Rooster not extending neck

[jmdix22]

I have a 19 week old rooster who will not extend his neck. I thought it was sour crop creating the lump in his neck but now I realize he won't extend it and the lump is just the bend in his neck. He's also sleeping air more than the others and he is not eating nearly as much. Please help. I need to know if I need to cull him sooner rather than have him infect the whole flock with something.

 

[jmdix22]

Also, I caught him earlier and it's almost like his neck is stuck in the lowered position. It fully extends if I do it for him but he won't extend it himself. Also he is sleeping a lot and gets left behind the flock and doesn't seem to care as they all usually do.

 

[nuklee0]

Also, I caught him earlier and it's almost like his neck is stuck in the lowered position. It fully extends if I do it for him but he won't extend it himself. Also he is sleeping a lot and gets left behind the flock and doesn't seem to care as they all usually do.

Is it wry neck? I don't have any experience but here's a thread with pictures and treatment. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1037872/3-or-4-year-old-rooster-is-it-wry-neck

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Isolate him until you figure out what is going on.

Sounds like it could be wry neck, which can be a deficiency of Vitamin E. Treating with Poly Vi-Sol, Vitamin E and selenium is the cure.

It also could be a form of Mareks, which obviously you don't want to mess with (but does not mean the end of your chicken world).

BYC has a good article on Mareks with also information on other diseases which can mimic Mareks. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

It is concerning that he doesn't want to eat but simply wants to sleep. That is never a good sign, along with the twisted neck.

Try the vitamin regiment first. It won't hurt. If it is a deficiency, you will generally see improvement within a day or two.

If it is Mareks, nothing can be done and the bird will slowly waste away.

Hopefully vitamins will do the trick.

LofMc

 

[jmdix22]

Thanks for the reply! I first thought wry neck but every other case of wryneck I've seen in here is nearly crippling for the chicken? Are there lighter cases?

 

[jmdix22]

Update, he's eating and acting a bit more normal. Still not crowing. And neck still crazy crooked. Are there less severe cases of wry neck?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

There can be degrees of wry neck as with anything, especially since it is a vitamin deficiency related problem.

Glad to hear he is eating and drinking. Pump the Vitamin E into him (with selenium) and see what happens in a few days.

Let us know how he is doing.

LofMc