Drooping head crossed legs

[suzychappstick]

This gal has quite a long story, so I will try to be quick. She was being picked on during the winter (and the summer before) and they wouldn't let her up on the roost and she was getting frostbite. So, I put her in a kennel in our heated garage. I noticed one day she had mites, gave her a bath. Then I ended up bringing her inside and somewhere along the line, her legs became crossed? Not sure if it was because she was on the roost the majority of the time? I took her out and tried to walk her, but legs still stayed crossed. When it became nice here in MN I would put her outside, but still didn't move. She was eating well, 2 scrambled eggs and meal worms a day, and drinking water. The she took a turn for the worse. Her head started to droop and she could no long hold it up. She will only eat if I put food on a plate while holding her. Now she just wants seeds, mostly black sunflower seeds (gave her this for vitamin E), not even eggs or tuna anymore. She will drink a little but mostly I use a syringe and give her a little at a time (I bumped up the rooster booster in her water). She perks up when I pick her up. Is she missing a vitamin(s), or being outside...am I missing something? Any suggestions? You can't see it in the picture but her eyes are open.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

Poor girl! With the legs crossing I first thought niacin deficiency or too much protein but am not sure with the head drooping. Hopefully Eggcessive knows more or can link in someone else.
@Eggcessive ?

 

[Eggcessive]

Poor thing. She has some very serious neurological disorder. How old is she? How long ago did she start crossing her legs, and then how long has she had a limberneck or wry neck? Is she holding on to the roost, or are her legs paralyzed? How about her wings? Nothing that is going on fits botulism, mold poisoning, or Mareks disease exactly. Is there any chance of lead poisoning from eating old paint chips or lead shot in the ground? Any mold in feed or toxic substances (weed killer or pesticides) in the area? I would give her the human vitamin E 400 IU daily along with 1/4 tablet of human super b complex crushed in food. Have you considered putting her down if she gets any worse? I’m not sure that she will get better, but I don’t know what is exactly wrong. I would be tempted to contact the state vet lab and ask for a necropsy and testing. Here is a list of state vet labs to contact, and bodies should be kept cold, but not frozen before sending them to the lab.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8

 

[Eggcessive]

I am going to tag @Wyorp Rock and @azygous to have a look at your thread.

 

[suzychappstick]

She's only a couple years old. I wanna say around Dec she started to cross her legs. The neck thing is pretty new, like 2 1/2 weeks. Yep, she holds onto roost and my fingers. Her wings work too, she uses them to balance. No paint chips, she's been in the kennel, or trying to walk in my office or out in the grass by the other coop. She has eggs, tuna, seeds, strawberries, bananas, oatmeal, mealworms...but only really seems to like the seeds right now. Yeah, if she doesn't get better I will have to put her down. I've been feeding her for months now. But you will see in the pics she can hold her head up, especially when she is on my lap. No weed killer or pesticides either. I'll get the vitamins tomorrow and give those a try. Sorry pics are kind of blurry.

 

[Eggcessive]

The best thing she could eat is her balanced chicken feed. If you can mix it with a little water and some egg , hopefully she would take it better. Tube feeding would be a good way to feed her and maintain a balanced diet. Tube feeding sets are sold on Amazon, and many use KayTee Exact bird feed mixed with water 15 ml per pound of weight 2-3 times a day.

https://www.amazon.com/Abustle-pig-...words=lamb+feeding+tube&qid=1744856337&sr=8-8

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I noticed one day she had mites, gave her a bath. Then I ended up bringing her inside and somewhere along the line, her legs became crossed? Not sure if it was because she was on the roost the majority of the time?

She was eating well, 2 scrambled eggs and meal worms a day, and drinking water. The she took a turn for the worse. Her head started to droop and she could no long hold it up. She will only eat if I put food on a plate while holding her. Now she just wants seeds, mostly black sunflower seeds (gave her this for vitamin E), not even eggs or tuna anymore. She will drink a little but mostly I use a syringe and give her a little at a time (I bumped up the rooster booster in her water).

She has eggs, tuna, seeds, strawberries, bananas, oatmeal, mealworms...but only really seems to like the seeds right now.

I agree, I'd feed her a nutritionally balanced poultry feed. You don't mention her laying eggs, so I'd go with either Chick Starter or an All Flock Feed.

She had Mites and you gave her a bath. Are the mites gone? Any infection, pus or Mites inside the ears?

What's going on with the crest feathers in the photo, is that because she's keeping her head down so much?

Aim for 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 B-Complex daily. Give plain fresh water to drink. Her beak is overgrown at the tip which may make it harder for her to eat/drink on her own.

 

[suzychappstick]

That makes sense about her diet. I'll order the KayTee today and tube set if I can't find mine and pick up the vitamin E and B complex. Yeah, I think her crest is a little wonky because her head had mostly been resting on a wash cloth.

 

[Eggcessive]

Egg is also good to give for selenium and vitamin E uptake.