silkie has seizures?!

[kcallis]

I just got a 3 week old white silkie (named Valentine, since she was a v-day present from my hubby). I've had her for 3 days now, and she's always acted a bit strange but...
She is in the box with three 5 day old RIR chicks. There is a heating pad, heat lamp, water (with antibiotic), and chick starter. The box is quite large and the bottom is covered with hay.
I stuck my hand in this morning to take out the water and my little Valentine got stiff and started to shake. Her neck stuck out straight, her legs stuck out straight behind her, her wings stuck out to the side and her whole body went ridged and shook. I thought she was dying and prepared to give her CPR if needed, but she slowly came out of it and lay lethargic in my arms. My hubby happened to be home sick today, so he force fed her sugar water with Gatorade every few hours. She had 6 more seizures. All occurred when she was startled (a chick ran and jumped on her, I reached in to pet her, my husband went to feed her...). No idea how many more seizures she may have had without us as witnesses She seems to be doing marginally better now, she will at least stand up to move around.
But I'm curious if anyone has experience with epileptic chickens, or has had similar experiences and what they did to help.

 

[chickNjake]

I have a hen that does the same thing! I just posted at the same time as you. Best of luck with your girl!

try putting her head forward during an attack

 

[sammi]

here is some info..
suggestion of human liquid vitamins in link..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins..Enfamil rand, no iron..2 drops once a day on beak..taper off for another week.

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

try and feed her some scrambled egg.

 

[dlhunicorn]

http://www.lahinternational.com/pdf/AETechnicalBulletin_w.pdf

 

[kcallis]

Sammi and dlhunicorn, thank you very much. It doesn't sound like crooked neck, since her neck was never crooked, hanging or limp. But it definitely follows the symptoms of Encephalomeylitis. I'm now a bit worried about the three chicks she is with, and will have to keep a close eye on them.
although Encephalomeylitis doesn't seem to have a true cure, she seems to be doing a lot better today, so she might pull out of this with lots of love and care.

Thank you all so much.

 

[dlhunicorn]

you might ask at First State Vet Supply (Pet Brown >
http://www.featherfanciers.com this is his forum and the link to the store can be found there) about AE vaccination.
IMHO I would advise you to separate her from the others... get AviaCharge 2000 (you can purchase online from McMurray and it is a handy thing to have around anyway)...
follow the vit E/selenium combo and vit B outlined in Alans article(polyvisol enfamil can be given as a substitute for the B vitamins > three drops in beak once a day for a week then taper off the next>this can be repeated after a couple weeks if necessary) ... this is helpful for many disorders where neurological symptoms are involved and a basic support measure.
Do not breed this bird .

 

[dangerouschicken]

I swear, dlhunicorn has the best info on this board for helping your chickens!

 

[kcallis]

Quote:
I absolutely agree. Thank you so much dhunicorn. I am following the vitinmine and electrolyte regime and have contacted the breeder (since we only had her 2 days). Luckily, I have no plans on breeding her, and we have no rooster, so we're safe on that front.
She is do so so much better now. She's gone a full 24 hrs wihtout a seizure. She's upset about being quarantined, but such as life for the moment.

Thank you again for all your advice.