Just had 6 chicks hatch out with wry neck!

[huckleberryfarm]

I hatched out (well, the incubator did) seven Ameraucana chicks. Six of them were born with wry neck. I spent yesterday massaging their necks and gave them PolyViSol. No improvement today. I tried to put little drops of water by their beaks but I'm not sure they can even drink. They are one-day old and their necks are so twisted. Today I gave them Vitamin E instead of the PolyViSol. Anything else I can do? The weird thing is that three of them are starting to get black faces (they are Wheaten). Very odd. I'd love to save them but I'm not sure what else to do.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
Were these from your own eggs? It signifies some sort of deficiency with the feed the hens were eating, and you should investigate that, if so- if not, the seller ought to be informed to give supplements in their waterers.

I would go get a container of Exact baby parrot food, and sprinkle their food heavily with it. I would also mix up vitamins and electrolytes from the cattle section of the feed store into their waterer. If they can't eat and drink, mix the parrot food with water into a loose pudding consistency and give them bits in their beaks. Stay at the front of the beak and use a syringe to give it to them in small amounts. This is a very concentrated, absorbable formula that ought to provide them with nutrients quickly. Dip their beaks in the vitamin water to get each of them a few mouthfulls every hour.

Best of luck!

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Thanks. They were from a seller here and I have contacted them. I'm not sure they can drink much less eat. If I put a few drops of water in their beaks, it seems not fall out. I'll keep trying!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Quote:
I know it is hard but I would consider 'culling". I did my first hatch last month and I had 6 out of 8 hatch. One had "wry neck"...which I never knew about. I did some research and there are numerous "possible" causes but one was "heredity". I did not want that to be passed on.

 

[ScissorChick]

I'm so sorry your going through this

I'm having some pretty bad luck with mine, myself..

I agree with chookschick, if you can get all that down

them, as you say it just runs out of their mouth.

ScissorChick

 

[huckleberryfarm]

I hate to watch them like that. Three of them are on their backs with their neck all bent backwards. The others are not quite so contorted. I definitely don't want to breed these but they could be good layers and we do sell our eggs commercially. Just gave them all a bit of water. How often do you give the Vitamin E?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html
If you click on "crookneck" in the left column, it will lead you to a page with Vit E recommendations.

I have no experience with wry neck, though!