has not improved at all. The corid water was her only source of water. We are starting to believe she had a heatstroke. The problem is she just isn't moving around. She does eat and drink but not much. We dont know what else to do.