Neurological problems or something else??

[thlayli]

I have 14 one month old chicks. I had them vaccinated for Merek's before they delivered and haven't had any problems, they all seemed happy and healthy until today. One of the chicks is behaving very funny and I'm worried. She drops her head, flares her wings, and stumbles backwards. It only lasts a few seconds at a time, but it has happened about six times in the hour I've observed it and seems totally involuntary. None of the other chicks have any of the same symptoms, and I've quarantined her in a cat carrier away from the others. Does anyone know what my poor chick has, and can I save her, or is it too late?

 

[Eggcessive]

Just in case she is just suffering from wry neck, I would give her vitamin E, thiamine, and selenium. Those are all found in Poultry Cell or Poultry NutriDrench vitamins, sold in feed stores. Dosage is 3 ml daily by mouth or fed in a treat. Or use some poultry vitains in their water, and give a little chopped egg, canned tuna in water, or sunflower kernels daily. I really hope that this is not a symptom of Mareks. Wry neck can also be a symptom of head injuries as well. It could also be a seizure type symptom.

 

[thlayli]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I looked up wry neck, and she doesn't have her head bent backwards, it flops forward like she can't hold it up. I have video, but it's on my phone. I could Facebook message anyone who wants to see it if it'll help diagnose or at least narrow down what she has...

 

[Eggcessive]

Wry neck (torticolis, crook neck, twisted neck,) is a neurological condition where the neck can spasm downward between the legs,, twist to the side, or turn upward, and it can curve as well. Sometimes it can include running in circles or walking backward. Vitamin deficiency, heredity, head injury, Mareks, and in other infectious diseases it may be seen. Sometimes people post videos to YouTube with a link here.

 

[thlayli]

Theres a video of her.

 

[Eggcessive]

I'm not a vet, but it still looks like it could wry neck or a seizure-like symptom due to some neurological problem. All I can say is to give the vitamins, separate her if she is getting picked on, and continue to watch her. If you have room, and need to separate, you could put her in a small dog crate with food and water so that she still sees the others, and let her out with them for short supervised visits. I will post a couple of links in a few minutes.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is getting plenty to eat and drink. If she starts to get worse, you may need to help her eat. Adding water to her feed, and putting it in a bowl while holding her to eat may help. Let us know how your chick gets along on this thread. If you are up for some reading, here are some links to look at.:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck
https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq
http://www.thehappychickencoop.com/mareks-disease/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39918/mareks-vaccine/150

 

[thlayli]

I separated her because I was afraid whatever she had was contagious. She wasn't getting picked on, and when I watched her she was just as energetic as the others and pushed her way to any treats she wanted. After I quarantined her I put a little tea cup of water and another one of food in with her, and she was eating, but very distressed about being separated from the others so she kicked over the water twice. I put a blanket over the carrier to keep it dark and she's sleeping now, so I'll try the water again.

Thanks for the recommendations, I will definitely be off to the store tomorrow to get some vitamins. She's stuck in Solitary for now but hopefully I can put her back in with the others tomorrow.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would place her back with others and check to see that she is getting food and water. Some won't eat when they are separated. If she has something contagious, such as Mareks, the others have already been exposed as well.

 

[thlayli]

If you think it's a good idea then I will put her back. I don't want her to get dehydrated. Thanks for the advice. C: