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[daxigirl]

Anyone heard of or experienced Seahorse Syndrome in their flock?

Edited January 22, 2012 by Guest

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if need to take her to a vet. If you google 'sea horse syndrome' there is quite a bit of info. It doesn't seem to be something that will right itself, from what I've read.

[Redwing]

its common in crested breeds due to their thin skulls being more prone to damage I think, could also be confused with Stargazing though which is something different

 

A good diagnosis is needed

[sandyhas3chucks]

As you had one PTS on 3rd with Mareks is it likely the same with the rest or are you just researching for other diagnosis?

[daxigirl]

No there's no mistaking the two symptoms. I'd never heard of it and couldn't find it any of my books I only found a small bit on the internet (I've since been told there's lots). I just wondered if anyone else had experienced it and if their chook survived.

 

This particular one has never met any of the others and is still living in the kitchen.

[francesca88]

Hi Daxigirl, I once had a silver laced wyandotte bantam with this (I didn't know it was called seahorse syndrome though!) and after a bit of googling I found someone who thought it might be due to vitamin E deficiency, so I bought some multivitamin tablets from Asda and crushed them into her water, and she was much better after that! she went from waddling around all day with her head upside down to only occasionally sleeping like that, so I reckon it's definitely worth a try.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Gosh I see. Worth trying the. Vitamin e. I should think

[daxigirl]

Will try anything

[sandyhas3chucks]

good luck, keep us posted

[daxigirl]

So I bought some vitamin E, could only get a capsule type one with liquid vit e. Started her on it yesterday when I got in from work by squeezing a drop into her beak and putting the rest on a chopped up grape which I managed to get her to eat a bit of later.

 

This morning, she seemed a bit perkier, I popped a bit on a slice of cucumber which she pecked at happily. This afternoon when I got in from work she greeted me with a bbrrrp and is pecking away at her food. She still is a bit seahorsey but seems able to control the urge to put her head upside down between her legs a little bit. Utterly brilliant. Big thank you to francesca88 for sharing your wisdom. Fingers crossed she'll keep improving. Let you know in couple of days either way.

[francesca88]

Oh, yay! I'm glad she seems to be getting better!

[sandyhas3chucks]

oh wow that fast? brilliant worth remembering.

[daxigirl]

I am pleased to announce that Miss Flossie Fluff Bum has overcome her Seahorse Syndrome . Touch wood, the past couple of days she has shown no inclination to put her her between her knees, even when excited by mealworms or the prospect of a squish. The advice given about the vitamin e supplement seems to have done the trick and will continue it for a bit longer.

 

I've also wormed her with some flubenvet pellets as the rest of the girls and boy were being done (got the Marriages ready mix feed, marvelous, so easy and mess free, or is that just me that manages to get it everywhere?).

[sandyhas3chucks]

brilliant

[daphne_and_polly]

We also had a hen with this, she was really poorly, so I tried giving her vitamins - she much preferred crushed up multi vitamins (with meal worms!) to the contents of the capsules. She got a lot better- no idea whether it was anything to do with the vitamins or not, but, a couple of months on, her head is still very pale and her droppings very runny. Still carries her head by her feet when stressed, depressed (rain!) or trying to drink. Anyone have any experience of whether she is going to improve any more, or whether this is how she'll be now?

we had a close call when she managed to fall in the pond and got confused about which way was up, but the other hens let me know there was a problem and we got her out in time!

[Egghead68]

Vitamin E with added selenium is excellent for this - even better than plain vitamin E, in my experience.