Hard decision, need people's opinions

[siroco]

So, i have a little chicken, about 2 months old. He was born premature on day 16. He was fine until, a few weeks ago, he start to roll his neck; no reason whatsoever, he was pretty healthy, i take care of these little guys. I am in a very bad position now, because I dont like to watch him suffer like that, but i want to know if you guys if he could live like that or any opinions....
i will post pictures as soon as i can grab him.

 

[nchls school]

So, i have a little chicken, about 2 months old. He was born  premature on day 16. He was fine until, a few weeks ago, he start to roll his neck; no reason whatsoever, he was pretty healthy, i take care of these little guys. I am in a very bad position now, because I dont like to watch him suffer like that, but i want to know if you guys if he could live like that or any opinions.... 
i will post pictures as soon as i can grab him. 

I have a hen that has seizures; as a result her neck is not quite right (a bit twisted). She is three years old now. She lays eggs and has hatched chicks. If he eats well and does the things chickens do I'd let him have a life. Why do you think he is suffering?

I'll wait for the pictures.

 

[siroco]

Thank you so much for replying. I desperately need some advice in here.


This is my poor guy trying to sleep, he starts to walk backwards whenever he does that. I know it looks like he is plucking his feathers, but he stays like that for almost all the time. His problem is in his neck, it wabbles and doesnt stay straight as a normal chicken.

I had to separate him from the coop since the others started to hurt him. Breaks my heart to see him like this.

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

Could it be wry neck? A vitamin deficiency? Vitamin B deficiency can cause chickens to walk backwards, roll their necks weird, etc.

My broody hen does weird things with her neck and walks backwards after being on nest, because she only eats every 2-3 days. After giving her some extra vitamin B, she was all better! I have poultry multi vitamins that I put in her water. I also dissolved a portion of my own vitamin B (instead of buying one for chickens at the feed store) in some water and fed her via syringe 2x while she was on the nest. After a couple of days, she was back to normal.

 

[nchls school]

The picture of your chicken's posture looks much like my hen that has seizures. Do try UrbanFarm OCs suggestion with vitamin B; I am going to with my hen though I doubt it will help in my case, but-it won't hurt to try. Does the bird eat and drink normally? My hen improved with age. She has days where she looks like yours, but most of the time she looks pretty normal and is able to live normally. Unless you are positive the chicken is suffering and it is unable to eat and drink I'd give the bird a chance. If it can't feed itself then I would end the suffering as starvation is suffering.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is wry neck (crook neck, torticolis) which is a neurological symptom, probably from his early hatch which may have caused brain damage. Vitamin B1 (thiamine,) vitamin E, and the mineral selenium are commonly used to treat this. Some chickens will recover from this, but some never do. They need help with eating, so holding him in a towel and using a bowl with wet chicken feed may help him to eat. Most people end up putting the chicken down if this goes on for a long time. Below are pictures of wry neck symptoms. Here is some information to read:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[siroco]

Thanks for the very informative response, I will definitively try the vitamin B treatment and see how it goes. Fortunately he is still able to eat by himself and drinks water. I will update this thread when i see a change in his condition.


thanks to all who contributed!!

 

[siroco]

Hi all,


I am closing this thread, I arrived today from work finding the dead corpse of my little buddy on the yard. He was getting a little better with vitamins. Could have been his wry neck but the fact I found one of the hens that was picking on him outside makes me think he was attacked.
Thank you regardless for the info, I will know how to react to this situation if I ever come across a situation like that again.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. If you notice any others with neurological symptoms, I would recommend getting a necropsy by your state vet to look for Mareks disease.