Yesterday when we moved half our chicks to a new coop we noticed one out of whack. They are about 8 weeks old. I do not know the breed as they were a gift from our son. He was listless and when I picked him up his head swayed from side to side and eventually he curled it under his chest. He drinks when I hold his head up otherwise he wobbles and falls over into a flip. He has little interest in food but I bought to baby bird food for him. I have given him poly-vi-sol. I have also given him meds via his water. Today I bought vitamin E to help. When he is placed in his box he curls his head under and even pecks at his chest. Is this crookneck or a combination of things. I hate to see him suffer so. What else can I do to help this little guy? Should I fashion a neck brace out of a paper towel roller to help him with his head and to keep him from pecking himself? I appreciate any help that you can give me.
Welcome to BYC. It sounds as though he has wry neck. Silkies are prone to this. Wry neck can be caused by a head injury, or from a vitamin B1 or vitamin E deficiency either from feed, or from parents. Diseases such as Mareks, Newcastles, and others may also cause it. Most treatment includes keeping quiet with isolation, helping them to eat and drink, and vitamins. Prednisone is sometimes used in sever cases. Here are some good links for you: http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html http://oureggbasket.blogspot.com/2013/04/wry-neck-or-crook-neck-understanding-it.html http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck
Thanks for the information. I'm just worried about the little guy. He likes to sleep all the time. He only eats and drinks when I help him. Otherwise he just falls into his dishes. I will keep at it in hopes that he will get better.
