Help with very weird neck position while drinking

[pinkandrews]

This is how Bianca drinks. Everything else is as usual, but her drinking. I thought it might be a version of wry neck, and have been giving her selenium and vitamin E, no change. Besides the drinking position being very bizarre, there is nothing different about Bianca: good eating, pooping, weight. She is about 3 months old, and I bought her about 2 weeks ago, definitely shy though. Should I just leave it alone, or is there something else to do? Will this impair her? Thanks for the advice!!

 

[coach723]

I don't know why she would only do this when drinking, but the position looks like stargazing, which is caused by a thiamine (B1) deficiency. Since thiamine would not hurt her I would try supplementing with that and see if you get any improvement.
Here is a link with more info on that: http://www.typesofchicken.com/how-to-treat-stargazing-in-chicks/

 

[pinkandrews]

The thing is, she can hold her head upright very well. It's only when she is drinking!

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that it looks like wry neck or star gazing, which are neurological symptoms. Thiamine (vitamin B1,) vitamin E, and selenium, a mineral found in egg, tuna, and sunflour seeds among other foods. Some reasons for wry neck symptoms besides vitamin E and B1 deficiency, are head injuries, and some infectious diseases such as Mareks, lymphoid leukosis, and others. Make sure that she is getting enough to eat and drink, or you will need to help.

 

[pinkandrews]

Here is a video of her eating.

 

[coach723]

Again, I can't say why the behavior only happens when she drinks. All of the other conditions that Eggcessive mentioned are possible causes with no really good options for treatment. Which is why I suggested trying the supplement first. Vitamin deficiencies very often manifest themselves with neurological symptoms, and they can be odd or different than the 'literature' describes. If that is what it is it would be a simple and inexpensive fix. If it's not it would be harmless to try. Vitamin deficiencies can start while the chick is still inside the egg, sometimes passed on by deficient parents, so it could be something she was set up for before hatch. Or perhaps she was not fed a good quality chick feed before you got her. I don't know how long you have been supplementing the E and selenium, but I would continue and add the thiamine and see if it helps. That is what I would do if she were mine. If there is no improvement then I could only suggest a visit to a good avian vet if you have one available to try to identify the issue. I'm sorry I have no better ideas, I really hope she gets better.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is very true about deficiencies sometimes originating with the parent stock, or being fed feed deficient in vitamins before you got them. Also neuro problems may be hereditary. As long as she seems to be thriving, there probably is not much to worry about, but I would continue the vitamins and continue to watch her.

 

[pinkandrews]

Thanks for your advice.