One of my hens is moving her neck side to side and not eating.She has been doing this for months,but just every now and again anyone know what the problem is and what to do ?

-- audrey henry (alouaud@aol.com), April 27, 2000

Answers

Sorry I can't help you, Audrey, but I though I'd get this up on the new answers page where someone might see it sooner. I've never had a chicken that acted like that.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), April 29, 2000.

This is a tough one, but I suspect some dolt asked her if she planned to vote for Algore! Seriously, she must be eating, or would not have lasted this long. Does she lay? Maybe she has some sort of compulsive disorder! I know that whenever certain people show up on the T&V, we tend to turn it off! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@mix-net.net), May 02, 2000.

Audrey, how's your hen doing? There are some possibilities for what she's doing-primarily external parasites-but since she's been like this for months and the other chickens are ok, she's probably got an ear problem or brain damage. If she's still alive, grab her and feel how big she actually is under her feathers. If she's skinny either see if you can figure out a way to help her eat or put her out of her misery. Check her neck and head for any signs of parasites. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 03, 2000.

Hi Audrey. One of my layers has been doing that for a year now. She has an extended crop, I think, and it must be uncomfortable to her because she stretches her neck and shifts around like she's trying to adjust the fit. She's been laying well, she is fleshed out about right, and she acts normally otherwise except when she'd doing this shifting thing. Try offering a special treat to your hen (mine really like meat scraps), and if she dives on it, and is otherwise normal like mine, I wouldn't worry.

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), May 03, 2000.

Audrey, I vote with Gerbil and think she may have an internal parasites. Piperazine a liquid dewormer is found in most feed supply stores, is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. You just put some in the drinking water, read the directions for how much. thanks for the question, it reminded me to go out and put some in my chickens water. This stuff is pretty safe and you can deworm almost anything with it. Good luck with the chicken! karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), May 04, 2000.