Congenital torticollis getting worse

[uisceros]

Hi all,

I have a weird little Serama named Nemo who hatched out with a mild congenital torticollis. He’s always had a head tilt (to his right), and his right side is messed up (tiny wing, etc). I’m pretty sure he’s a chimera, but that’s besides the point. He’s always been small, but healthy.

Recently (within the last 2-3 weeks) I’ve noticed that he’s tilting his head all the way upside down. It’s not constant, and seems to be triggered by me holding him or him trying to look upwards. Usually as soon as I put him back on the ground he goes back to normal.

I’m also dealing with two other issues in my flock. One is a relatively minor respiratory issue with a few of my Seramas. Another is a chick that was normal but suddenly developed a major neurological issue (she’s wobbly/shaky).

Could this all be connected by some random virus? Anyone deal with this before?

In the meantime I’m going to be giving everyone vitamins just in case!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Could this all be connected by some random virus? Anyone deal with this before?

Are they from your own flock?

It could be a vitamin deficiency.. even from the hatching egg. and *possibly* for the chick experience poly neuritis. Often it's E and thiamin that are deficient as noted in the following link.. (I often hear selenium mentioned and I'm not sure if or how that plays in)

https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2017/08/wry-neck-in-chickens/

Please describe feed routine including treats and supplements. Which vitamins are you starting with?

With one note that even when my feed parameters were SPOT on.. I had one bird that was laying eggs deficient for hatching

 

[uisceros]

Are they from your own flock?

It could be a vitamin deficiency.. even from the hatching egg. and *possibly* for the chick experience poly neuritis. Often it's E and thiamin that are deficient as noted in the following link.. (I often hear selenium mentioned and I'm not sure if or how that plays in)

https://blog.meyerhatchery.com/2017/08/wry-neck-in-chickens/

Please describe feed routine including treats and supplements. Which vitamins are you starting with?

With one note that even when my feed parameters were SPOT on.. I had one bird that was laying eggs deficient for hatching

Yup, they are all in my flock, but it’s a little complicated.

I have a full size flock who are unaffected. I have my main Serama flock (where two of the birds are presenting with mild respiratory symptoms), and my bachelor flock (where Nemo is with his two brothers). The bachelor flock is currently living inside my basement until I finish their coop. The neuro-chick and her brood mates are also currently in my basement. They will live with the Serama flock eventually.

I’ve been giving the chick with neurological issues vitamin B complex and vitamin E for the past three weeks. She hasn’t gotten better. I’m continuing the vitamin B, but have stopped the E since I don’t want to overdose her. Instead I’m giving her electrolyte/probiotic in her water (sav a chick).

For the boys I mixed them some poultry cell in their water.

For adult feed I give them a mix of Kalmbach Feeds all flock starter/maintainer and henhouse reserve. I occasionally give them Cluck and Co all flock, and rarely NCO layer feed (only if I run out, since I don’t want the boys to get too much calcium). The girls have oyster shells if needed.

The chicks eat either Kalmbach Feeds Chickhouse reserve or NCO Chick Feed. I did give them Medicated Starter when they were really little.

Treats are fairly rare for the Seramas, but involve occasional fruits (watermelon or other melons), mealworms/black soldier fly larvae, or dried cranberries. Scratch extremely rarely.

For respiratory issues I give them 1/4 of a tablet of UVL Biotec (based of a recommendation from a Serama breeder I purchased from).