sick chicken: twisted neck and goopy discharge from eyes in portland

[peter c]

we have a buff orpington girl that is 6 months old, ~5-7 lbs, 3 days ago we noticed she was pecking at food and missing her target, but didn't think much of it. then the next evening all of a sudden she was just sick with an abrupt onset of symptoms. there was no sign of trauma, she was just hunkered in the back of the coop, with a twisted sometimes wavering back and forth neck, she has goopy white discharge from her eyes, trouble walking straight, loss of appetite, fluffed out and droopy feathers, and she's very tired. i think she has runny poop, but she's barely eating anything. she has layed 2 eggs since onset, and then just an egg fragment today.

yesterday morning we went striaght to the local feed store who didn't know exactly what she had, but advised treating the whole flock with sultmet which we started immediately (she lives with 3 other hens who have no symptoms--one buff, two light brahmas). but she seems only slightly better. we would like to treat her ourselves, but would not rule out going to a vet (though no one we called seems to know anything about chickens). we've been giving her water by putting a dish up to her beak, and feeding her mashed up cornmeal floating in water.

unfortunately, we have to leave town tomorrow. we have a house sitter who is happy to monitor her. if anyone has any other advice--what/how to feed her? other meds? please let us know.

thanks,
-peter

 

[DuckLady]

Peter, I am sending you an email.

 

[peter c]

thanks Terrie, i will wait for it.