Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: brenda on February 28, 2010, 19:11

Title: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: brenda on February 28, 2010, 19:11

Hi
One of my hens  cant seem to hold her head up,  her wing droops down on one side and when she walks for a little bit her head slowly starts to fall down till eventually you would think that she was watching the ground.  We have found her sitting on the ground with her neck outstretched. Otherwise she looks in good health and if you put a bowl of food beside her she will eat although getting her to drink is a liitle harder! I have examined her neck and it seems to be twisted, maybe the rooster has hurt her I dont know. I feel sorry for the poor pet and was wondering if it would be kinder to end her days.
Has anybody else had this experience?
Thanks Brenda

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: IMOmimey on February 28, 2010, 19:22

There is a condition called cork-screw neck (no idea its medical name), and this is genetic. the head seems to turn at a twisted angle, it gets worse as they get older, there is no cure, but it is not painful. 

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: dizzylizzie on February 28, 2010, 19:28

Hi, sorry about your girl. How old is she, how long has she been like this and dose she have any other symptoms? Any chance of a photo? :)

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: brenda on February 28, 2010, 19:54

Hi thanks for getting back to me I think she would be about three years old she seems in good health her poo is normal, she tries to hold her head up and can for a minute or two but then it goes down slowly! When you feel her neck you can feel like a kink in it, this has happened only the last couple of days although for a while she was walking slowly and her tail down I blamed the rooster, I thought he had hurt her back.
Brenda

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: dizzylizzie on February 28, 2010, 20:00

I think i would be popping her along to the vet tomorrow :(
Has been been vacinated against things like newcastles, merecks etc?

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: Aunt Sally on February 28, 2010, 23:37

Quote from: IMOmimey on February 28, 2010, 19:22

There is a condition called cork-screw neck (no idea its medical name),

There is also a condition called Limberneck which is a botulism poisoning.  Could she have found and eaten a dead mouse etc.

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: brenda on March 01, 2010, 13:50

Hi aunt sally
anything is possible! she could of got hold of a  dead mouse, we have 5 cats and they just leave the dead mouse after they have finished playing with it, I have had to chase after hens to get mice off them!!.
But would my hen  be sickly?
Shes very bright, her comb is a good colour and poo is normal.
Regards
 Brenda

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: Aunt Sally on March 01, 2010, 15:13

It probably would make her ill if it was a toxic mouse or some such.  Perhaps the cockerel has damaged her neck. 

Title: Re: hen with a twisted neck
Post by: IMOmimey on March 01, 2010, 20:51

Limberneck?...tell me more...please..... ???