Polish Crested Wry Neck / Crooked Neck Diary

[franklinstreetwest]

chickenzoo : I like your idea about the bubble pillow! It just seems logical that getting the muscles to relax and behave normal would aid in healing. I'm so glad that both our lifestyles have permitted us to pay such close attention to her. Otherwise I can only imagine the choice we would've had to make.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

So it has been over a month since Weeble first exhibited this problem. She is officially THE most spoiled bird I have ever met. Although she is not completely right yet, she does everything a normal chicken does, with a little extra "character". She walks forward with ease, takes dust bathes and forages when I take her out gardening. But her head still tilts a little, and when she's excited she walks in repetative circles and/or her head folds flat onto her back. It seems like she does this to elicit attention. She LOVES to be held and groomed! She is a regular house pet now, and we desperately need to fashion a poop-catcher for her. She pecks at our toes while we're eating dinner all the while chattering incessantly, because she's not allowed to eat at the table with us (we used to keep her basket on the table to keep a good eye on her). It has become apparant that she perceives the house as her territory... she viciously attacks the dog and cats when they are in "her" room. We are trying to find ways of changing this bad behavior. She's not big enough to get away with those antics. Especially with the dog. The cats couldn't care less. She is a delight to have around. When I get home, she talks my ear off and grooms me. And when we're in the garden and she hears Mike calling, she goes running for his voice. And little chicky ecxtasy is being cradled while having her head and neck rubbed and feathers picked at. Oh, and she loves to coo along to Barbara Streisand musicals! Funny little bird.

I should note, that we ended up administering 30mg of predisone total. Over the course of two weeks, in graduated lower doses. The temps are still stifling, and though she does enjoy her personal fan when it's super hot, she hasn't had a relapse. Recovery continues to be slow. But steady.

 

[OHhappychicks]

So happy to hear of positive progress!! Does anyone know what causes this condition? To bad there are no chicken chiropractors or massage therapists!! I know it helps me to get the kinks out! Sounds like you have a certified house chicken!

Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

 

[franklinstreetwest]

It is now July 18, 2011:

Weeble is steady on the road forward. No relapse as yet. The days are all happy ones, filled with little chicken adventures like " OOOooh my GOSH, what are those white fluttery things in the air?!!?" cabbage looper butterflies on one of the first grazing trips in the garden. Or, "wiggly toes, wiggly toes....get the toes". Other not so fun games in my opinion are "get the cat", "get the dog" and "attack the leg"... It turns out that my Weeble is becoming a little teenage boy. NOT a girl as I had so hopefully projected.

I hate pubescent hormones! He is becoming a little pistol. He is getting a king of the coop complex, which would be fine in chicken land, but he is consorting with two house cats and a dog. The cats and dog are indifferent; that is until Weeble comes blustering across the room claws and beak out ready to play/fight. The cats just skirt unless they're cornered, then they hiss and bat (warnings only). The dog is always minding her own business and is usually caught in the midst of a doggy dream by a rambunctious little pistol. She doesn't nip, but looks like she'd like to. Needless to say, all communal gatherings are strictly supervised.

We are trying to find ways to properly guide Weebles behavior. Scolding, liken to a flock pecking order, doesn't seem to work. He just rises to the challenge and starts sparring; which he always wins because I don't want to injure him. We are considering a spray bottle. Currently whenever he gets to assertive, we put him back in his cage for some quiet time. Lots of mournful cooing insues when we put him in his cage. Birds are such social creatures, I feel a little bad that he is seperated from a flock to chatter all day with and roost with at night. He seems the most alone at night.

Physically, Weeble still has some head twitches and aim issues. When he gets really excited, he walks in circles like he's waltzing. He is still not quite normal, but he is otherwise a perfectly functional happy chicken. With time perhaps he will be completely unaffected, but if not he is at least fully functioning.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

As to what causes it...

I only know what I've read, and for the most part it seems like speculation at best. The most common opinions seemed to be injury to the skull that results in brain swelling and genetic disorder that is most common in vaulted skull breeds like silkie and polish crested. Although I have read quite a few posts that involve breeds other than those two. There was an article in a chicken breeding magazine that was specific to Polish Crested, and it sited both a genetic disorder that presents before 6 months of age "often brought on by extreme heat or an injury to the skull...".

I don't pressume to know anything about avian medicine. All I know is that Weeble fits the trifecta of possible causes. He is Polish with an extremely vaulted skull, was pecked in the head by an agressive older hen right before a string of VERY hot weather. It could have been all of those things, one of them, or none of them.

In the healing process, time and constant attention seemed to be the most effective treatment of all. The most improvement happened after the introduction of prednisone, however that could have been coincidence also. My personal feeling is that the prednisone above all else was key to recovery. But that is purely conjecture. A farmer friend of mine even consulted his "big book" of animal medicine, it advised putting the bird down immediately.

If this is your pet, a part of your household that you are willing to invest the time in, DON'T give up without giving it the long fight!!! But it did take 16 hour a day attention to his care for over a month to get him to eat and drink independantly. That is just not feesible for most people. Best of luck to all who encounter this problem!!

 

[chickenzoo]

Glad he is doing better... yes improvement with steroids basically points to a injury. Improvement with Vitmin E points to Vitamin imbalance. I have both Polish & Silkies and it arises from time to time. I also have a Silkie that will pass out and act almost dead if she does not have a fan or A/c running on her at all times.

 

[vintage00gypsy]

wow. this puts every little birdie life saving story of mine to complete shame.

love it.

 

[FrenchToast]

Just an FYI for anyone reading this that is going thru the same thing. Feeding scrambled eggs for the protein is good also egg is very high in Vitamin E and Selenium !!

 

[Chick15]

What is "Wry Neck?"

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Chick15 ---

I'm not a vet or a scientist, but as far as I understand it, it seems to be a neurological disorder that causes a bird's head to twist upside-down. It can also cause problems with balance, walking, eating and drinking. There are a number of triggers that will cause these symptoms. From what I've read, vitamin deficiency, genetics, and head trauma are all possible causes of wry neck. A search of this site, or a Google search should give you plenty of detailed info on it if you're interested.