3 yr old polish chicken weak neck. Keeps head down. I gave nutri

[clucky mom]

3 yr old polish chicken has weak neck. Keeps holding head down

 

[Henriettamom919]

What you're describing is wry neck. It's a symptom of another underlying issue.

What's baby eating including treats? Is there any chance this chick is being kept from food by flockmates/bullying? Was she recently injured or pecked in the head?

Treatment is usually 400IU Vit. E and Vit. B complex with some egg or tuna (for the Selenium necessary to process Vit. E).

 

[Henriettamom919]

I've read polish are uniquely susceptible due to the shape of their skull, so she probably got bonked. Good news is the treatment is the same regardless of how it happened.

This article is great!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/wry-neck-causes-treatment-and-prevention.67732/

Oh, and welcome! I'm sorry your chickie is feeling down!

 

[clucky mom]

Thank you for your advice! Perfectly timed. Sweet little Daphne is our support mate for our lame Evangelina. I was able to see the vet and her treatment supported your identification of wry neck. Within a couple of hours and in the company of Evangelina, she was eating, drinking and holding her head up. Her head was down again this morning but we have the b and e and selenium to give her. I am grateful for your reply.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I'm sorry to hear she's having a tough time but wry neck can usually be managed with vitamins as symptoms pop up. It might be a one off or it might recur but now you know what to do!

Did the vet have a guess as to the cause?

 

[clucky mom]

Wry neck in Polish hen cured! With the help of folks here and my chicken vet, Daphne is 100%! It took about 3 months. We had been giving her vitamin e .2 ml and selenium 2 drops mixed into Polyvisol without iron, administering 2x day. She was losing weight and while her head would be up, the least little stress, and her head was on the ground.
I ground up her 18% layer feed added the polyvisol, e, selenium and water for 25 ml tube feeding 2xday. 3x would have been better, but I just managed 2x. At 4 months out, she is eating on her own and no stress has caused her head to drop. The 18% feed is feather fixer. All 3 chickens are doing well. Praise God!