Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Groovychook]

I found Rita still on the roosting bars this morning after all the other chooks had got up.

 

I lifted her down, but could see immediately that her neck had twisted right round, so that her eye was facing skywards. Her neck is very long and bendy at the best of times, but it's a worry to see her like this. She's very unbalanced, mainly because she can't look straight ahead. She's eaten some pellets and mealworms and a bit of chopped apple, so I don't think her appetite is too bad. I'm a bit more concerned about her drinking because she can't dip her beak in the water.

 

She's had this once before. It happened after we let her out of a spell in the broody cage. Twisted neck, unbalanced and going round in circles. She seemed to gradually come out of it last time, over a period of hours. OH had a theory that being on the wire cage for 3 days might have affected her balance somehow, but this time she's just woken up like this. She was perfectly okay yesterday.

 

I've given her a separated area inside the WIR because the other girls were picking on her, and given her some Nutri drops in the hope they will perk her up.

 

Any idea's anyone as to what could be the cause?

I did wonder if it might be an egg pressing on a nerve or whether she might have a chill, or is it something that Silkies are prone to?

[Plum]

It can be a vitamin B deficiency causing stargazing or E deficiency linkcauses imbalance.

 

Other causes discussed in past have been ear infections and neurological problems.

 

I'd start off with a good tonic like lifeguard or the nutridrops may have enough in to sort things not sure.

[Groovychook]

Thank you Plum.

 

She hasn't improved much over the day, so I've put her in a cat carrier and brought her in for the night.

 

I did a bit of googling during the day and read that it could be a vitamin E deficiency. I've bought some capsules and mixed the contents of a couple in a little porridge for her. She managed to eat most of it and I've been trying to drop water into her beak. She also laid an egg in my lap whilst we were having a cuddle, bless her.

 

I didn't find anything about vitamin B, I'll have to try and get a suppliment tomorrow and give that a whirl!

 

I'm just hoping that there's an improvement in the morning though. I have to work tomorrow, so will have to try and feed her & give her some more nutri drops before I leave... Fingers crossed she'll be okay on her own. It was tricky getting the nutri drops down her, so I may mix some into a bit of porridge for her instead.

 

What a worry! I was really hoping that she would follow the same pattern as last time and be okay by evening

[Plum]

Hope she's picked up by morning.

[LolaLayla]

So sorry to hear about Rita. It must be a worry for you Groovychook. Hope she is better soon.

[Groovychook]

Thank you both, much appreciated. xx

[LolaLayla]

Is there any improvement today

[Groovychook]

Well, she didn't look great this morning

 

I managed to get a syringe full of nutri drops into her and made up some runny porridge with a couple of vitamin E capsules mixed in. She wasn't interested at all to begin with, but then gobbled a little bit before we had to leave.

 

I've had a horrible day fretting about her, we only got back at 5.30 and I was worried to death that she might have deteriorated or worse. I found her in her cage, neck all twisted around and hairdo full of food and poo

I've given her some more water with avipro in it another helping of runny porridge. I've tidied up her barnet and she had a quick blow dry, which she loved! I nipped out of the room to wash my hands and came back in to find she'd gone walkabout! She seemed to be a bit more balanced and was holding her neck a little straighter. She'd knocked over some pellets and was pecking away at them. I think there are small signs of improvement although as soon as I put her back in the cage at bedtime, she was lying with her head upside down again...

 

I tried to get some Vitamin B at the supermarket on the way home, but no joy... I'll have to try the health food shop tomorrow.

 

Finger crossed she'll be a little better in the morning!

[LolaLayla]

I will keep my fingers crossed too. Poor little thing

[Plum]

My fingers are crossed as well.

 

Soluble form is probably ok such as Boostor Lifeguard

You may be able to get one from your poultry goods supplier but check the label to check it has E and B in it.

A vet should be able to diagnose and give you what's needed

 

Hope she picks up, today sounded a bit more promising. There is a chance it's something like Mareks but I don't know much about that.

[Groovychook]

Thank you for keeping your fingers crossed- it seems to have done the trick!

 

I can report that this morning, little Rita is standing normally, no signs of a bendy neck and ....

has laid another egg!!

 

She's tucking into her porridge and seems so much better. I'm going to keep her in for another day and will go and get one of the tonics you've recommended Plum

 

They normally have Orego-stim in their water every day, which has been great, but maybe it hasn't got everything in it that Rita needs. Perhaps I'll hold fire on the Vitamin B12 for now and see if the tonic keeps her healthy.

 

I'm so relieved- a trip to the vets was on the cards for today but I'm just going to monitor her for now.

[Plum]

Great news sounds like your hard work is paying off.

 

I believe it's thiamine rather than B12 that could be to blame. Think those tonic will have both anyway.

[Groovychook]

Okay, thanks Plum!

[LolaLayla]

Wonderful news

[sparkysmum]

This is fantastic news, just great I must admit to thinking the worst when I read her symptoms and am so delighted to read she's on the mend. I wonder if a kndly mod could put this info in the "chicken ailments" section, we do have one

[Groovychook]

Just a quick update...

Rita seems to have recovered!

 

I gave her a penned off area inside the WIR today, but by late afternoon, she was so desperate to be back with the others that I let them mingle. Her balance seems fine and there are no signs of a twisty neck. She's tucked up in the cube tonight, hopefully there'll be no setbacks in the morning!

 

Throughout all of this, she's laid an egg for me every day- what a little trouper!

 

Thanks for all the good wishes

[LolaLayla]

What a recovery. That is fantastic

[Plum]

Wow good news

[mollyripkim]

That's really good news.

[Groovychook]

She's pottering around and doing chickeny things this morning!

Think she's over it... think I can relax!

 

If it happens again in the future, I'll try and get a bit of film of her. It could be useful for anyone else with a chicken in similar straights.

It might be reassuring to see that they can recover something like that.

[LolaLayla]

I am so glad she is better as it sounded very concerning. Hopefully it won't happen again

[Redwing]

I have a Silkie that did that, it turned out to be a vit B deficiency and some powder designed for pigeons (B-Pure) added to her feed did the trick

 

The fact that it was improved after you cleaned her head could indicate crest mites or ear mites though so its worth keeping an eye out for these just in case

[Groovychook]

 

The fact that it was improved after you cleaned her head could indicate crest mites or ear mites though so its worth keeping an eye out for these just in case

I only sponged the tips of her 'hairdo', so it wasn't a full wash, but did check for any creepy crawlies and couldn't see any signs of anything.

 

Thanks for the tip about B-Pure

How often did you give it to her? Is it the sort of thing that I should be sprinkling on their porridge once a week or so as a preventative, or would you solely use it at the time that the problem occurs?