Crooked / Wry Neck

[Canine and Co]

Have you checked both her eyes. Watching the video it strikes me that she may have a vision issue with one eye. The times she really tips her head to one side badly seems to be when she wants to have a good look at you. That would also cause her to miss food and/or twist her neck to try to find it. I'm not saying she doesn't have wry neck but my gut feeling is that there is also a sight problem.

I see that the feed that you are using is a less processed food (rather than a pellet or crumble). It is possible for birds to selectively eat favourite components of such a feed and end up with a dietary imbalance, particularly if you feed it adlib from an open container like that although I appreciate you may just be using that container to help her. Those type of feeds can also lead to Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome because of this selective eating. It is best to offer such feeds as a daily ration each day so that there is an incentive to eat it all up...or go hungry. Most birds like to pick out the higher carbohydrate grains and leave the more nutrient rich pulses. The important additives like essential amino acids and vitamins and minerals are often in the powdery fines which often get billed out and wasted or left in the bottom of the feeder, so it is more likely that a bird can suffer vitamin or nutrient deficiency as a result of how you offer such feeds. I'm not saying the feed itself is bad but it gives the birds an opportunity to be picky and like children some will pig out on fries and cake if they are not supervised and encouraged to eat a balanced diet.

Thanks for that advice. Re: the food - it is a new one I thought i'd try recently (i normally use pellets) as I thought it may be easier for her to eat. Whilst she seems to enjoy eating it - it hasn't gone down too well with the rest of the flock. Mind you i'm yet to find a layers feed that they won't be fussy with. But I take your advice regardig this type and will not get this kind again _ I hadn't considered that they may get a dietary imbalance - good point. Yes the only reason she has so much there is to help her eat with her neck being the way it is.

Regarding her eyes - again this is something I hadn't considered. I will try and have a look later when she is up. Thank you again.

 

[Canine and Co]

Update on Cilla:- she is looking much better and her neck is not twisting as much as it was. She even had a face off and went for one of the other hens when I opened the door - meaning she is feeling much more herself ;-). The only thing that concerns me slightly is that she seems to be 'gaping' a bit. She was wormed with Flubenvet in January, so i'm suspecting it is partly to do with her injuries (maybe??) - do you think it is worth worming her again? I'll put some apple cider vinegar in her water in the meantime. Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is doing better. It is hard to know why her beak is open. I usually think of a breathing problem with open mouth breathing. You can look at your ventilation in the coop. She has been through a lot, so it may be nothing. I would not think that she would need worming again so soon in winter, but that would be up to you.

 

[rebrascora]

Gape worms are much more rare than people imagine and as @Eggcessive says, gaping or open mouth breathing is much more likely to indicate a respiratory problem. It may be a separate issue or it could be associated with her wry neck. Marek's for instance can cause both neurological problems like wry neck and respiratory problems.
It is great news that she is doing better and feeling feisty though.