3 months old chick can't put his head up

[IceHax]

Hi all, I just noticed one of my two chicks was on the side of the cage and couldn't get up. I have no idea what happened, they are both living inside at around 70°F, they have access to food and water and everything, what can this be? They were born together and always lived together so I don't think one did that to the other, what can this be? Could he have inadvertently hurt is neck while pecking between the bars of the cage?

 

[IceHax]

 

[IceHax]

ItsI not clear from the pics, but she is alive and moving, but can't get the head upright, if I lift her, the head rotates backwards and falls

 

[IceHax]

I got her to put her head up, but she loses balance after some mins. I am fairly certain it's a neck injury now

 

[coach723]

It could be wry neck, that is often caused by a vitamin E deficiency. You need to supplement vitamin E and selenium (the selenium helps them uptake the vitamin E). It can also sometimes be caused by a head injury or genetics, you can't do much about those, so try the vitamins and see if the chick improves. Here is more info, a video at the bottom shows how to help them eat and drink until they can on their own:
https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/wry-neck.html

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is your chick? She sounds like she has limberneck, a form of wry neck or torticolis. What has she been eating? Has she been in a brooder the whole time? I would start giving her some vitamins. Thiamine or B1, and 400 IU of vitamin E with a tiny bit of cooked egg for selenium would be good to start. Can she eat or drink if you hold her. If ahe cannot swallow, then I would not give her anything by mouth.

 

[IceHax]

How old is your chick? She sounds like she has limberneck, a form of wry neck or torticolis. What has she been eating? Has she been in a brooder the whole time? I would start giving her some vitamins. Thiamine or B1, and 400 IU of vitamin E with a tiny bit of cooked egg for selenium would be good to start. Can she eat or drink if you hold her. If ahe cannot swallow, then I would not give her anything by mouth.

Thanks for the reply, this happened over the course of two hrs, so I don't think it's diet related. The other chick eating exactly the same stuff is just fine. She can eat and drink on her own, but she is constantly losing balance and can straighten the head for 15 mins Max.

 

[IceHax]

How old is your chick? She sounds like she has limberneck, a form of wry neck or torticolis. What has she been eating? Has she been in a brooder the whole time? I would start giving her some vitamins. Thiamine or B1, and 400 IU of vitamin E with a tiny bit of cooked egg for selenium would be good to start. Can she eat or drink if you hold her. If ahe cannot swallow, then I would not give her anything by mouth.

She is 3 months old and she is out of the brooder.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she a silkie? A head injury might be possible, and she can be old enough for wry neck to be associated with Mareks disease. Chicks can still have vitamin deficiency even though flock mates are fine. What do you feed, ie—chick feed or any extras? Check your feed for any off odor or color, since mold can form overnight if moisture gets into the container. Mold poisoning can cause neurological signs. If she is a silkie, they can be more prone to head injuries and Mareks. I am just mentioning all of the possibilities to look for. The vitamin treatment is the usual for any type of wry neck. Imbalance and weakness of an extremity can be other sings to look for. Hopefully, she will improve. Sometimes when they show signs of illness or imbalance, others will pick on them.

 

[IceHax]

Is she a silkie? A head injury might be possible, and she can be old enough for wry neck to be associated with Mareks disease. Chicks can still have vitamin deficiency even though flock mates are fine. What do you feed, ie—chick feed or any extras? Check your feed for any off odor or color, since mold can form overnight if moisture gets into the container. Mold poisoning can cause neurological signs. If she is a silkie, they can be more prone to head injuries and Mareks. I am just mentioning all of the possibilities to look for. The vitamin treatment is the usual for any type of wry neck. Imbalance and weakness of an extremity can be other sings to look for. Hopefully, she will improve. Sometimes when they show signs of illness or imbalance, others will pick on them.

She is a silkie-polish cross, she does not ahow any signs of weakness but she can't keep the head up, as soon as she lets go it drops and rotates 270° looking backwards. The feed I'm giving them has already vitamins added into it for a balanced diet, but I will add some more in the water.