Kikiriki
Songster
Hi chicken experts!
My 16 week old lavender Ameraucana started showing symptoms yesterday. It was not clear what was going on except she was walking like a drunk.
I looked at the illness chart first, and suspected possibly encephalitis (we had mosquitoes active until just two days ago), or Mareck's, but she has remained alert, eating and drinking normally, does not have any blisters, and she is not actually paralyzed. She moves her toes, and responds to touch. Her poo is mostly normal, a few have been runny, but all the chickens are drinking a lot more due to our cold snap and extra dry air.
Today, I noticed her head is always pointed toward her right. When she gets upset, it seems to be worse. She walks, but her tail is way up in the air, and her chest is low, and she takes very stilted steps on her toes trying to keep her balance. She frequently loses her balance and just tumbles over forward. If she lands on her back, she will just stay there and sleep instantly. If she lands on her belly it is always to the right, and her legs will just poke out to the left side. If the food she was going for is near enough, she will just stay there and eat. Her eyes are clear and bright, she has no sneezing, rales, or runny nose, and her appetite is good. I have not checked her ears, but will do that tomorrow. She does seem to sleep a lot more than usual.
I started treating her this morning as if she has wry neck, based upon the posts by others, but I would appreciate your thoughts.
I had to go get vit E and selenium, so I gave her what I had on hand this morning:
In Apple cider vinegar I crushed an adult vitamin, a fish oil capsul, a calcium capsul, and a proprietary blend intended for neurological health/support. I added about half to a tblsp of berry flavored activia yogurt for the probiotics. She ate it all, then ate the same amount again. She also ate her 20% protein feed.
This evening, she was not as interested in the vitamin mix, although she was going for her food quite heartily.
I picked up unroasted unsalted shelled sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds while I was out getting the vit E and selenium. I also got B complex and poly vi sol without iron.
Her best buddy (her sister/brother?, another Lav Ameraucana) decided she wanted the vitamin mix and ate ALL of it! Made me wonder if they are having a adsorption problem with their nutrients...one or both had cocci about a month and a half ago (treated the flock with Corid).
I do have prednisone on hand from a dog, but I am reluctant to use it. If she looks worse tomorrow, I might do so.
I would appreciate any feedback! Does this sound like wry neck to you?
My 16 week old lavender Ameraucana started showing symptoms yesterday. It was not clear what was going on except she was walking like a drunk.
I looked at the illness chart first, and suspected possibly encephalitis (we had mosquitoes active until just two days ago), or Mareck's, but she has remained alert, eating and drinking normally, does not have any blisters, and she is not actually paralyzed. She moves her toes, and responds to touch. Her poo is mostly normal, a few have been runny, but all the chickens are drinking a lot more due to our cold snap and extra dry air.
Today, I noticed her head is always pointed toward her right. When she gets upset, it seems to be worse. She walks, but her tail is way up in the air, and her chest is low, and she takes very stilted steps on her toes trying to keep her balance. She frequently loses her balance and just tumbles over forward. If she lands on her back, she will just stay there and sleep instantly. If she lands on her belly it is always to the right, and her legs will just poke out to the left side. If the food she was going for is near enough, she will just stay there and eat. Her eyes are clear and bright, she has no sneezing, rales, or runny nose, and her appetite is good. I have not checked her ears, but will do that tomorrow. She does seem to sleep a lot more than usual.
I started treating her this morning as if she has wry neck, based upon the posts by others, but I would appreciate your thoughts.
I had to go get vit E and selenium, so I gave her what I had on hand this morning:
In Apple cider vinegar I crushed an adult vitamin, a fish oil capsul, a calcium capsul, and a proprietary blend intended for neurological health/support. I added about half to a tblsp of berry flavored activia yogurt for the probiotics. She ate it all, then ate the same amount again. She also ate her 20% protein feed.
This evening, she was not as interested in the vitamin mix, although she was going for her food quite heartily.
I picked up unroasted unsalted shelled sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds while I was out getting the vit E and selenium. I also got B complex and poly vi sol without iron.
Her best buddy (her sister/brother?, another Lav Ameraucana) decided she wanted the vitamin mix and ate ALL of it! Made me wonder if they are having a adsorption problem with their nutrients...one or both had cocci about a month and a half ago (treated the flock with Corid).
I do have prednisone on hand from a dog, but I am reluctant to use it. If she looks worse tomorrow, I might do so.
I would appreciate any feedback! Does this sound like wry neck to you?
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