[peggyprice]

Princess, my Wyandotte, is not at all well this morning.  She's not moving, just standing still, and when she did try to walk her legs were all wobbly (crossign over as if she was drunk).  Hasn't eaten, isn't interested in drinking.  She's now standing in a box on my dining room table, looking as though she's going to sleep.  

need advice urgently please!

[Lost in France]

Do hope she pulls through. Others may have an idea of what's wrong but meanwhile keep her warm, lots of TLC, a few pieces of grape might tempt her but if she isn't drinking, you might try to give her fluids carefully with a syringe. Make sure you open her beak enough to get it over her tongue. I add Dyoralyte (electrolytes you can get from the Chemist), to ensure they're getting the minimum they need.

Fingers crossed that it's just a passing problem.

Judi

[peggyprice]

Thanks for that Judi - at the moment, she's still just standing in her box on my dining room table, looking like she's going to sleep, with the occasional shiver.

I'm wondering if it might be either an ear infection (would maybe explain the lack of balance?) or some sort of virus (if she was human I'd say she'd got flu, she looks like she just wants to curl up under the bedclothes!).

Playing it safe (for her sake and the others) and going to vet in an hour ... will let you know how we get on (where's the smiley for crossed fingers when you need it??)

[Vember]

Ahh hope it goes ok at the vets

Will keep my fingers crossed for you

[babe]

any news yet peggy? hope its all good. x

[peggyprice]

Just got back from the vet - still not much the wiser though.

Her temperature is in the normal range;
Her crop is full, but vet doesn't think it's impacted or excessively full;
When the vet put her on the floor she had no balance, very wobbly, but once she got balance back she just stood very still again;
Very quiet, easy to handle - though brightened up briefly when the vet took her temperature!;
Is keeping her head turned to the left all the time;
Is sleepy - eyes closed most of the time.
Obligingly did one poo in her box - pale green, almost pure liquid, with a tiny bit of grey solid.

Vet's suggestions:
- could be something she's eaten, maybe a plant in the garden that is poisonous to hens (any suggestions?  We don't have anything much out of the ordinary, but our garden is pretty tatty and I'm not sure what might be lurking in the ground...)
- could be a virus
- could be something else  :roll:

We asked about a stroke (because of the wobbly legs and turned neck) - vet said it's not very common - views please?

(to be fair to the vet, although she's not a poultry specialist she did take a lot of time and care examining Princess).

So:  treatment plan so far:
she's had an injection of antibiotics and another of anti-inflammatory (and was lively enough to flap her wings when they were being administered;
we're giving her Dioralyte by syringe, and in a little while will try to get some soggy food into her by the same method;
she's back in her box in the dining room, so warm and cosy
if she's still with us tomorrow, vet will prescribe some more antibiotics; if not ...   :cry:

[babe]

hi peggy, when you say her neck is turned, does she bring it straight, then it goes back, like on a spring.

what breed is she?

[peggyprice]

Hi Babe,

no, she just keeps it turned all the time, unless something startles her (then she reacts normally). She's a golden laced Wyandotte.

I've just spoken to the guy at the rare breeds centre that she came from (wanted to check there was nothing going through the flock, since we've only had her a fortnight); his first thought was that she was egg bound, but since she laid perfectly well yesterday (and since the vet has already prodded her backside this morning!) that seems unlikely.

I asked him about stroke - given the head turning - he agreed it could be a brain thing and said it does happen, but I haven't been able to find anything yet on stroke in chickens!

We'll just have to bide our time, I think, and see what happens... :?

[babe]

sounds like a cerebal hernia,

have a read here, scroll down

http://www.halchemy.co.uk/beebe/science.html

[peggyprice]

Thanks Babe - I see what you mean, though Princess doesn't come into the 'crested' category.  But of course she could have been pecked in the head and suffered brain damage like that!

I'm encouraged that it recommends anti biotic & anti inflammatory at the earliest detection though ... maybe we'll be lucky and the vet's treatment will do the trick  :?

[peggyprice]

Latest update :  just found a small, very fragile egg in the box on the dining room table, and Princess on the floor under the table.  No idea how she got there, she must have been a bit livelier for a moment or two, but now she's back to the same as before - keeps looking like she's going to put her head down for the last time, then wakes up again.

We've got some mashed up pellets soaked in Dioralyte into her - she seemed quite happy to be swallowing it.

I'm no good for anything today, apart from watching Princess and coming back to the forum... I was supposed to be at a big networking event today listening to Janet Street Porter speak over lunch... well, sorry, Janet, but the chicken came first

I'm getting neurotic about the other three as well now; every time I go outside I walk up to wherever they are settled down just to make sure they can still move ...

[Jellyhead]

Thinking of you with big hugs from over here, hope all turns out well for\ Princess

[Wildeone]

I found that on of my hens went stock still and 'droopy' after laying an abnormal egg . . . i really hope its the same for yours coz chicken licken is back to her normal self after 24 hours!  :scratch:

[peggyprice]

Hello all, and thanks for all your support - it's surprising how much difference it makes  

Princess is still with us, though I don't think anyone would consider she has much of a chance still; she's just sleeping all the time, although she does come alert if you touch her, for a moment or two - then the eyes close and she's back to sleep.  I stood her up earlier and she didn't fall over, but she just doesn't seem to have any use of her legs - if she's put down on her feet she stands up, if she goes down on the floor she stays there.

We've tried emptying her crop this morning because that was so full yesterday, but she didn't bring anything up apart from a little fluid; though it does seem emptier now; and her poo when I came down was definitely more solid than yesterday, so she must be digesting the food we got into her yesterday.  She's happy to swallow if we open her beak - but left to her own devices she wouldn't be eating or drinking at all.

I don't know how much longer we should leave her like this; she's not in distress (in a way that would be easier because there would be no choice but to put her out of her misery) - I really don't want to lose her, and I want to give her the best chance I can - but how long can a chicken go on being poorly and still recover?

         

[Aunt Sally]

I think if you don't see an improvement within a couple of days from the onset then it is unlikely that she will recover.  The vet could find no indication of disease so a cerebral accident is fairly likely  :cry: