HELP!! Pullet cannot hold her head up!!!

[Eggcessive]

Wry neck can be a neurological symptom of head injury (silkie can be prone because some have vaulted skulls,) vitamin defiency, and from brain inflammation due to certain diseases. These links may be helpful as well as giving vitamin B1 or thiamine, vitamin E, and selenium. Selenium is found in eggs, canned tuna, and sunflower seeds. The first link to read below has vitamin dosages:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
http://oureggbasket.blogspot.com/2013/04/wry-neck-or-crook-neck-understanding-it.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[sonderah]

Thanks everyone for all the responses. I am doing the vitamins and electrolytes. Both were eating on their own b4 bed, but the Silkie is still in rough shape.
I'm mostly concerned about a disease possibly causing the wry neck, since 2 chickens from 2 different pens suddenly started at once. But I still haven't been able to find anything stating which diseases can cause this? I've found many other possibilities, just none that seem to make sense in my situation.

 

[Eggcessive]

Mareks disease and some of the severe cases of respiratory diseases(MG, coryza, fowl chlolera) can cause wry neck when there is brain inflammation. Exotic Newcastles disease, which is not found in the US, causes wry neck. Most cases I have read about were caused by accidents in which the chickens have had a head injury, or from a vitamin deficiency in the parent stock or the chicken who ate feed lacking in vitamins. Here are a couple of good links about nutritional causes:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/218/vitamin-e-deficiency
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

 

[sonderah]

Hmmm!! My flock has just finished its 3rd bag of food from a different source than I normally purchase from! That sounds like it could just be the issue! I sure hope so! Thanks for the info!

 

[mgfc27]

Hello guys , I just reading this and tough that you might help me out , today I noticed my young hen standing up but with her neck on the floor , I went near her and she stood up as normal and I thought that she was fine , but now I went to check on her and she can barely get her head up , everything else looks fine ..
Any help ?

 

[Eggcessive]

Hello guys , I just reading this and tough that you might help me out , today I noticed my young hen standing up but with her neck on the floor , I went near her and she stood up as normal and I thought that she was fine , but now I went to check on her and she can barely get her head up , everything else looks fine ..
Any help ?

Does her neck seem limp like her neck muscles are paralyzed, or does the neck seem stuck down? If you go back over the 2 pages on this thread, especially posts 2 and 11, you can read the links on botulism and mareks disease, as well as wry neck. Wry neck can be a symptom of vitamin deficiency, a head or neck injury, or from certain diseases, such as Mareks disease, avian leukosis, or anything affecting the brain. Start vitamins orally for treatment. Botulism can cause a limp neck, but also the extremeties are usually weak or paralyzed.

 

[mgfc27]

Not paralysed at all as she can move it , she can hold it up for a couple of seconds but then she drops it , she is eating and drinking well , I didn't noticed her poo yet and where can I find vitamins ? I added a bit of sugar on her water already as it is the only obvious thing I have atm

 

[Akrnaf2]

Did you make any changes in the floc? New chickens? Change of coop? Did the floc had something stressful? I think that the hen have Marek's disease, which is strongly connected to stress! You must seek for more singes: does she eat franticly? Does she have an unsymmetrical pupil? Or an opacke aye? Does she have little bumps on the skin? Does she have paralyzed limb? If one of the unswear is yes I think that you have Marek on your hand .....sorry!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds more like wry neck, which can be frustrating to treat. If she has problems getting enough to eat, you can watch a YouTube video on tricks to feed her. Vitamins are usually available at Tractor Supply and other feed stores. Rooster Booster makes some for the water or the food. You want to give one that includes vitamin B1 thiamine, Vitamin E, and hopefully selenium. Selenium is available in eggs, ground meats, fish, and nuts if your vitamins don't include it. Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell vitamins do contain all 3, and the dosage is 1 to 3 ml orally each day, but follow the label directions. Some even use PolyVisol without iron baby vitamins 2-3 drops by mouth daily, and give selenium extra.

wry neck or torticolis in a chicken

 

[mgfc27]

No changes have been made , she eats drinks and poops normal , all her limbs are fine , although I think a bit weak , her eyes are normal no lumps as well, as I said I added some sugar to her water and today I went to check on her and she looks much normal , like nothing had happen really , hopefully it won't be any disease ! I will post a pic of her as a thank you for all your help , I will keep checking on her and if any changes happen I will let you guys know , and again thanks a lot for all your helpful answers