Edit: Genetic Wry neck?

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Rin

Rin

Songster
14 Years
Oct 22, 2009
680
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FL
Debating on what to do with a chick with a broken wing. They're tough as hell or I'd cull them outright. There might be internal damage too. They got caught in one of the holes of the chick feeder and got trampled by the other chicks. I bandaged up their wing but they are unable to keep themselves righted. I say they're tough because even with this they were able to climb up over everyone else and push one or two aside to get at the chick feed. Is there anything I can do to help them sit up like when they try to rest? I've tried putting her in a cup with tissue but then everyone tried to sit in with them. Main issue with them not keeping righted is the other chicks try to sleep on top of them.

EDIT -
Also gave them poly-vi-sol and as mentioned above they have feeding tenacity and they drink fine on their own too.

EDIT x 2 -
After watching the chick a bit and veryyy carefully checking the wing... this might actually be SEVERE Wry neck. While wobbling about they very suddenly rooooolled their head back where it seemed to stick and they fell forward and to the right - unable to move and crying. Had lost a silkie chick to this before but not heard of it in d'Uccles so upped her poly-vi-sol intake....

.... still eating and pooting on their own but I need to give them water so they wont drown themself.

EDIT x 3 -
Stopped eating and refuses dropper now
sad.png


EDIT x 4 -
SEEMS TO BE SPREADING?! :hmm; I put runty chick back but then as soon as I did they turned their head COMPLETELY upside down and fell over. Was like something out of the exorcist!

EDIT x 5 -
Could this be genetic? I lost several millies now but have had no problems with my porcelains! They all share the same father but for some reason over half my millie chicks died while my porcies are thriving. I breed them to sell - so should I track which momma millie is causing this and cull her or would it be caused by mom AND dad even though dad had NO issues - none of the chicks from the batch I hatched him out of had wry neck or any issues at all like this.
 
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Can you separate her from the others in any way? Maybe a shoe box with her little cup in it (+ food & water), with a mesh/screen cover? I think that's what I would try. Good luck!
 
Well, I just put her away in her own lil rubbermaid box with a bit of shavings for traction and cut up a paper cup for food and one for water though I might mix the two. Shes used to drinking from a water bottle and i'm worried about her drowning in the cop since she can't right herself very well. I put half the box on one of those plug in human heat wraps on medium since I have no other lamps or bulbs.

She's crying though - doesn't like being alone at all.
 
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Well, if there's no room w/the others, that's about all you can do! I didn't catch how old she is. She must be pretty tiny if she can't stand up. Is the bandage quite light-weight? It probably needs no more than a piece of paper tape (masking tape, if you don't have the medical type on hand works - may have to cut it to make it thinner). Poor thing!
 
I agree, I'd tape her and put her back. Duct tape should work too, just let it fall off as the fuzz/feathers fall off.
 
Quote:
Well, if there's no room w/the others, that's about all you can do! I didn't catch how old she is. She must be pretty tiny if she can't stand up. Is the bandage quite light-weight? It probably needs no more than a piece of paper tape (masking tape, if you don't have the medical type on hand works - may have to cut it to make it thinner). Poor thing!

Very thin medical tape(I'd say a quarter inch). She couldn't right herself even without it on her. She's exactly two weeks today but is a D'uccle chick so very very small. The reason why I think it might be more than just her wing wrong with her. Her beak had dried blood on it when I found her caught in the feeder this morning. So she might have a head/neck injury that doesn't come off as obvious as that.

43337_sany1650.jpg

Eating with bandage on

43337_sany1652.jpg

Fell over
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43337_sany1653.jpg

Eating anyway.
 
Bummer. If she got any kind of head/neck injury causing a neurologic problem, it can take a long time time to heal, but since she's so young and growing fast, I wouldn't give up on her yet. As long as she's eating/drinking/pooping she's got a chance!
Nice photos, by the way!
 
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Quote:
Yeah main reason I'm concerned is if she tries to rest at ALL this is what she does;
43337_sany1655.jpg


and the other chicks seem to think this is an invitation to climb on top and snuggle which WILL kill her. Seen it happen wayyy too many times.
sad.png
Another thing of note is when she lays like that even when she seems to be in a deep sleep. Her feet tremble uncontrollably. Instinctual trembling I hope is the case.
 
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That could also be a sign of nerve damage, and something that may take a little time to stop. On the up side, chickens do indeed sleep on their sides in the sun, so it's not a completely unnatural position. I guess all you can do is what you're doing, and allow her to recover. She may turn out to be the best chicken you ever had!
 
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Doesn't help shes the product of my flock. She WASSSssss going to be sold off for $4 at the local farm swap. XD But. Well. If she pulls through I don't think I could :')
 

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