19 week old Cockerel twisting his neck intermittently. Is this wry neck, seizures, a neurological problem, toxicity, Marek's, or something else?

[Lortiz]

Hi all. I need some help determining what is wrong with my cockerel. He was fine a few days ago, then yesterday I noticed him bending his head down between his legs and moving it around. Last night it was happening more, so I started giving him B vitamins, Vit E, selenium, curcumin, oregano, rosemary, ground flax seeds, ground pumpkin seeds, nutritional yeast, and molasses mixed in scrambled eggs cooked with coconut oil. I also gave him a tiny piece of a 15 mg tablet of Meloxicam last night because it was happening a lot and he wasn't going to sleep. He is eating on his own so today I mixed all those in all of their feed.

He doesn't do it constantly. He will stop and act normal in between. He also seems weak or his legs aren't coordinated properly. He walks fine but he had trouble getting on the roost last night, and he kind of stumbled a few times when another chicken ran into him.

The other cockerel I have in the same group is drooping his wings some today, but he can pull them up. Otherwise he seems fine. I don't know if it's because it is hotter today where I live, but the others aren't doing it. I know this can be a symptom of Marek's. He is the darker one in the last picture.

I would greatly appreciate opinions and advice.

 

[azygous]

Whoa! That's really throwing the kitchen sink at this issue. Really, there is no need.

Vitamin E 400iu one capsule directly into his beak will likely clear this right up. Follow up with another the next day. He should be good with just a couple doses, and one on the third day just for good measure. Around 25 mcg selenium is all you need with each dose or give with a bit of egg.

(Fixed the 25 mcg)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Around 25 mg selenium

Carol, I think you left out the c - shouldn't it be 25mcg (micrograms instead of milligrams)?

 

[azygous]

Thanks for catching that. I always get confused by mg and mcg. I usually avoid it by just recommending a "sliver". Think that will work?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for catching that. I always get confused by mg and mcg. I usually avoid it by just recommending a "sliver". Think that will work?

A sliver might just work!

 

[Lortiz]

Whoa! That's really throwing the kitchen sink at this issue. Really, there is no need.

Vitamin E 400iu one capsule directly into his beak will likely clear this right up. Follow up with another the next day. He should be good with just a couple doses, and one on the third day just for good measure. Around 25 mg selenium is all you need with each dose or give with a bit of egg.

Thanks for the info. Yeah, it probably isn't all necessary, but I read a really interesting article on a blog called The Holistic Hen that made a lot of good points about feeding foods that contain the nutrients instead of just the supplements because the foods contain a lot of other nutrients too. So I figured why not, these foods are good for them anyway. I also saw similar information in the BackYard Chickens Learning Center article Wry neck - Causes, treatment and prevention. In the blog, she suggests organic liver too but I didn't get that yet. I'll definitely keep giving him the Vit E and Selenium. I am hoping someone can tell me if they think this is wry neck or something else. I haven't experienced this before so I don't want to miss it if it something else. I wondered if it is typical for them to only do it intermittently like he is or if they usually are stuck in a certain position. Or is this what happens before it gets worse?

Here are the links to the 2 part article.
Wry Neck/Torticollis What is it & Initial Treatment - The Upside down rooster
Wry Neck/Torticollis Part 2 - Nutritional Treatment - The Upside Down Rooster

I also found a good article from Alan Stanford, Ph.D on BrownEggBlueEgg.com.
Crookneck Treatment

I really appreciate your advice!

 

[Perris]

Sorry to hear about your poor boy. If he does recover, do please add him to my thread https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wry-neck-recovery-stories.1493842/

 

[azygous]

It's been my experience here on BYC and also in my own flock, that wry neck has endless ways to present itself. Most have been easily corrected with vitamin E.

Researching nutrition for you chickens is okay, but commercial feeds usually have all of the nutrients chickens require. Some of us maximize these nutrients by fermenting our feed. You might look into that. The added advantage is there is zero waste or spillage and chickens love the taste.

I want to caution you and all who wish to try esoteric homeopathic treatments for their chickens. Very recently one of our BYC friends lost her beloved rooster when she tried to treat him with something that ended up causing internal bleeding. Another BYC member had recommended it. If you or anyone wishes to explore "off-road" treatments, please look up whether or not such substance is toxic to chickens and what possible side effects it has. Chickens don't handle toxins well.

 

[Perris]

wry neck has endless ways to present itself. Most have been easily corrected with vitamin E

so do you have any idea why Damerow in the Chicken Health Handbook p.221 says only that it's caused by a recessive gene, and she does not recommend any treatment?

 

[azygous]

Is it talking about Silkies? They do have a genetic predisposition to wry neck, but most often it's treatable, even in cases that are chronic.

Most other forms of wry neck are very easily and successfully treated.

Opinions may vary. So does personal experience.