Silkie Chicken hen sick...Help

[lucygoosey]

I found one of my Silkie Chicken Hens lying down with her neck sort of twisted(it doesn't appear broken, it is stiff, not limp) , she is unable to stand up, she just flops a bit then just lies there, she is opening and closing her beak. I have not noticed any previous signs of illness. I have been raising Silkies for about 1 1/2 years now and have had a healthy flock. While I was assessing her, one of the roosters came over and grabbed her by the neck feathers. Could this be in injury from an aggressive rooster VS. an illness? I have more roosters than hens and have been trying to get rid of all but 2, someone is actually coming today to take them.

Any information given will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Tina

[lucygoosey]

Just went back outside to check on the hen. She now appears fine??? No neck stiffness, Able to stand & walk without any difficulty, no stiffness noted in body movements. Now I am really baffled? Is she sick or not sick? She is in a warm dry place, with food and fresh water available.

Any ideas???

Thanks!
Tina

[Bresis]

It could be possible your hen got flogged on by one or more of the roosters. Do you know if she is on the lower end of the pecking order?

[lucygoosey]

She is one of the younger hens, lower in the pecking order. It could be possible she was just flogged by roosters. I guess she could have been "stunned" or in a submissive state, especially since she is now fine.

The extra roosters are gone now, sent to a new home today. So that shouldn't be a problem any longer.

Thanks!

Tina

[Bresis]

May she never scare you like that again. Happy trails!

[j_rorer]

Could it be botulism? I think that can cause non-permanent paralysis.

[goosedragon]

Could it be botulism? I think that can cause non-permanent paralysis. Yes, botulism
can cause non-permanent paralysis but recovery is usually extremely slow not rapid as is the case here. (otherwise your botox injections to take care of wrinkles and whatever else it is used for would have to be renewed daily or weekly :wink:) ~gd

[Glenda L Heywood]

Goosedragon is right it can be posioned feed but also it is a silkie and they have this problem and need Vitamin E to help it.
It is ddue to the nob on their head and equlibreium problem
here is Alan's email as he has the board Alan" <Rasillon@BrownEggBlueEgg.com> http://www.asbc@yahoo.com board
Very informative and he will help you
Glenda L Heywood
http://www.gkpet.com
click on pet forum

[Glenda L Heywood]

On botulism here is a good site to read

http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/disbact.htm#bot

Glenda L Heywood
http://www.gkpet.com

[Glenda L Heywood]

To get Vitamin E into your birds health wise here is a good way
since wheat germ oil is Vitamin E you could and can use it this way Take a gallon of wheat and add 1/4 cup of the wheat germ oil and stir it in good. Now put what amounts of 1/4 cup per bird in feed troughs. if making for one bird use this amount 1/4 cup of wheat and 2 tbsp of wheat germ oil. Or you can also use Cod Liver oil for vitamin A (this is for good strong eggs for hatching) using the same formula 1/4 cup cod liver oil mixed on 1 gallon of wheat. When mixing this method if you want to feed the mixtures at the same time, YOU HAVE to let the oils set mixed on the grain over night so that the oils dry on the grains.

Never mix Wheat germ oil and cod liver oil when wet they undo each others effectiveness. Also I always gave my birds a 400 mg of Vit e by putting the pill down the throat and holding the beak and stroking the throat to get the bird to swallow the pill. You can take the bird and dip its beak in the water so that it swallows. These oils are very good. Also can use linseed or flax oil, and safflower oil.
Glenda L. Heywood
frizzlebird6@yahoo.com
http://www.gkpet.com

[Evy]

[quote]always gave my birds a 400 mg of Vit e by putting the pill down the throat and holding the beak and stroking the throat to get the bird to swallow the pill. You can take the bird and dip its beak in the water so that it swallows. These oils are very good. Also can use linseed or flax oil, and safflower oil.
Glenda L. Heywood
frizzlebird6@yahoo.com
http://www.gkpet.comGlenda L Heywood

A 400mg capsule of vit. E is an adult human dose....WAY TOO MUCH for a 2 # chicken. This is the kind of misinformation that does more potential harm than good!

[Pathfinders]

Vitamin E can be purchased in liquid form, much easier to dose the correct amount with a dropper than trying to squeeze out a pill.

Laura