Ohlookitsshiny
In the Brooder
- Jun 7, 2021
- 4
- 2
- 11
Hello! Hoping for some quick help if we can save him!
When we went to put up all of our babies last night, we found one of our roos sitting on the ground, with his head slightly tilted. I knew something was wrong and when we went to pick him up, he began "stargazing." We put him to bed and I decided to start research this morning. He was 100% normal acting yesterday as far as we are aware, so this came on suddenly. My first thought is wry neck, but if it's something else, I don't want to treat him incorrectly. We are relatively new chicken parents.
I've answered the recommended questions below in an attempt to offer any helpful info!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
- He is a Slef Blue Ameraucana or Self Blue Easter Egger (we raised them together and now have no idea who is who), about 4.5 months old, and probably weighs around 5 lbs? He's thinner than one of our other roos, but thicker than the third, so seems about right.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
- I'll post a video and a few photos. The video shows him righting himself a bit. He is trying to move, but ends up spinning. He's stargazing for sure. However, if he sits still for a minute, he can correct his neck to a normal position. At this point, he preens his wing feathers and then instantly stargazes again.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
- less than 24 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
- no, none are having any mobile difficulties, except for a young silkie in the next pen over who has some balance issues, but no stargazing.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
- none that I found.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
- the only things I have found that could be the cause are wry neck due to a vitamin deficiency or mareks, but no other birds have shown symptoms.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
- I haven't seen him eat or drink since I noticed his condition, but he was eating and drinking fine yesterday morning. Clean water and Naturewise AllFlock/Chick Starter
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
- I haven't seen his poop aside from any others.. in the coop, I found what looks mostly normal. One with a pinkish tint, but determined it was just intestinal lining and normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
- nothing yet, though I'm preparing a space to separate him and administer NutriDrench and a vitamin pack from TSC in his water.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
- We don't have any vets nearby to see farm animals such as chickens, so I wish to do all I possibly can on my own.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
- Will do!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
- We are using pine bedding, cleaning out about once a week. He is in with 10 other birds.
As a note: we did find lice on a handful of our birds (not him specifically), so we will be treating for that with Elector PSP. He might have lice as well, but I'm not sure.
When we went to put up all of our babies last night, we found one of our roos sitting on the ground, with his head slightly tilted. I knew something was wrong and when we went to pick him up, he began "stargazing." We put him to bed and I decided to start research this morning. He was 100% normal acting yesterday as far as we are aware, so this came on suddenly. My first thought is wry neck, but if it's something else, I don't want to treat him incorrectly. We are relatively new chicken parents.
I've answered the recommended questions below in an attempt to offer any helpful info!
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
- He is a Slef Blue Ameraucana or Self Blue Easter Egger (we raised them together and now have no idea who is who), about 4.5 months old, and probably weighs around 5 lbs? He's thinner than one of our other roos, but thicker than the third, so seems about right.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
- I'll post a video and a few photos. The video shows him righting himself a bit. He is trying to move, but ends up spinning. He's stargazing for sure. However, if he sits still for a minute, he can correct his neck to a normal position. At this point, he preens his wing feathers and then instantly stargazes again.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
- less than 24 hours
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
- no, none are having any mobile difficulties, except for a young silkie in the next pen over who has some balance issues, but no stargazing.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
- none that I found.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
- the only things I have found that could be the cause are wry neck due to a vitamin deficiency or mareks, but no other birds have shown symptoms.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
- I haven't seen him eat or drink since I noticed his condition, but he was eating and drinking fine yesterday morning. Clean water and Naturewise AllFlock/Chick Starter
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
- I haven't seen his poop aside from any others.. in the coop, I found what looks mostly normal. One with a pinkish tint, but determined it was just intestinal lining and normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
- nothing yet, though I'm preparing a space to separate him and administer NutriDrench and a vitamin pack from TSC in his water.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
- We don't have any vets nearby to see farm animals such as chickens, so I wish to do all I possibly can on my own.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
- Will do!
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
- We are using pine bedding, cleaning out about once a week. He is in with 10 other birds.
As a note: we did find lice on a handful of our birds (not him specifically), so we will be treating for that with Elector PSP. He might have lice as well, but I'm not sure.
