whats wrong with my hen? *video* unbalanced...NEW VIDEO~post#385

[Miss Lydia]

I understand that wet moldy food is very bad for chickens, not saying that is the problem, thank goodness you saw it and corrected it. Seems the vit. therapy is working for alot of chickens with this problem.

 

[valsey]

Any bugs in that food?

I can't find anything about vit B deficiency in poultry except for thiamin deficiency. And it sounds like there would be a quick response to that therapy. I would try B vitamins - not saying that doesn't work - and especially for the younger chickens. But with older hens, I still suspect LL. My hen went on for 5 months then died. I hope that's not the case with the folks that think they are making progress with B, only to find that wasn't the case. Time will tell.

Thiamine deficiency in poultry
As most feedstuffs used in poultry diets contain enough quantities of vitamins to meet the requirements in this species, deficiencies in this vitamin do not occur with commercial diets. This was, at least, the opinion in the 1960s.

Mature chickens show signs 3 weeks after being fed a deficient diet. In young chicks, it can appear before 2 weeks of age.

Onset is sudden in young chicks. There is anorexia and an unsteady gait. Later on, there are locomotor signs, beginning with an apparent paralysis of the flexor of the toes. The characteristic position is called "stargazing", meaning a chick "sitting on its hocks and the head in opisthotonos".

Response to administration of the vitamin is rather quick, occurring a few hours later.

Differential diagnosis include riboflavin deficiency and avian encephalomyelitis. In riboflavin deficiency, the "curled toes" is a characteristic symptom. Muscle tremor is typical of avian encephalomyelitis. A therapeutic diagnosis can be tried by supplementing thiamine only in the affected bird. If the animals do not respond in a few hours, thiamine deficiency can be excluded.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiamine#Thiamine_deficiency_in_poultry

and
http://www.pjbs.org/ijps/fin714.pdf

 

[valsey]

WHICH B vitamins are you all thinking about and supplementing with? B1? B12?

 

[Miss Lydia]

would it not be better to use all the B's? just wondering

 

[oliviad51]

Yes, I was told to use the multi vitamin B.

 

[Miss Lydia]

which is best the liquid or capsule or tablet? to me seems liquid if can be found. Hope everyone has good recovery with this treatment.

 

[valsey]

Strangest thing...my newest sick, unbalanced hen seemed to be at death's door last night. Perky as can be this morning and I didn't do anything except give her some baby food yesterday.

Weird.

 

[Miss Lydia]

must be doing something right. hope she continues to improve. how old is it?

 

[valsey]

Quote:
I hate to be such a pessimist, but my other hen did something similar and died later.

She's 4 or 5 years old.

 

[oliviad51]

I have been giving her the pill and smashing it up into powder, and then putting that in her food and water. So far, it has not been working. I hope something does!