Star-Gazer Hen

[BoiseBubba]

I have a 1 year old serama hen that is a "star-gazer", She just started doing this yesterday morning, and hasn't gotten better. Any suggestion on curing her? I refuse to cull her, so don't even suggest it, O.K? I mean it.

thanks,

BB

 

[lil'chicken]

If you don't mind my asking, what is a star-gazer hen?

 

[BoiseBubba]

lil'chicken :

If you don't mind my asking, what is a star-gazer hen?

When they tilt their heads with one eye pointed at the sky​

 

[BarkerChickens]

I have no idea, but I am curious as well (in case I ever have this issue with a hen too).

 

[lil'chicken]

Quote:
When they tilt their heads with one eye pointed at the sky

Does it effect her? (Does she still eat normal, act normal, etc?)

 

[Turner]

I know what star-gazing is as it happens with horses that have a sight problem but is this hen doing it all the time or once in a while? hen is doing it all the time it could be a sight or neuro problem - Marek's? If it were Marek's I do not give up on them, keep them comfortable with food and water close and keep your fingers crossed! Marek's is a Rhino virus. Good Luck

 

[babsbag]

Marek's is a herpes virus, not a rhino virus. Stargazing, or wry neck, can be a vitamin deficiency. Search on BYC for wry neck and you should find quite a bit of information.

They can sometimes recover from Marek's, but they will be a carrier for life. Marek's can also be fatal. But I would try to save her as your other birds are already exposed so nothing lost.

good luck

 

[the1honeycomb]

Star Gazer hens are affected by a Thiamine and B1 deficiency I used Poly-Vi-Sol a childs vitamin sold in most drug stores and walmart. get the one with Iron and Vitamin E they need a few drops of the vitamin, and about 100mg of the vitamin E it is almost impossible to tell how much they are getting so I stabbed a hole in the liquid cap of the vitamin and squeezed some in the birds mouth. I bought insulin syringes and took the needles off It takes a little while but they can recover. I kept mine isolated I have a place in the basement I use for an infirmary. Just to give her some quiet recovery time. I caught it right away and so I think mine will recover completely.

Good luck with your bird and I don't blame you for not culling I won't either!!

 

[cougar meadows]

I have a chicken that's doing that right now. She acts completely normal when eating or drinking or scratching, then she will just flip her head to the sky and do circles backwards, usually losing her balance and sitting down. She doesn't seem to be in pain or anything. The other 9 chickens are fine. They were moved to their winter coop (no outside access) about 2 months ago as it's too cold to go outside (-30). She has been removed from the flock into a seperate pen, but it's still inside the same room, just for her safety from the rooster. I've been giving them all an electrolyte from the local Ag store which has vitamin b12 for 2 days now. I am unable to get to town for 3 more days to get the childrens drops. If this is a vitamin deficiency, why does their feed not carry it, and how does only one bird get it? How long does it take for the vitamin drops to "cure" her?