California - Northern

[Sylvester017]

Morning everyone!

I need some quick direction - I hatched a group of chicks over the weekend and 2 of them had wry neck and I've had a few paste up (more then I ususally do). I had some bad temperature swings during incubation so I chalk it up to that. When I got home last night another chick was "somersaulting" for lack of a better word. It would put it's head down and flip over; then stand back up and do it again. It seemed to be trying to peck at the floor before the flip. 1 eye had some crustys so I cleaned it and dropped Vetrycin eye med and put it back in the brooder hoping it was just an eye irritation. It's still doing the same this morning so I gave it some Nutri-drench.

Is there something besides incubation problems or vitamin deficancy that would cause these symptems? (I"m not seeing any bloody poo.)

I'm supposed to be taking some of the chicks to a new home this weekend and don't want risk spreading something

Personally I think children's NO IRON Poly-Vi-Sol liquid vitamins are wonderful. Following are some snippets I copied and saved when others were blogging on other BYC threads and hope these help you:

Fancychooklady answered: You are giving the wrong B vitamin for wry neck . You need to give B1 thiamine and B3 niacin. Polyvisol covers both.

Also , if this is a result of an injury and there is swelling on the brain( causing seizures ) it would help to add prednisone to his meds

Yours is wryneck. Be careful not to overdose on the thiamine B 1 . Too much can cause anorexia and too much selenium can be fatal. I would give either the yeast or polyvisol , but not both.

Wry Neck in Baby Chick

November 2, 2011 26 Comments
I hatched a batch of chicks today and one had wry neck, also called toricollis, stargazing, twisted neck, etc. There are a number of factors that can result in this condition, but mainly two in day olds. One is a genetic abnormality and the other is a vitamin/mineral deficiency. I have found that, if the condition is caused by a vitamin deficiency, it can sometimes be corrected almost immediately by giving oral vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. The recommended electrolyte replacement is Pediatlye or a product called AviaCharge. I have used Pedialyte for weak chicks with good results so I keep it on hand at all times. The easiest way to keep it and not waste an entire container is to buy the freezer pops. I store them in my pantry and pull one out when needed. The chicks seem to like the flavor and drink it easier.
For vitamin supplementation use a good baby vitamin without iron. PolyViSol is good but I could only find the store brand and it works just fine. The key is making sure it does not contain iron.
Vitamin E is given along with Selenium to help with the absorption.
You may want to research online before treating. I found a lot of differing opinions but here is the dosage I used:

• 2 TBS Pedialyte
• 2 drops Baby Vitamin
• 100 units Vitamin E (squirt out half a capsule)
• 50 mcg Selenium (1/4 tablet crushed)

I mixed the ingredients together and administered it a few drops at a time to the baby chick. You can apply it to the side of the beak with the eye dropper or put a drop on your finger and place it alongside the beak until it opens. I was holding the video camera in one hand so I ended up getting it all over the baby chick but it seemed to like the taste and did not fight it. I gave a few drops then waited about 3 hours and repeated. I will give another dose in the morning if the chick so any symptoms other wise I will consider it done. If you use the eyedropper never push the liquid in to the chicks mouth because you could cause aspiration of the liquid into the lungs. Just hold the dropper alongside the beak and let a drop or two out. The chick will swallow it.
Here is a video of the chick, before, during treatment and after. This baby made a miraculous recovery. (P.S. I DIDN'T TRANSFER THE VIDEO AS I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD WORK BUT THE CHICK DID MAKE A WONDERFUL RECOVERY).

LET ME KNOW IF ANY OF THIS INFO HELPS AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP IT IN MY PERMANENT DESKTOP.

 

[chiqita]

OK...I finally got a gallon of Oxine and want to use it to clean out the hatcher so I can move the next batch over. I have been using diluted bleach and spraying it on with a spray bottle up to now, then rinsing after about 10 minutes. I did not get the activator. The directions on the bottle do not say how to use it for that. Can I do it the same way? Full strength or diluted? How long do I leave it on? Any other pertinent info?


Thanks in advance!

for sure get activator, tis only citric acid? I think and i got some from a canning place. There will be times its better activated for sure.

Thank you! I have most of that at home so I'll give it a shot. On the yeast - brewers or nutritianal?

I have always heard brewers, good to know both will work. I'm assuming activated will not?

While tearing down our old fence, we found a board covered in termites in a pile on our neighbor's side. So what did we do? What any normal person would! Grabbed that board and put it into the chicken coop, of course.

That made their day, I think.

PARTY TIME!

What is the rage of creating orpingtons in every flavor imaginable? I joined an Orp group on FB and Im seeing everything from Columbian to Tolbunt. With some of these how much Orp is left in there anyway I wonder.

I'm sure something like this appears in other breeds right?

A lot of them are english, too that have QUITE the different look. I'm up to my ears in Jubilee orps atm, I'm going to have to start selling eggs, fertility has been too high lol. People like project colors, its something they feel they can do as a breeder that feels more clear then just breeding for SOP. You pick ONE thing to focus on. Breeding Marans has really showed me how screwed up a bird can get when someone just focuses on ONE thing ( egg color) rather then everything. I'm still obsessed with the perfect tail... its very sad considering the creep all my boys have had, lol.

I do think I am going to try and hatch out a few girls that are JUST egg color girls, and not SOP girls, for people who just want silly dark eggs and not to breed or show . I know a few people who jsut do dark eggs, it would be easy enough to tell them apart and not get junk into any breeder hands.
Also, if anyone wants me to hatch for Karens party, tell me soon! anything should go in to the incubator this week.

 

[Sylvester017]

What is the rage of creating orpingtons in every flavor imaginable? I joined an Orp group on FB and Im seeing everything from Columbian to Tolbunt. With some of these how much Orp is left in there anyway I wonder.

I'm sure something like this appears in other breeds right?

Orp ppl love their Orps just like Cochin and Silkie ppl love their breeds and create every color of the rainbow whether APA approved or not. Personally I'm not an Orp fan because they are dominant personalities and I prefer the mellow non-combative breeds. My friend had a Buff Orp that I didn't particularly care for - aggressive. I watched Orp chick videos and those little buggers are aggressive even as chicks - all 6 of them kept running around the coop floor pecking and hassling ducklings and white Leghorn chicks all who were minding their own business. That clinched it for me not to have Orps. Like Marans adults the Orp adults seem calm but can turn assertive on gentler flockmates.

 

[chickee]

Personally I think children's NO IRON Poly-Vi-Sol liquid vitamins are wonderful. Following are some snippets I copied and saved when others were blogging on other BYC threads and hope these help you:

Fancychooklady answered: You are giving the wrong B vitamin for wry neck . You need to give B1 thiamine and B3 niacin. Polyvisol covers both.

Also , if this is a result of an injury and there is swelling on the brain( causing seizures ) it would help to add prednisone to his meds

Yours is wryneck. Be careful not to overdose on the thiamine B 1 . Too much can cause anorexia and too much selenium can be fatal. I would give either the yeast or polyvisol , but not both.

Wry Neck in Baby Chick

November 2, 2011 26 Comments
I hatched a batch of chicks today and one had wry neck, also called toricollis, stargazing, twisted neck, etc. There are a number of factors that can result in this condition, but mainly two in day olds. One is a genetic abnormality and the other is a vitamin/mineral deficiency. I have found that, if the condition is caused by a vitamin deficiency, it can sometimes be corrected almost immediately by giving oral vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. The recommended electrolyte replacement is Pediatlye or a product called AviaCharge. I have used Pedialyte for weak chicks with good results so I keep it on hand at all times. The easiest way to keep it and not waste an entire container is to buy the freezer pops. I store them in my pantry and pull one out when needed. The chicks seem to like the flavor and drink it easier.
For vitamin supplementation use a good baby vitamin without iron. PolyViSol is good but I could only find the store brand and it works just fine. The key is making sure it does not contain iron.
Vitamin E is given along with Selenium to help with the absorption.
You may want to research online before treating. I found a lot of differing opinions but here is the dosage I used:

• 2 TBS Pedialyte
• 2 drops Baby Vitamin
• 100 units Vitamin E (squirt out half a capsule)
• 50 mcg Selenium (1/4 tablet crushed)

I mixed the ingredients together and administered it a few drops at a time to the baby chick. You can apply it to the side of the beak with the eye dropper or put a drop on your finger and place it alongside the beak until it opens. I was holding the video camera in one hand so I ended up getting it all over the baby chick but it seemed to like the taste and did not fight it. I gave a few drops then waited about 3 hours and repeated. I will give another dose in the morning if the chick so any symptoms other wise I will consider it done. If you use the eyedropper never push the liquid in to the chicks mouth because you could cause aspiration of the liquid into the lungs. Just hold the dropper alongside the beak and let a drop or two out. The chick will swallow it.
Here is a video of the chick, before, during treatment and after. This baby made a miraculous recovery. (P.S. I DIDN'T TRANSFER THE VIDEO AS I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD WORK BUT THE CHICK DID MAKE A WONDERFUL RECOVERY).

LET ME KNOW IF ANY OF THIS INFO HELPS AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO KEEP IT IN MY PERMANENT DESKTOP.

Great information!

I have been treating an 11 week old Silkie cockerel for Wry Neck. It was severe. His head was upside down between his legs and he could only walk backwards. I had to hold his head up and feed him. I used a syringe to dribble water into the side of his mouth. After feeding him Kaytee Exact, dry baby bird formula mixed with boiled egg yoke, Vit. E oil, yeast and a few drops of Polyvisol, he has made a full recovery in one week. I was going to get the Selenium, but I read on the bottle it is derived from yeast, so I just mixed in a pink of yeast into one of the feedings.

 

[Sylvester017]

Great information!

I have been treating an 11 week old Silkie cockerel for Wry Neck. It was severe. His head was upside down between his legs and he could only walk backwards. I had to hold his head up and feed him. I used a syringe to dribble water into the side of his mouth. After feeding him Kaytee Exact, dry baby bird formula mixed with boiled egg yoke, Vit. E oil, yeast and a few drops of Polyvisol, he has made a full recovery in one week. I was going to get the Selenium, but I read on the bottle it is derived from yeast, so I just mixed in a pink of yeast into one of the feedings.

That is good reinforcement to know! I have been on so many different breed blogs and Poly-vi-sol no iron has been a real lifesaver for so many chick ailments. I know some ppl want to use health-food-store-only supplements but I want something to help my chickens now and then worry if the treatment is worth replacing with some other product. I have used Poly-vi-sol for my adult hens whenenver they're molting, brooding, laying eggs heavily, juveniles growing out their adult feathers, or whenever they look dauncy. All this has been with my vets approval who used to work in the poultry industry so I trust him. The thing to remember is that human supplements are strong for smaller animals' internal organs and have to be given in a small one-drop dose for chicks/chickens/etc. For my adult hens I don't give more than 1 drop 1x/week for healthy hens and 1 drop 2-3x/week for ailing hens. Thanx for your feedback!

 

[8machines]

Is this a sure Cockerel? If I don't want a male is it time to cull him? He is 6 wks today. Could it be a more mature pullet? I am trying not to care.

 

[8machines]

here he is lying down.

 

[OR4-hmom]

Any of you chicken folks know where I might find Swedish Blue Ducks?
I had hopes I could get a couple quality birds from Holderrands but they don't have them.

 

[AmyPaperlady]

Look what I got in the mail today!

Thanks Ron Frieda will get them tomorrow night.

 

[Honora]

Hey guys and gals, I'm looking for three bantam pullets/hens (prefer non-feathered feet) for 4-h kids to show mid July at our fair. We are kinda desperate at this point. Anyone out there willing to give a up a few for these kids to learn with (they are first year showmen)

. Willing to pay for them of course. In Stanislaus county and willing to drive a lil if need be. Please PM me or post. Thanks so much.

I have 2 bantam orpington pullets (chicks) that are 3 weeks old if you are interested. I have a few other chicks also that might be pullets but not sure yet. I am in Santa Clara, near San Jose.