Day old chick that keeps throwing her head up.

[sandie44]

I just hatched some chicks, and I have one buff that is only a day old that keeps throwing her head up and falling backwards. I have hatched chicks before and have never seen this, could she be sick? Even when I turn her upright and have her in my hand she is swinging her head up. If any one has experienced this please explain.

 

[5Leepy!]

sounds like a vitamin deficiency/wry neck. Try the treatment talked about here... http://www.bucknrunranch.com/blog/2011/11/02/wry-neck-in-baby-chick-video/

 

[sandie44]

Thank you so much for the information. I will go to the store right away and get the items needed. Wish me luck! This chick is my only buff and I have been wanting one for a year, so I really hope this works!

 

[Nicole01]

My maran was doing that the night I brought her home(she was 4 weeks old). I put poly vi sol vitamins without iron in her beak twice daily and she was cured in 2 days. I continue to add one dropper of vitamins in their waterer daily. I wash out the waterer nightly with soap and water to keep it clean. She's very healthy now.

 

[5Leepy!]

I had to do it for about 14 days for my chick but she's perfectly normal now so make sure to give it some time if it doesn't work super fast.

 

[sandie44]

I want to thank 5Leepy for the information. I gave a dose so far and boy what a difference. I am really happy that is is going to be ok.

 

[5Leepy!]

Oh, that's wonderful!!! And, I'm so glad it didn't take very long.

 

[sandie44]

well, now her wry neck is head down between her legs instead of thrown over her back. I am continuing the vitamins. She does better immediately after then falls back into hung head. I will keep giving and hope it gets better. It is not contagious for the other chicks correct? I am just afraid she is not getting enough to eat or drink because of it. I keep dipping her beak in water and I have seen her eat just a bit, but I am kinda worried.

 

[5Leepy!]

No, it's not contagious at all. It's caused by a vitamin deficiency.

My chick had trouble eating because her neck issues wouldn't let her aim very well. I used a small dish (ramekin) to put chick feed in and added water to it. Wait a couple of minutes and the food will soak up the water and it makes a sort of mash that all my chicks LOVE. It made it much easier for my chick to eat as well. You can also try dripping water on the top of her beak with a dropper so that it drips down and she can lick it. Fluids are super important.

Don't separate her from the others unless they start to bother her, chicks need the socialization and she may get worse if you separate her. I found that stress made my chicks symptoms worse.

It took about 7 days for me to see a subtle improvement in my chick even though others have seen improvement right away (I was on the verge of culling her). At about 10 days the improvement was much more noticeable and then at about day 14 I stopped the treatment because she was fighting me so bad. She made a 100% recovery so don't give up!

I gave my chick the Polyvisol, Vitamin E and liquid vitamin B with Selenium in it 3 times a day. I'd mix it all together and then give her about half a dropper full. These vitamins were what I found recommended in various threads so I just combined all the advice into the one mixture.

Good Luck! You're doing well!!!

 

[sandie44]

5Leepy!, your just a wealth of good information, and I appreciate all your advice. Thanks!