[Heather B]

One of our marans, Dolly seems to have a problem with her neck or is it eyesight?  Did spot her the other day really having to bend her neck to take in water and she really has to bend her head to the right to look up.  She has been through a moult and her companion, another maran was pecking feathers from her neck at the time.  Any ideas anyone??
 

[Marches Farmer]

If there are problems with her neck my first thought would be Limber Neck (caused by botulism).  Could try flushing her system with Epsom salts or molasse, but outlook is poor.  Neck problems could also indicate Marek's or Avian Leukosis, in which case I'd isolate her immediately and cull. 

[Heather B]

Just an update - rang our usual vet who is usually quite good and he suggested gapeworm although I had wormed two weeks ago and couldn't see anything in Dolly's throat.  Our local gamekeeper suggested a quarter of an aspirin - interested to see what others feel about this!  Took her last night to another local vet - believe it or not despite the fact we live in a North Wales farming area no-one really has any proper advice about hens - the vet suggested maybe an ear infection or something neurological but basically didn't have  a clue - prescribed Tylan which I am pleased about because its a huge amount (handy for the future) and Medicam (muscle something or other usually prescribed to cats).  Dolly is not much better really despite the fact she is walking around, eating and drinking with the others and I even spotted her scratching before so perhaps not avian botulism.  I haven't separated her despite advice to do so cos I do think hens become extremely more miserable when put on their own; no-one is picking on her and the other hens are showing no similar symptoms.  So fingers crossed she will pick up!   

[chrismahon]

There is a neurological condition called 'stargazing', triggered by overheating. Where the neck twists back on itself so they are looking upside down and backwards. But that is very unlikely this time of year!

[Heather B]

Oh yes sussed it! Will try Vitamin B12  Look at this information :- Symptoms:

"Stargazers" constantly throw their head back, sleep with their heads between their legs; go around in a circle; look at the ceiling, turn their heads around in a circle and look up.
Stargazing can strike at random and without warning or past history of problems.
In some birds, the condition may correct itself over time or may be corrected given certain condition ...:

...resolution might be achieved through successfully treatment protocol (antibiotic treatments, etc.).
If this condition is left uncorrected, the following progression) can be expected:

Inability to fly.
Loss of balance/equilibrium. Falls off the perch.
Difficulty moving around in cage
Can't find food or water - resulting in starvation
The end result of stargazing is almost always death.
What Cause Stargazing / Twirling?
A definite cause has not been identified as of yet; however, the following are suspected:
Egg positioning (?)
Viral / bacterial or yeast infection
Chemical imbalance
Vitamin and/or mineral (nutritional) deficiency; Vitamin D deficiency (lack of natural sunlight exposure). Too much calcium can result in a drunken bird' look
Genetic predisposition
Inner-ear problem
Treatment for Stargazing
The following treatments have been reported as being fairly effective:
Nystatin
Trimethoprim Sulfa
Vitamin B 12 to strengthen the nervous system
Enhanced nutrition to correct any nutritional deficiencies
Prevention of Stargazing
The following steps will be an important step in not only preventing this disease, but others too.
Prevent birds which carry the genetic predisposition for this disease from breeding so that they cannot pass this condition on to their offspring
Provide the best nutrition possible.
Provide uncontaminated water and clean air
Keep your bird's environment clean

[chrismahon]

Thanks for that info HeatherB. When we had a case 4 years ago my very hasty research said no cure but symptoms may be alleviated slightly with anti-inflammatories. At that time heatstroke was the only cause given and it was a very hot sunny day. The poor girl was going crazy because she was totally disorientated and she was dispatched immediately before she seriously injured herself. In retrospect I thought that moving her into a cold and completely dark place may have helped because her neck corrected to grab a treat, then immediately after the stargazing returned. But we acted in her best interests at the time.

[Heather B]

Hi Chris - have spent some time this afternoon preparing a concoction of crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts, a vitamin B tablet, some tasty worms, pinch of flubenvet just in case washed down with Tylan.  Am not sure whether it may be too late for her but the symptoms of 'star gazing' really tie in. I wonder whether the 'overheating' thing may be linked to dehydration as she spends a lot of time at the water drinker.  I do have to put her in at night as she just can't make the ladder.  She was huddled this morning in a corner with an egg next to her so perhaps she is still laying but not managing to get to the nesting box.  It is however, distressing to see and god wonders whether she is in any pain, its hard to know.

[chrismahon]

Our girl was top hen and that was the first time anything had 'rocked her boat'. She went crazy trying to turn herself over! She wasn't in pain from the neck I'm sure and we actually watched it happen -straight to totally twisted in 15 minutes. Can Dolly straighten her neck to get treats?


Best of luck with your concoction HeatherB.

[Marches Farmer]

If she's drinking a lot there could be something else going on.

[Heather B]

Dolly can recognise the treats she has been getting and her neck seems to be actually getting better.  However, sadly she just seems now to have slowed right down - don't think the Tylan has assisted really or Vit B.  She's hanging on but am feeling quite sad about her now as she is hunched in the enclosure with her head tilted to the side, moving around slowly and yes, still drinking lots of water.  I let her out in the morning on her own for some worms, separate food, water and meds etc.  I think its hard at this point with a sick hen because you want them to get better but acknowledge that its probably not right to let them just carry on miserably and I do feel guilty.

[chrismahon]

Perhaps Marches farmer is right Heather and there is something else going on that has sparked the stargazing? There is still a chance she can just snap out of it but it is seeming less likely now. Perhaps she has overdosed on VitB. I say that because we occasionally give a shot of Cod Liver Oil with multivitamins as a quick pick-up, dosed at 0.5mL per Kg bodyweight. But once we gave a hen two shots in a week on a 'little more won't hurt' basis and she slipped right back to almost where she started for a few days after the second shot. We now only give one shot.

[Kitchen Cottage]

Aw..... how is "Dizzy Dolly" today... it's horrible when its a hen with a dominant personality

[goosepimple]

We had a Marsh Daisy that had an inner ear problem (vet), she did all sorts of weird things and eventually died but she lived in her wobbly distorted way quite happily it seemed for nearly a year.