Help! Baby silkies with wry neck!

[BriElaine]

We just got in a batch of newly hatched silkies August 9th. Now one of them has wry neck. He/she had been absolutely fine for the first two days and fine for most of the day today. We just went down to check on them in the brooder and this little one was laying there, neck bent backwards with its head resting on its back. It's not moving, not opening it's eyes, and it's having trouble breathing. I know this can be genetic or come from a vitamin E deficiency. I don't want to give up on this little guy if I can save him! Help! Has anyone dealt with this in chicks this young that have made It through with treatment? This little one went from running around to downed so fast, I'm not sure what it's chances are.

 

[BriElaine]

Just to update my post, it didn't make it. The onset was just a couple of hours. Can stargazing/wry neck kill that quickly, or was it an injury?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your chick

Since she was having trouble breathing along with the Wry Neck, I would be inclined to say "failure to thrive".

I would give all the chicks a direct dose 1-2drops of Poultry Nutri-Drench for a week. Even if the others are not having trouble, the PND may give them a boost that they need.

 

[annaBsChick]

Wry neck is more of a symptom. Here is some good info on the topic - http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/wry-neck

 

[BriElaine]

Thank you! It was definitely rough. I know to expect some things to happen, but I was not expecting that. It all happened so quickly and I felt so helpless. I do have poultry nutri-drench in my arsenal. I tried to give the little one a drop yesterday, but it was unable to take it due to how extreme it's condition was and I was afraid of him aspirating. I do also have the chicks on Save-a-chick electrolytes and probiotics since they arrived. Would it be too much to do the nutri-drench on top of that? Everyone else is still eating, drinking and going about their days. I just want to do everything I can to prevent this from happening again. I ordered these guys from Cackle Hatchery (they are actually a replacement shipment because 5/7 did not make it the first shipment, awful experience), and when I called to get advice from them they said there was nothing I could do. That it is a very common genetic disorder with silkies and that the little guy just wasn't going to make it. I know that it being so soon after they had hatched that it was most likely a deficiency or issue with the mother or egg, but I would like to give everyone the best chance they can to survive and thrive. I also read that other than a vitamin E deficiency, it could be thiamine deficiency. Would putting everyone on selenium help them absorb more, especially since the electrolytes already contain a good amount of vitamin E.
This is my first time having chickens, and although I've done a ton of research I just want to make sure that they are going to have the best life possible and that I haven't overlook anything. You definitely learn more and more things as you go.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you! It was definitely rough. I know to expect some things to happen, but I was not expecting that. It all happened so quickly and I felt so helpless. I do have poultry nutri-drench in my arsenal. I tried to give the little one a drop yesterday, but it was unable to take it due to how extreme it's condition was and I was afraid of him aspirating. I do also have the chicks on Save-a-chick electrolytes and probiotics since they arrived. Would it be too much to do the nutri-drench on top of that? Everyone else is still eating, drinking and going about their days. I just want to do everything I can to prevent this from happening again. I ordered these guys from Cackle Hatchery (they are actually a replacement shipment because 5/7 did not make it the first shipment, awful experience), and when I called to get advice from them they said there was nothing I could do. That it is a very common genetic disorder with silkies and that the little guy just wasn't going to make it. I know that it being so soon after they had hatched that it was most likely a deficiency or issue with the mother or egg, but I would like to give everyone the best chance they can to survive and thrive. I also read that other than a vitamin E deficiency, it could be thiamine deficiency. Would putting everyone on selenium help them absorb more, especially since the electrolytes already contain a good amount of vitamin E.
This is my first time having chickens, and although I've done a ton of research I just want to make sure that they are going to have the best life possible and that I haven't overlook anything. You definitely learn more and more things as you go.

I would not give both Sav A Chick and Poulty Nutri-Drench. Vitamins and/or Electrolytes are great short term, but I would only give either for a few days. If they have been on Sav A Chick this whole time, that should have provided sufficient vitamins.

No I would not give the Selenium. Too much Selenium is toxic. Selenium is naturally found in egg, tuna, nuts and sunflower seeds. If you look at articles dealing with Wry Neck, you will note that most people suggest foods that contain Selenium or they give a "dosage" amount which is usually in mcg which is Micrograms not Milligrams (mg) there is a big difference there.

Wry Neck is a symptom - it can be caused by genetics, vitamin deficiency, head/neck trauma or injury and certain diseases.

Since this was a Silkie, Cackle is correct that Wry Neck can be common. Silkies have a hole in the skull (vaulted skull) so a slight peck or bump to the head could have caused the symptoms you describe. It would be hard to know the exact cause unless a necropsy was performed.

Everyone else is eating/drinking so you are doing good!

 

[BriElaine]

Thank you so much for your replies!

On top of the Save-A-chick, everyone was also fed egg whites for the first couple of days, especially upon arrival. Knowing that eggs contain selenium makes me feel a bit more at ease. I hope the symptoms weren't trauma related, but I know it's a big possibility as well. Especially with such a quick onset and death, with no previous symptoms.

Hopefully I won't run into this again, but I'm glad to know I at least had them on a good start.

 

[drumstick diva]

I tend to think there was a head injury maybe during shipping. wry neck alone wouldn't have killed the chick so fast. Poor baby.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much for your replies!

On top of the Save-A-chick, everyone was also fed egg whites for the first couple of days, especially upon arrival. Knowing that eggs contain selenium makes me feel a bit more at ease. I hope the symptoms weren't trauma related, but I know it's a big possibility as well. Especially with such a quick onset and death, with no previous symptoms.

Hopefully I won't run into this again, but I'm glad to know I at least had them on a good start.

Your Welcome! I hope everyone continues to do well!