Hen is Turning Head Upside-Down... Will post pic

[BravewingTheHen]

Hi! I've got a hen (same one that was vomiting, isn't vomiting any more, thanks by the way ) and she seems to be turning her head to the side all the time and upside-down. What is she doing, and why? I will post a picture in a bit. Thanks!

 

[FeatheredFreind]

What kind of hen and how old?

 

[wantbantams]

I have the same thing happening and it has really turned for the worst. Please, any advice will help. My hen is a light brahma and is about 8 months old

 

[BravewingTheHen]

She is a year and a half old, and she is a Sussex-Gray Japanese Bantam cross. She was broody, but her eggs did not hatch and she sat for a while after. We took her eggs away and her nesting box (she is separated) and ever since she has been doing this. At first she was vomiting but stopped once I have her some yogurt (no sugar, no fruit) mixed with her food. She is eating crumble at the moment because we had some left from our young pullet. There is sort of a sour smell in the coop she is in, and I'm wondering if she has Sour Crop. Any advice will help! Thanks!

 

[BravewingTheHen]

I will post a picture tomorrow, she's asleep right now.

 

[BravewingTheHen]

Ok, I have confirmed it is Sour Crop. I don't want to vomit her as I am nervous she could aspirate. I will be giving her a scrambled egg with olive oil and some plain yogurt, and I will mix Apple Cider vinegar in her water. I will also massage her crop without vomiting her. If any one has any other suggestions, that would be great! Thanks!

 

[wantbantams]

How were you able to confirm it was sour crop?

 

[Smoky73]

Hi! I've got a hen (same one that was vomiting, isn't vomiting any more, thanks by the way

) and she seems to be turning her head to the side all the time and upside-down. What is she doing, and why? I will post a picture in a bit. Thanks!

Turning of the head and upside down is usually a classic sign of a wry neck/crook neck. My experience has been that it typically happens when you have vitamin deficiencies. I believe that you said something about her being broody prior, which usually means they are not eating and drinking as often as they should, which could certainly mean she was not getting the nutrients she would have otherwise. I have done excessive amounts of vitamins, nutridrenches and Polyvisol is a good baby vitamin to give. I just give a few dropper fulls down the throat frequently. And I have successfully cured...SOME birds There is always a chance it wont work, but worth a shot at saving her life.

 

[FeatheredFreind]

I once had a 10month old silkie hen with the same symtoms and she turned out to have a vitamin E deficinacy. I gave her baby poly drops(without iron) and vitamin E liquid capsul on her food. baby drops a each day and vitamin e on her food ot in her beak to be positive she was getting it. I'm no vet but everything is worth trying for my ladies. I noticed improvement within a week. I still to this day give her some vitamin E every once in a while and I've had no problems with her since. Good Luck and keep us informed.

 

[Tikkijane]

I just blogged about this (it's the It's Broken post) and we had terrific results. Wry neck is treatable if it's not disease related. Fwiw.