Frew Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Hello My lovely leghorn has started wandering round holding her head at a funny angle, slightly to the left as though peering at the ground. She's eating OK, but isn't laying, and hasn't since moulting a month ago. She seems quite bright and lively apart from that. Any ideas? She and my other 5 chickens have been totally free ranging round the garden for the last month, as opposed to being shut in their very large run (1/3rd of the rest of the garden), so that they can forage more and get lots of greens etc. while they are moulting. Only 3 of the 6 have been laying, which is normal at this time of year, however they have been so free that they have stopped laying in the eglu altogether, and we can't find the favoured spot (deep in the bushes) , so yesterday we shut them back in their area, so that we can keep an eye on what's going on. Don't know whether any of this has any bearing on the bent neck. Many thanks for any suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Hi, Have you felt her crop? Make sure that it's not impacted (hard and lumpy). If it is hard then you'll need to soften it by syringeing a bit of olive oil or even luke warm water. Hope she feels better. Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frew Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Many thanks for the reply. I'm waiting for dusk so that I can scoop her up without stressing her too much - I tried earlier on but she skidaddled very rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Symptom of vit E deficiency, I would try on a supplement containing vit E or get some from vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frew Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Thanks - I didn't know that. Should I use a general tonic like Biolink which has vitamin E in it, or get something specific? I did google it before I posted, and she doesn't have it very serverely - some cases described sounded awful - she's just holding it slightly twisted and down to the left, but I want to nip it in the bud before it gets worse. The Biolink you put in their water, but I wonder if I could get something to give her directly, and if that would be better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francesca88 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I had a silver laced wyandotte with this problem - I tried crushing a couple of vitamin E tablets and adding it to her water and it worked! Although she did still sleep with her head upside down, but she seemed happy enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frew Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 Brilliant. Thanks I'll get some tomorrow and report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frew Posted October 30, 2011 Author Share Posted October 30, 2011 I went and bought some Vit E oil capsules and made a big dish of porridge and stirred in some porridge and the contents of 6 capsules. This morning her head was definitely slightly straighter. I will repeat the treatment tomorrow. Many thanks for the advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
