Baby chick with head/neck drawn down

[LD Jackson]

I just went to check on our baby chicks and one of the Black Australorp chicks was sitting with her head and neck down between her feet. When I picked her up to check on her, her head curled completely underneath her and it was almost as if she had a seizure. I put her back down and let her set there for a few minutes and when I tried to pick her up again, she got up and ran around the brooder, then went back down in the same position. We now have her in a plastic tub in the house on a heating pad, but her symptoms seem to be remaining the same. The only thing that has changed today is the fact that I moved them to a bigger brooder in a section of the coop they will live in. Same aspen shavings and same feed and water. I did notice her crop seemed to be empty, but she doesn't act hungry and will not eat.

 

[Nicole01]

You need some vitamins. Poly vi sol with no iron infant vitamins are sold just about any store. I use 1ml per 4 cups water. It sounds like your chick has wry neck.

 

[LD Jackson]

Quote:
Is that a baby vitamin?

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:
Is that a baby vitamin?

Yes, it is recommend for chickens as well. Make sure you don't buy the one that says with iron.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree- sounds like crook neck/wry neck.

Vitamins are a treatment- you can do a BYC search to find out more, too. I have no experience with it, but others have had good results using vitamins.

 

[LD Jackson]

Okay, I now have a bottle of the vitamins and have mixed it in their water, according to the directions I found on BYC. I gave the chick a drink with an eye dropper and we will see how she does overnight. Thanks for the quick response to my questions.

 

[lady feathers]

I currently am treating a silkie or the same sort of thing..... just letting you know it may take a few days/weeks for a complete recovery but you should see some improvement quickly!

 

[ragerkid2]

What is a wry neck?

 

[Justuschicks]

Ugh, these symptoms sound very familiar. I lost a silkie chick to wry neck a couple months ago. I tried Vits, nutri-drench, selenium, vit E. It went on for over a week. I had to hand feed her with a dropper. mixed hard boiled yolk w/ water, chick food mash in water. I tried everything and I lost her. I was and still am devastated. I hope you have a better outcome. I will find my thread and will post the link so you will have as much info as possible.

 

[Justuschicks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=464937

Hope this link works. Otherwise search Wry Neck Help.

Good Luck!