Why does sick hen bob head constantly?

[JDelage]

We're taking care of a sick hen right now, and we *think* we have some idea of what's wrong and we're taking care of it. My question relates to the fact that this chicken is constantly bobbing her head. Is that something that happens a lot with sick chickens? We've not observed that behavior on previous occasions.

Quick vid:

 

[ninjawesome]

Over the past year, I've had five chicken deaths. All of which gave signs like the one in your video. They were perfectly healthy, then they stopped laying eggs. After that they started sitting around more often, then started bobbing their heads similar to the one in your video. After that, the head wobbling just gets worse and pretty soon they are not able to hold it up anymore. This sickness is a slippery slope and I hope your's will be able to beat it! Good luck.

 

[Eggcessive]

It appears to me that she is showing some neurological signs in her neck bobbing. How old is she, and was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Does she have any other symptoms? She may have suffered a head injury, or she may have an illness, such as Mareks or others. I would start her on poultry vitamins in her water and encourage her to drink some fluids by holding a small cup to her beak, or by dipping her beak for a second into the water, then letting her swallow. Can she eat, and does she move her neck at all, or does it seem "stuck" as in wry neck. Wry neck is also treated with vitamins, especially vitamin B1 (thiamine,) vitamin E, and selenium, which is found in egg or tuna.

 

[JDelage]

All - the hen is still alive, but not doing better. Her state seems to be degrading very slowly. She doesn't seem to eat or drink. I'm giving her water 2x a day as I administer the AB or AB+painkiller, but I'm not sure her condition is bacteriological as it's not responding to the AB at all. We should have blood test results tomorrow (I know - we went a bit overboard).

The hen was hatched last August and has been with us since early November. She was supposed to be vaccinated for Marek's, yes.

 

[JDelage]

I put her out of her misery today. Couldn't stand to see her slowly wasting away.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm sorry for your loss. Have you considered getting a necropsy to look for Mareks? Here is a link about necropsy and how to send, plus state vet contacts:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm