Chick can’t lift its head. What do I do?

[Ruler of the Roost]

I have a strange issue with one of my hatchlings. It will not lift its head, almost like it can’t. It’s obviously hungry and thirsty but when I try to feed it, it just drags its head around the floor or my hand. What do I do?

 

[ChickenChick46]

Is it possible it's got wry neck? I've never hatched chicks, but I know there are lots of experts here. I'm sure they'll chime in soon with some advice.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Is it possible it's got wry neck? I've never hatched chicks, but I know there are lots of experts here. I'm sure they'll chime in soon with some advice.

That was my first thought. Every time she tries to eat she just ends up doing somersaulting in the feed.

 

[ChickenChick46]

That was my first thought. Every time she tries to eat she just ends up doing somersaulting in the feed.

I think it's a vitamin E or D or both deficiency. I think you can use human grade vitamins and administer it with a syringe or maybe in some mash feed?

I'm so sorry I'm not more help, I'm trying to remember what I've read on here before.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

We got it drink an ml of water with .3mls of rooster booster +k. Letting it rest and we’re going to try and make a mash of chick starter. I have vitamin d tablets for humans, I also have fish oil, which contain vitamin d. I don’t have any e.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

We got it drink an ml of water with .3mls of rooster booster +k. Letting it rest and we’re going to try and make a mash of chick starter. I have vitamin d tablets for humans, I also have fish oil, which contain vitamin d. I don’t have any e.

We are using the DuMor chick starter by purina. I just confirmed that it has some vitamin e in it.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

The chick is not eating enough of the mashed or dry dumor. She’s improved some being better hydrated, but her neck is still doing the thing. I’m going to try to find a liquid e supplement tomorrow and try the fish oil for the d. Does anyone have any suggestions about dosing? Any further advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Maybe @Wyorp Rock or @Eggcessive can help. I'm really sorry to tag y'all when I know so many people do. I'm just very new here and I know I've seen you help so many others.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do not give it vitamin D. I would give it human vitamin E and a little B complex for thiamine. You can get those in Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell 2-3 drops daily, but sometimes a little more E is needed to treat wry neck. Also give a little raw egg yolk daily mixed in some water for selenium. Wry neck is a neurological condition related to hatching problems, head injury, or vitamin E or B1 thiamine deficiency. What is the Rooster Booster product you are giving? Dip the chick’s beak into water often and in some very watery chick starter.

 

[Ruler of the Roost]

Do not give it vitamin D. I would give it human vitamin E and a little B complex for thiamine. You can get those in Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell 2-3 drops daily, but sometimes a little more E is needed to treat wry neck. Also give a little raw egg yolk daily mixed in some water for selenium. Wry neck is a neurological condition related to hatching problems, head injury, or vitamin E or B1 thiamine deficiency. What is the Rooster Booster product you are giving? Dip the chick’s beak into water often and in some very watery chick starter.

Thank you for taking the time. I have the rooster booster b12 +k. Its drinking that but only when we can feed it. Its activity level is improved since she started getting hydration. Growth wise it is falling behind its siblings. This is making me think it isn't able to eat. I've seen her try and she can't get her beak at the right angle to peck. I've tried showing it to peck multiple times. I've managed to get it to consume a couple of bites of the starter crumble from my hand, but it still appears that it is unable to eat the crumble on its own. So far it has rejected the watery starter be it from a bowl or a syringe. I will try watering it down further as I was trying to use it in a paste-like consistency. I was looking at poultry cell this morning. I will try the egg yolk, I also have whey based protein powder... Should I try to give her some of that in a mostly water solution just to try and get her some calories?