Based on the symptoms you described—neck lolling/stretching, head twitching, inability to stand, and eyes closed—your Rhode Island Red chick is likely suffering from Wry Neck (also known as Torticollis or star-gazing). This is a neurological condition often caused by a severe Vitamin E or Vitamin B deficiency, sometimes triggered by head trauma or infection.
This is an emergency. While serious, it is sometimes curable with immediate, intensive care.
Immediate Emergency Action Plan
Isolate Immediately: Move the chick to a quiet, warm, and dark, small box (like a shoebox with air holes) to reduce stress.
Ensure Proper Warmth: Keep the chick warm (around 95°F/35°C for the first week, slightly less for older chicks). A sick chick cannot regulate its body temperature.
Intensive Vitamin Therapy (Crucial):
Get Vitamin E and Selenium: You need to get Vitamin E into the chick immediately. A human Vitamin E capsule (400 IU) can be pierced and the oil administered directly, or mixed into food/water.
Poultry Nutri-Drench or Poultry Cell: These are liquid vitamins that can be given directly via dropper to provide fast-acting nutrients.
Brewer’s Yeast: If you have this, mix a small amount into food to provide Vitamin B1.
Assisted Feeding/Hydration:
Use a Dropper/Syringe: Carefully drip fluids onto the side of the beak, not down the throat, to avoid aspiration (drowning).
Nutrient Mix: Offer a mix of raw egg yolk (high in nutrients), sugar water (for energy), and, if available, electrolytes with vitamins.
Stop Medicated Feed: If you are using medicated feed, stop it immediately, as the medication can block the absorption of the Vitamin B1 (thiamine) the chick needs to recover.
What to Watch For
Improvement: If the treatment works, you may see improvement in 24 hours, but it can take up to 10–14 days to fully recover.
Worse symptoms: If the chick becomes completely unresponsive, it may not survive.
Other Causes: If this does not help, it could be a neurological infection like Marek’s disease or a fungal infection (Aspergillosis) from a dirty/damp environment.
(This is from google AI so it might not work.)
