Poor bantam is all twisted up

[nevrenufcritters]

I have a 3 mo old silkie that started with the wry neck behavior at 4 weeks. I have supplemented it's diet with vit e and selenium since then without much improvement at all. It has always been able to eat and drink by itself ( most times upside down) so I've let it be. I'm trying to decide if I should put it down: it can't survive with the flock they constantly peck it and it just stays upside down not even moving away. It can't go up and down the ramp with the others. I have to put it down in am to eat and back up in coop at night to be with the others but they stay away from it mostly. I have tried to keep it in a separate cage otherwise it's so stressed and always twisting walking backwards and upside down.i don't think I've seen it's hesd upright in several weeks now. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I just don't know what to do.

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs* It's a tough decision to make.

I adopt animals that need a forever home. I have quite a few chickens that have problems, like impaired vision. A few are -- I believe -- nearly blind. (None of the medical problems were disclosed ahead of time. It wouldn't have made a difference in whether I adopted them or not - it just would have affected how I worked with them from the start.)

I was seriously thinking that the nearly blind chickens were not going to be here come winter. But I changed how I work with them. I **USE TO** have to carry them in and out of the barn, to the food and to the water stations, and put them on a roost at night. I use to have to put them in a small fenced pasture, to keep their stress low since they couldn't see well. Now I use my voice to guide them to where they need to be. And I don't move the water or the feeding station. Same place always. And they free range. Yes, my nearly blind chickens free range! We go for walks together so they are practicing following my voice and following directions. I open the barn in the late afternoon and tell those guys it's time to go to their room. So they can go in when it's light and they have a chance of seeing something. It's a lot of work in the beginning, but I personally want them to have their independence & to live as long as possible.

When they are to the point of loosing weight and must be carried every place, then I will reevaluate.

I have other chickens, in another flock, that are at least half blind. The rest of the chickens help guide them to where they need to be. On occasion, I have to assist, but it's seldom.

If you have the patience and the time, keep caring for your little one the way you are.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

It's a hard call with any ill or disabled chicken. I think each person has to do what works for them and what feels right. Some people are not comfortable doing certain procedures or assisting with certain things and that's ok. There is no right or wrong answer.

I can tell you that for me, I'm home the majority of the time since we farm and I'm able to attend to the needs of a sick chicken. I've done just about every vetting procedure one can do outside of being a vet...lol. So I feel very comfortable doing things that some people may not be comfortable doing. Because of these reasons I will keep a bird for an extended period of time as long as the bird seems comfortable. With all of our animals, not just chickens...as soon as the animal/bird has turned that corner and is no longer visibly enjoying life and/or has lost the will to live...that's when I call it.

I'm sure for some people who have full time jobs and may be away for extended periods where they feel they can't sufficiently look after the requirements of an ill bird...the answer may be different for each person.

 

[izzy434]

Well it's a bright sunny day today so I brought her outside and opened a can of tuna fish. It seemed to perk her up a little bit she's looking around but then she ultimately turns her head back upside down.



poor baby.

 

[nevrenufcritters]

Mine loved to be outside in the grass but I to only takes a few minutes and she's upside down and crying

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

I wonder if the wry neck is like vertigo or motion sickness for the chicken. Things always moving out of balance...

I strongly dislike both things (vertigo and motion sickness). I feel fine one minute and the next the world is topsy turvy.

As WickedChicken6 said, it's a personal choice. One that only you can make. There is no right or wrong choice.

 

[izzy434]

Yeah I think it is something like that like the balance seems off. What I noticed is that she really wants her feet to be grounded whether it's in the box or in my arms. When i need to move her. I hold her feet , she grabs on, and then she settles down.

 

[nevrenufcritters]

Does anyone know if avian vets are familiar with this? I may take her there and if necessary have the vet put her down cause I can't do it.

 

[izzy434]

Do you think you know why is she crying?

 

[nevrenufcritters]

Have no idea, maybe it's painful?? Sure hurts me to watch . She mostly just lays down nowadays....I added some aspirin to her water to see if it would help...