7 wk old Australorp pullet with neurological problems

[zookyla]

Two days ago I found my 7 week old Australorp chick hiding behind the waterer. I took her out, concerned she was being picked on for some reason. When I set her down on the floor she twisted her head up under her to where it was facing back towards the ceiling. She then started moving backwards while shaking her head. After a few seconds she stopped, stood up, and started walking around normally. My husband says it looks like she's having a seizure. I separated her from the other chicks. She's eating, drinking, poop normal. She seemed better yesterday, but this morning she seems worse. Up until two days ago this chick acted normal.

I have photos and video which I'll try to post here. Internet searches haven't turned up much information. I did find one video of an adult Silkie doing the exact same thing. They said it was due to a genetic abnormality, but no other info.

I did find a red wasp crawling around on the floor, not in the chick enclosure but outside of it. Would a wasp sting cause this reaction?

Anyone have any ideas what this may be?

 

[jenniemig]

Have you researched wry neck? It presents in many different ways and is usually caused by a vitamin deficiency. You can try supplementing with polyvisol without iron, or poultry nuti-drench.

 

[zookyla]

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into that.

 

[jenniemig]

You're welcome. If it is wry neck and caught early it can be successfully treated with supplements. I am treating a duckling with it (hers is caused by neuro problems) and she is doing great;-)
Good luck with her, and be sure to post updates. Reading other members posts about symptoms and treatments helped me tremendously. Without byc I'd have been lost.

 

[ElCerritoPlace]

Check out rooster booster too, might have the right vitamin you need for your chick. Here is a site for vitamin def in chicks. Check out the thiamin def. on the very bottom, might help. Good luck!

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

 

[Eggcessive]

Wry neck can be a symptom of head or neck injury, a disease such as Mareks, Newcastles, or others, and from a vitamin deficiency. It can take weeks to treat with reduction of noise and stimulation, plus vitamins B1, E, and Selenium. Here are several links to help you with dosages:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
http://oureggbasket.blogspot.com/2013/04/wry-neck-or-crook-neck-understanding-it.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[zookyla]

Thanks everyone for all the info! This really does help.

 

[zookyla]

Amazingly enough, my little pullet is doing much better this morning. I let her have some protected social time with her buddies this morning. She was doing so well, I put her back in with them. They did great and she actually seems much less stressed than when she was separated. She went right over eating and drinking with the group. I'm going to keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't get picked on, but for now I think she'll do better with her buddies.

Thanks again for the help and I will continue to post updates.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds as though you are taking good care of her. Good luck, and the vitamins can be used in the water if need be for all of the chicks. This is a good vitamin for the water--1/4 tsp per gallon of water, but does not contain the selenium which you can get separately only for her: http://www.jefferspet.com/images/label/16788.htm

 

[Allisha]

I wished I learned about this with one of my ducks. I think it could've helped. She was born extremely small. She was a dwarfling. She was so weak and small and just flopped around for a day or so. She became better and was introduced to her much larger siblings. Well, one day I was at the store and my dad checked on her. She had been trampled and squashed into the hay, not moving. Only when he was ready to kill her, he saw a slight twitch. He put her into another brooder alone. I came home and she was better! Over time her head would twist and she would move it to the side continuously as she walked and quaked. It had to be neurological because she hatched out so small. Like half the size of a baby chick. She's grown now and turned into a beautiful kkaki Campbell with brown and black spots.