3 week old silkie with swelled neck. {PLEASE HELP!}

IamMina

In the Brooder
7 Years
Jul 8, 2012
12
0
22
Maine
Hello, I currently have 6 chicks that I'm raising this is only my second time around raising chicks so I'm not super experienced or anything. We have two silkies, one white and one black, and I've recently noticed the black one hasn't been lifting her neck past her shoulders. I picked her up and she still attempts to escape my hand and such like a normal chick but she won't lift it up any higher, she tries to look around with her head sideways its a little alarming. I've been watching her for a couple days now.
I noticed the top of her neck is slightly swelled up after comparing her to the white silkie, and that her neck is actually curved a little, the swelling seems to have increased slightly though. I'm worried this could mean something serious especially since she is rather small compared to all the other ones. Is it possible one of the other ones stepped on her or something and bruised her neck in some way? Or could it be some sort of illness causing it?
Other than her neck problem she seems completely healthy, she is eating and drinking. She is currently exactly 3 weeks of age if it helps to know that.
Please help!
-Mina
 
Pictures would really be helpful.
Anything is possible. I don't think wry neck would involve any kind of swelling, but do a search on it just in case, as I've never dealt with it personally. If there's actual swelling, I'd be more inclined to think a growth or something along those line (tumor maybe)??? I wouldn't think having her neck stepped on would cause swelling. If they're outdoors and she's small, possibly a bee sting could cause swelling. Does she react strongly if the area is gently manipulated???
 
Thank you so so much for the reply yeah I could take a few pictures sure. Today it's actually a lot worse... I noticed when I got home she was rollling around on the ground but its because instead of walking foward she keeps tucking her head under her stomach and walking in reverse and then she like trips over herself. Okay, I was thinking it could be wry neck but I wasn't sure either because of the swelling and the way that she is taking it. If it was a tumor is there any way I could supress it or even just help her with any possible pain from it?
 
IFit is a tumor (and that's just one possibility), my biggest worry would be that in the neck area, it would eventually grow enough to begin pushing on the food pipe or wind pipe. All my birds are pets first. With all of my animals, quality of life rules over quantity of life - if it seems that the chick cannot eat, drink, and peck about normally/happily, I would probably put the chick down. Technically, I'd ask my husband to put it down, else I'd take it to a vet to be euthanized, because I'm a big wimp with baby animals.
If you think it could be wry neck, then I've read of some birds doing okay with mild symtoms of it. But in severe cases, I'd think that eating and drinking would be difficult. I'm sorry I can't be of more help- I definitely empathize with your sense of helplessness and worry though.
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Ah well thank you so much for at least telling me what you could :) I actually went down to my local poultry store and talked to the people there, they gave me the number for a specialist who has agreed to help me out with her so for now I just have to hope its something that can easily be solved. Thank you for the concern and help ^^
 

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