dancing cloud Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Moon is one of the new very bald ex-batts who's been with me for four weeks on Saturday and by and large she is doing well, putting on weight and geting lots of new quills and feathers. For the last couple of days however she's been having occasional quite obvious jerky spasms of her head and neck. There's nothing visibly wrong, but I've not been able to catch her to have a feel around (nothing wrong with her legs for running away!) She seems to be eating and drinking well, and hanging out with the other two newbies most of the time, though she does shiver when she's cold and also sometimes goes all hunched and closes her eyes as if a softie is on its way (found a softie in the poo tray yesterday). The shivering/hunching does not coincide with the spasms and may or may not be related. Any ideas as to what might be causing this/what I can do to help her? Many thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Is her head/neck bending round when she spasms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Thanks for asking Claret, yes it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 You need to get her to the vet then. Ther are various conditions that can cause this, but all need vet attention. See if you can get an appointment today. Do let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 hope she is ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Good luck at the vets . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted April 23, 2009 Author Share Posted April 23, 2009 Many thanks for your speedy responses and support. Just got back and the vet could find nothing wrong with Moon The vets do not specialise in poultry and no vet within a 20-mile radius does, but he gave her a thorough examination and could find nothing. Moon did not, of course, demonstrate the spasm for him - a bit like taking the car to the garage because you know it's misbehaving and it behaving perfectly once it's there . He's given her a standard baytril injection just in case there's an infection he couldn't find and other than that could only suggest that I worm her and the others with a double dose of flubenvet. Moon was so well behaved at the vets I was amazed - no struggling and not so much as a squeak of protest, even though the injection must have hurt . When I got her home, she had a long drink and stuffed her beak with porridge before heading off to find Sun and Sky to tell them about her big adventure (and then came back to scrounge some corn ). Ex-batts are innoculated against such things as Newcastle disease, so I'm still open to ideas as to what might be the problem and any solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Mine always behave well at the vet too The fact that they are vaccinated doesn't mean that they are immune - in some cases, they miss the dose (which is usually either in the water or sprayed) or it just doesn't 'take'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 Gapeworm! My vets misdiagnosed gapeworm in my Buff Orp - she would fling her head almost round on itself and if I put her down having picked her up she sort of staggered with her head twisted round - the vets gave her Baytril and steroids but it didn't really do anything. They said she had an ear infection affecting her balance. Then one evening I was sat in peace and quiet (kids were somewhere else!) by the run and Dandelion was up at the wire and I noticed her breathing sounded a bit rattly. Looked up all her symptoms (found it on here I think!) treated her with some Flubenvet I had in the cupboard - job done! Apparently ( and this is so hideous I didn't even consider it!) if you open their beaks and shine a torch down you can sometimes see the worm - I decided just to "assume" it was there rather than go looking Good luck with your chook! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 whats her crop like? check in the morning BEFORE food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 23, 2009 Share Posted April 23, 2009 For gapeworm, you need to treat with a double dose of Flubenvet, strictly speaking after discussing with a vet, who might advise an egg withdrawal period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted April 24, 2009 Author Share Posted April 24, 2009 Thanks everybody for your help and support - no sign of any further exorcist-like spasms from Moon this morning , but she did let me stroke her for the first time without running away . Moon's crop is fine and she is eating and drinking (and squawking) normally. She hadn't laid when I left for work, but wasn't looking hunched either and there were no softies this morning. She's very active, bright-eyed and sprouting new feathers like a good thing The vet had a look down her throat as part of his examination, and couldn't see anything, but he did recommend a double dose of flubenvet for all of them, so that's all mixed up in their pellets to start tomorrow. He didn't mention egg withdrawal. I'm sure it's just coincidence, but they have been eating ordinary pellets this last week as Easter made it too late for my order of ex-batt pellets to be delivered. Petshop has just rung and said they're ready for collection today, so they'll be back on the good stuff from now . I spoke to the BHWT/Allen & Page helpline yesterday too - they were lovely to talk to about ex-batts but had no idea what the cause may be in this instance. I'll obviously be keeping a close eye on Moon , but hopefully it was just "one of those things" and hopefully it won't ever come back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
