Chicken was trapped under rooster bars

[broodymum]

Hi all.
When I went to let my chicks out this morning I noticed one missing, on searching I found her unresponsive under the rooster bars (eglu classic). I assumed she was dead and went to remove her but she gasped and flapped when I lifted the bars up. She was very dirty and her neck is bent to one side, presumably stiff. I’ve no idea how long she has been there as I’ve been on holiday with a neighbour looking after them and only back late last night when they were already locked up. I’ve cleaned her up and brought her in. She cheeps every time I speak to her and has pecked a little at her food but no water and is quite unresponsive. Her neck is still bent one way. I’m hoping she just needs some quiet time but wondering if anyone has any ideas to get her drinking and moving about. 12 week old silkie, I actually don’t know if boy or girl. For info I have now removed the rooster bars, I thought they were big enough chicks to use them but clearly not. Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

This chicken really needs water with either electrolytes or some oral poultry NutriDrench or poultry Cell given orally. Try a dropper or putting it near her beak on a spoon, but tube feeding is an option. She may have wry neck, a neurological symptom that can be treated with vitamin E 400 IU and 1/4 tablet of vitamin B complex daily. A little cooked egg yolk or scrambled egg can be given when she starts to eat. I really hope that you can save her.

 

[broodymum]

This chicken really needs water with either electrolytes or some oral poultry NutriDrench or poultry Cell given orally. Try a dropper or putting it near her beak on a spoon, but tube feeding is an option. She may have wry neck, a neurological symptom that can be treated with vitamin E 400 IU and 1/4 tablet of vitamin B complex daily. A little cooked egg yolk or scrambled egg can be given when she starts to eat. I really hope that you can save her.

Thank you. I’ll research wry neck I haven’t heard of that. She’s acting like her head is on back to front and holding her head upside down and turned back wards. When I hold her I can prop her head in right position but she doesn’t stay like that. I’ll try to find where I can get electrolytes etc. Thanks

 

[coach723]

Most tractor supply stores, and feed stores will carry electrolites for chickens (not usually very expensive). Sav-a-chick is a common one. You can also make your own if needed:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2017/05/how-to-make-homemade-electrolytes-for.html
Here is more info on wryneck, it does sound like that is going on with your chick. It can often be from vitamin deficiencies. Silkies seem to be more prone to it. It some cases it can be from a head injury or illness, but vitamin therapy is usually the first thing to do.
https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/wry-neck.html

 

[broodymum]

Most tractor supply stores, and feed stores will carry electrolites for chickens (not usually very expensive). Sav-a-chick is a common one. You can also make your own if needed:
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2017/05/how-to-make-homemade-electrolytes-for.html
Here is more info on wryneck, it does sound like that is going on with your chick. It can often be from vitamin deficiencies. Silkies seem to be more prone to it. It some cases it can be from a head injury or illness, but vitamin therapy is usually the first thing to do.
https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/wry-neck.html
View attachment 2780455

Thank you. I’ll get some of this

 

[broodymum]

I can’t find anywhere local to me where I can get vit e and selenium for chickens, they’ve got for horses but not chickens, I assume might be different strengths? Does anyone know where I can get some online so I can order? Thanks

 

[Swbertrand1]

I can’t find anywhere local to me where I can get vit e and selenium for chickens, they’ve got for horses but not chickens, I assume might be different strengths? Does anyone know where I can get some online so I can order? Thanks

You're getting good advice above, so I'll help you find what you need, though I'm not sure where Wakefield is located.

A) Vitamin E by itself (geltabs) can be purchased at just about any vitamin shop or in the vitamins section of most grocery stores. Look for 400IU gelcaps,

and

B) Selenium by itself (tablets) can be found in the same stores as the Vit-E. Look for 200mcg tablets,

OR,

C) You can buy the product shown in the photo below that contains both Selenium AND Vitamin-E. This is for goats, but it is routinely used "off-label" to treat chickens. It is likely the same product for horses work too; the dosage might be slightly different however. Can you provide a link to the product for horses that you've found?

We use and keep all of these products on hand, ALL of them because each situation is different.

Here is a link to the Selenium and Vitamin E for goats that we use:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...his sheep and goat supplement are all natural.

 

[broodymum]

You're getting good advice above, so I'll help you find what you need, though I'm not sure where Wakefield is located.

A) Vitamin E by itself (geltabs) can be purchased at just about any vitamin shop or in the vitamins section of most grocery stores. Look for 400IU gelcaps,

and

B) Selenium by itself (tablets) can be found in the same stores as the Vit-E. Look for 200mcg tablets,

OR,

C) You can buy the product shown in the photo below that contains both Selenium AND Vitamin-E. This is for goats, but it is routinely used "off-label" to treat chickens. It is likely the same product for horses work too; the dosage might be slightly different however. Can you provide a link to the product for horses that you've found?

We use and keep all of these products on hand, ALL of them because each situation is different.

Here is a link to the Selenium and Vitamin E for goats that we use:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/durvet-lamb-kid-selenium-vitamin-e-gel-52983#:~:text=Product Details Durvet 52983 Lamb & Kid Selenium/Vitamin,this sheep and goat supplement are all natural.

Thank you, this is the horse one, this is Amazon but it’s the same as my animal feed shop have. That’s really helpful tho thank you.

 

[Swbertrand1]

I'd stay away from the horse product that has Lysine in it. See this article:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2018/01/when-lysine-is-too-much-of-a-good-thing

Look at post# 2 here as well:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/l-lysine-for-poultry.946971/

Here is a product that contains the same ratio of Vit-E to Selenium as the product I have in the photo above, has no Lysine in it, and it's on Amazon UK's site:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kaecokaeco...m+with+vitamin+e+goats&qid=1627763895&sr=8-17

 

[coach723]

Vitamins are vitamins. When you are trying to supplement a specific one it's often easier to use human ones. Many animal ones are combinations. They're the same vitamins, human ones are just easier to find in many cases. If you give some cooked egg, a bit of canned tuna, or sunflower seeds, those will provide the selenium needed.