Reposting in ER thread. Silkie chicken with neuro issue.

[pugspigchicks]

I'm new to owning chickens. I brought home a new Silkie that was 2-3 weeks old yesterday. It did some kind of weird seizure like movement and went limp and I thought she was dead. She overall recovered. She was still wobbly but after electrolytes she was eating on her own and walking and alert. She seemed much better today on a few checks. Then this evening she was walking backwards and sideways and definitely imbalanced. Falls towards the side. Still chirping and responsive. Eats some on her own. Drinking when forced. Mostly staying on the side of the container. I have a video. The Breeder suggested Wry neck but it doesn't look like that to me. Wondering if Vit E deficiency? I went And picked up infant vitamin drops. I'm a nurse and it appears neurological but my question is can she recover? I don't want her to suffer. It is weird that her symptoms go back and forth. My other chicks seem fine. Thoughts?? Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm new to owning chickens. I brought home a new Silkie that was 2-3 weeks old yesterday. It did some kind of weird seizure like movement and went limp and I thought she was dead. She overall recovered. She was still wobbly but after electrolytes she was eating on her own and walking and alert. She seemed much better today on a few checks. Then this evening she was walking backwards and sideways and definitely imbalanced. Falls towards the side. Still chirping and responsive. Eats some on her own. Drinking when forced. Mostly staying on the side of the container. I have a video. The Breeder suggested Wry neck but it doesn't look like that to me. Wondering if Vit E deficiency? I went And picked up infant vitamin drops. I'm a nurse and it appears neurological but my question is can she recover? I don't want her to suffer. It is weird that her symptoms go back and forth. My other chicks seem fine. Thoughts?? Thanks!

Hi

Welcome To BYC

How is your chick doing?
You can post your video to youtube and give us a link.

Wry Neck is a neurological symptom of several conditions - vitamin deficiencies, head injury/trauma and certain diseases like Marek's, Newcastles or Avian Lymphoid Leukosis. Since your little one is only 2-3wks old, I would lean toward vitamin deficiency or head injury/trauma.

You can give infants vitamins (Poly Vi Sol no Iron) to see if that helps. Selenium helps the "uptake" of Vitamin E, so offer some chopped egg or tuna in addition to her chick starter. Try to keep her hydrated, dehydration can cause problems in Silkies and offer her food wet to see if she will eat better.

Let us know how she is doing.

https://poultrykeeper.com/blog/diseases-common-to-silkies/
http://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/wry-neck.html

 

[pugspigchicks]

Hi- Thank you. I've been giving her infant vitamin drops and electrolytes in her water. I was Hand feeding and forcing fluids via a syringe. She is still wobbly but now standing and eating and drinking on her own. I'm hoping the imbalance isn't permanent for her. She will walk but only using the wall of the container for support.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi- Thank you. I've been giving her infant vitamin drops and electrolytes in her water. I was Hand feeding and forcing fluids via a syringe. She is still wobbly but now standing and eating and drinking on her own. I'm hoping the imbalance isn't permanent for her. She will walk but only using the wall of the container for support.

Wry Neck can be hard to overcome and improvement can be slow. Keep up with giving her the vitamins. Hopefully by keeping her hydrated and eating she will start to improve soon.

Keep us posted.

 

[pugspigchicks]

Our chick Pearl has made a near full recovery. She is even growing new feathers. After a few days of feeding her/hydrating her with a syringe and giving her vitamins she is walking forward and eating/drinking completely on her own. Thanks for the links.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad to hear she is recovering!