Barred Rock chick. head down, lethargic, feisty LAST NIGHT

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

So.... my oh-so-hyper Barred Rock chick "June Bug" woke up yesterday with wry neck. I went into total freakout panic mode. TOTAL... The avian vet in Pooler was booked until this morning so I made a 9am appointment. Looks like she MAY have flown and hit her head or neck to cause the wry neck. They put her on meds. and bird baby food since I have to hand feed her for god knows how long (last wry neck I had, I had to feed and water from Spring to late Fall. I also brought my Silkie biddy "Minion" with me who has the club foot/spraddle leg. No longer spraddled but the food was still held clutched. She said Minion had a slipped tendon and my heart fell... I thought it was surgery only but she showed me how to tape it and how to slip the tendon back into place. Minion is now walking on her funky leg. Not completely normally but not hopping on one leg anymore. June Bug is right now ...well she just was OK, she just now walked backwards and flipped over, but for awhile she had her head up. I have to do physical therapy daily all day with her. Cost $180 bucks to 2 tiny chicks... Totally worth it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad you got to the vet.

Thank you for the update, please keep us posted on both June Bug and Minion's progress. I hope all goes well for you and them.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

They put her on meds.

What kind? And for what condition?

Wow, you rock!
So many people won't take their $3 chick to the vet EVEN if they could afford to.

And then commit the kind of time you are to feeding and physical therapy. Which I know we don't all have the same amount of time, resources, or other responsibilities. So I'm not putting others down, just commending you for your commitment.

Glad they made it and look forward to your progress updates!

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

I will type up a quote off the invoice, it may take awhile...

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I will type up a quote off the invoice, it may take awhile...

Thank you, I appreciate your time and willingness to share.. so that we might all learn something that could be helpful in the future!

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

Junebug, "while this chick does have "wry neck" that is a symptom that can have many possible causes. We have started her on the anti inflammatory medication of meloxicam to treat for injury and inflammation. We have also started the antibiotic Trimethoprim sulfa for possible bacterial infection. Please continue giving the Poly Vi Sold for B vitamin supplementation as that can be a cause as well. She she get 0.25 of that daily so you can give that all at one or divide in several doses. Please also do physical therapy like we discussed by stretching her neck fully, holding it , flexing it back and repeating that for at least 10 reps 2 or 3 times daily. If she is not able to eat on her own give her the feed compound by mouth with a dropper of 3 cc of feed three times a day minimum to get enough calories. Unfortunately many of these birds do not recover or they may feel better and are left with a permanent head tilt. This is OK as long as they learn to eat but if things are not going well and you feel her quality of life is poor then euthanasia can be considered.

Minion, Silkie chick, This little chick has a slipped tendon at the hock joint which in turn pulls the foot up. We need to keep a wrap around the hock that pulls the tendon into as normal position as possible. We want to take this off and replace it once a week and each time you should hopefully be able to move the tendon even further. As he gets used to having the wrap on the hock, then he should start to put the foot down and move it more. If you can see the foot is pulled up again that means the tendon slipped and we need to replace it. You can change the bandage yourself each week if you are comfortable otherwise please bring in weekly for replacement. Surgery is possible but there is only a 50/50 chance it will work, therefore bandaging is more appropriate. However sometimes these guys do not improve well or sometimes these small failing to thrive chicks end up not making it.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

Trimethoprim sulfa 0.1 ml every 12 hours for 14 days by mouth
meloxicam 0.05 ml by every 12 hours for 7 days for pain

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for taking the time to type all that out! Very informative.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Please continue giving the Poly Vi Sold for B vitamin supplementation as that can be a cause as well.

I'm sure you are a ton busy, thanks again for sharing both your information and your time with us. It's super helpful to know what they are using and why.

I haven't been able to get Poly Vi Sol.. are able to post what it has in it or a pic of the analysis and ingredients?

Hope your babes feel better fast.

 

[Jennifer Cappi Williams]

The Poly Vi Sol was SOOOO hard to find. I went to Kroger (same store as Ralph's in Cali) and Walmart and a few drug stores in Hinesville, Georgia and could not find it so I drove to Richmond Hill, Georgia and went in a pharmacy and they didn't have it....omg. So I went to the Kroger in Richmond Hill and they DID have it. I almost didn't see if because it was on the very bottom shelf and kept in the vitamin section. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Poly-Vi-...2437&wl11=online&wl12=453472386&wl13=&veh=sem