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Betsy,
As I was trying to decide where to put various birds last night, I thought to myself, "pretty sure the partridge silkie that Jaxon got from Betsy is from a NPIP flock and won't need to be tested."
It was nice to meet you. When you have some time, would you mind explaining the curved spine/sleep deprived connection? I only caught part of the discussion and it made me wonder later whether I am harming my birds physically by keeping a light on all night in the winter, to keep them laying.
I also enjoyed meeting you. I wish I'd had more time and energy for ust plain visiting!
This is just one theory on the possible cause of the curved spine and wry tail. When I noticed it in one of my otherwise gorgeous young black roos, I did a bit of internet research.
I found a paper regarding the use of scoliosis in chickens in regard to possible causes of scoliosis in humans. The prevalent thought (though I think not conclusively proven) was that sleep deprivation, causing a lack of melatonin was one cause of scoliosis. I think it was related to the period of bone growth in young birds, rather than causing problems in adult birds where bone growth has stopped.
I'd long been concerned about the amount of supplementary light that goes into raising chicks, from some of the incubators with light bulbs as a heat source, to brooders and even coops that use white incandescent bulbs.
I can understand using these lights for warmth and to improve laying and hasten growth, but was concerned about the effect on my own small flock.
I've gotten rid of the 'bator with the light bulb, and now use blue or red lights in my main brooder, and 75 watt reptile lights in my smaller brooders. They are more expensive, but the chicks seem to sleep much more normally. I'd noticed that chicks and keets that had the bright lights seemed to grow faster than hen raised chicks, but both ultimately reached about the same size. I've never used lights in my regular pens, partly because they are fairly close to a security light across the gulley. Their pens have light from it, but their individual houses do not.
To me, it stands to reason that we're better off duplicating natural conditions as much as possible. When you think of it, chicks spend a great deal of time in the dark--even in the daytime under their Moms. I would think that the rest period of shorter daylight and less egg-laying might be one of nature's way of allowing hens to recover from the stress of egg laying. I don't mean this as criticism in any way, just my random thoughts.
The other two theories I've read of and heard discussed regarding the curved spines and wry tails, are that of a recessive gene and/or too rich feed, causing "over growth," especially as breeders work toward shorter backs to improve conformation. I think the prevalent theory is the genetic connection. It is also the one I feel is most likely.
I've also been more careful about overfeeding youngsters, and have introduced more and more different bloodlines into my flock.
I wish there were definitive information about this condition, but haven't yet found it. I have learned it is a condition that is widely present in many flocks.
Hope this is helpful.
