4.5 day old SLW walking backward & not eating

[CyndiD]

Hi, i read about wry neck, but my chick is not tucking its head down. She/he is walking backward in a semi large circle. S/he leans on its right side when in brooder box w/its left leg out to/t side for bracing. S/he is not eating or drinking, it seems to not know how. I have shown it where t/water & food r. I dip my finger in t/water & put the drop to her/his beak & it drinks, & bites at my finger, like it can't see &/or startled. I then dip my finger in the crumble & offer it food but it shakes its head & tosses it away. It seems to not know how to scratch ( it doesn't scrach) for food or drink from t/water dish. I think it has somekind of brain malfunction. It doesnt seem to understand what to do.
Do u think baby vits will help, or selenium?
R there any sites i can read to help this baby chick? Thanks
P.S. s/he cries alot & loudly. I have held her/him, put her on my neck, in my hair, in my hands, in my shirt, on t/ground, nothing satisfies her, poor little creature, she startles easily too!?!?

 

[QueenMisha]

Sounds like a neurological issue. If it doesn't recover in 2-3 days, I would cull. Neurological problems either go away on their own or they don't ever go away, and if it's been like this since hatch, it's mostly likely some kind of malformation of the brain.

You can try crushing some Rooster Booster vitamin crumbles and sprinkling them on the food or mixing them with water, if it's a vitamin imbalance they should help.

Chicks can be very loud when they are cold or alone. Does it have a lamp on? Are there any other chicks in the brooder?

 

[tiffmw10]

I have a chicken like this. It's definitely a neurological disorder, but she lives a happy life and lays an egg daily. We call her "crookie" because her neck is always backwards and she doesn't see in front of her. When this first happened, I freaked. It took some time, but she improved.

Keep vitamins in her water and some probiotics (plain yogurt) to try and jumpstart her appetite.

 

[CyndiD]

Sounds like a neurological issue. If it doesn't recover in 2-3 days, I would cull. Neurological problems either go away on their own or they don't ever go away, and if it's been like this since hatch, it's mostly likely some kind of malformation of the brain.

You can try crushing some Rooster Booster vitamin crumbles and sprinkling them on the food or mixing them with water, if it's a vitamin imbalance they should help.

Chicks can be very loud when they are cold or alone. Does it have a lamp on? Are there any other chicks in the brooder?

Hi, s/he has a heat lamp, temp fluxs from 95°-90°, i try to keep it at 90°. Yes, s/he is alone, since she was t/only one to hatch out of 3 eggs. She walked fine the 1st & 2nd day in hatcher, at least i didn't notice any problems, til i took her out at day 2.5.
I bought some Nutri drench today & gave her some w/a straw, just a drop & mixed it w/a drop of water. She drank it, most of it. She likes water, but not food/crumble. Maybe i'll try baby food?? She now bites at my finger or straw like its a monster, she was ok w/my finger the 1st day or so, but not now, until she realizes i am giving her water, she drinks about 3-4 drops & then doesnt want any more. I tried to find selenium today but couldnt find it. How does it come, in liquid, solid, granules?? I almost bought Rooster Booster today, but the nutri drench had more vits. I also bought a pack of electrolyte w/lots of vits. I dont want to over dose her w/vits. How ofyen should i give her these two?? Thanks so much for ur help, i appreciate you. I will cull her if no improvement in a few days, poor little creature.

 

[CyndiD]

I have a chicken like this. It's definitely a neurological disorder, but she lives a happy life and lays an egg daily. We call her "crookie" because her neck is always backwards and she doesn't see in front of her. When this first happened, I freaked. It took some time, but she improved.

Keep vitamins in her water and some probiotics (plain yogurt) to try and jumpstart her appetite.

Crookie is impressive & a survivor. My chick seems to be stable w/her actions of startling, crying alot & she is getting more agressive when i give her drops of water, she is a fighter. As i mentioned above, i gave her some nutri drench tonight. I did buy some probiotic yogurt today, i will offer her some. She doesnt seem to know what a chicken is supposed to do, e.g. scratch for food & drink water. If i didn't feed her water, she would die. I cant do this the rest of her life, she needs to feed herself. I don't know how she is still alive?? She just moves around in her brooder box & cries, and then she tires & falls asleep, poor poor little creature. I will give her more time to try & recover. Thank u for ur time & encouragement, i appreciate u sharing ur story.

 

[CyndiD]

YA FOR NUTRI DRENCH & "Sav A chick" electrolytes. My little chick is walking forwrd and doing better. S/he is still missing when pecking at things, like her depth perception is off. I still havn't seen her eat or drink on her own. I gave her some probiotic yogurt last night also.
Ya, improvement!!! Thank you all!!

 

[CyndiD]

Update: my little chick seemed to be doing better after giving her nutri*drench, she was walking forward & stable, but she was still not eating & drinking on her own. She was still crying alot. I held her yesterday for a couple of hours. She cryed & slept & wanted to hide in my hands & shirt. I put a mirror in her nest box with her in hopes of soothing her, it did not help. When i went to bed last night, late, she woke up & could not stop crying. In the morning when i checkd on her, she was dead. Poor little creature, God bless her!!!

 

[tiffmw10]

This is awesome news!!! Maybe she'll be a Crookie #2!

 

[mg15]

So Sorry.....poor little thing.