Help please! Chick wry neck cutting herself and bleeding - need support :/

Mother of Chicks

Songster
Apr 16, 2020
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Nottingham, UK
Hi all,

A couple of days ago one of my silkies got wry neck. It was gradual and then got really bad. I think I am doing the right things re treatement - vit E, selenium, mashed food through a dropper, separate from other chicks but can see them.

Here's the issue, she has a severe case of wry neck and is totally off balance and can't stand. She panicked whenever I put her back in her bit of the brooder (annex where she could see other chicks), ended up flailing around until she ended up in a corner where she stayed until the next feed time. Yesterday, she was managing to lift her head a little after she had settled down.

Now this is the part I need help with: yesterday evening, when I was about to give her her bedtime food/water/vits, she had blood on her chest just by her crop. I didn't understand what had happened at first but there was a gash just by her crop. It wasn't bleeding too badly but it obviously had bled a bit as her white feathers were pink all down her front. So, I cleaned her up, added antiseptic, covered the wound as best I could and then fed her.

I put her down v gently but she flailed again and as she did, she got a toe (along with v sharp nail) stuck inside the orginal cut. I guess I know how it happened. OMG it was awful and I had to unpick her and clean her again. I was then too nervous to put her down in the brooder so I made a chick sling to wear (with a waterproof bit by her vent so I don't constanstly get pooped on) and wrapped her in a fluffy cloth so she can't hurt herself. I slept sitting up (not much sleep tbf).

I don't know how the hell to deal with this and I am exhausted. I want to be able to put her down safely - does anyone have any ideas for me?

Thank you.

B
 
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Can you make her a sling or nest to sit in safely? I would also give her some thiamine which is in most chick vitaimins and human super B complex. The B complex can be cut in half and dissolved in a small amount water, and a little of that given orally or in her food. You might make her a little turtleneck to keep her head up, but not too tight. Here is a 4 page thread of chick sling pictures:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
 
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You are a superstar - thank you. I wondered about a seat but I had no good ideas so this thread will be my project tonight. A quick question if you don't mind? Most of these seats and slings seem to be for leg/hip issues - just wondering with my chick if her legs should be touching the ground or not?

I have been giving her chick vits but have just ordered some B vits too - thank you again :)
 
Sometimes they will get themselves out of slings if their feet touch the ground, so I would experiment. Take a picture of your sling when you are finished if you can.
 
I will do - knowing how much she struggles just being wrapped in a towel, my first experiment will be feet off the ground! Saying she's so poorly, she has some spunk :lol:

You're a legend - thanks again
 
i'm going through a rough patch with a 6 week Faverolle with Wry Neck it takes time and energy and lots of patience. They will get better then bad it will take at least a month or longer. I hope she pulls through for you. Don't worry to much if it doesn't drink at all Rocky doesn't so I make a very wet mash once a day he gets vitamin E and I add Human vitamin B complex to that today is week 3 of treatment and he's good has a lot of spunk and energy. You could also give a little Poultry Cell with a dropper also. But it sometimes causes diarrhea
 
Sometimes they will get themselves out of slings if their feet touch the ground, so I would experiment. Take a picture of your sling when you are finished if you can.

Here she is. Much safer and happier 🐥
 

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