Rooster unable to hold his head up

[Brissychick]

Update.

There is very little if no improvement. He can't eat which means that I must shove food down the back of his throat. I must carefully give him water several times a day.

The swelling and discolouration of his wattle has gone.

He is loosing weight as it's difficult to get the food down him. He's interested in food but can't eat it or drink. Occasionally he picks up something but rarely is able to do anything but drop it. All he can do is walk slowly periodically around his carrier dragging his head.

I've never seen anything like this before. The Wry neck I've seen/had they can swallow food and drink water.

 

[abraga]

1st thing that crossed my mind was botulism. Have you considered tube feeding him? It's an extremely simple process. You can get food/water diwn him all at once. I keep baby bird formula( powder). U can get it at a pet store. U can add vitamins and medications to the feed. U can try calling the vet to get a latex/soft tube to attach to the end of a syringe. The tube slides down really easy. Less stress for you and the bird.

 

[abraga]

1st thing that crossed my mind was botulism. Have you considered tube feeding him? It's an extremely simple process. You can get food/water diwn him all at once. I keep baby bird formula( powder). U can get it at a pet store. U can add vitamins and medications to the feed. U can try calling the vet to get a latex/soft tube to attach to the end of a syringe. The tube slides down really easy. Less stress for you and the bird.

Oh..theres another product called nutrical. It will be in the cat or small animal section. It's calorie dense and j add it to my baby bird formula for extra calories. It comes in a tube

 

[rebrascora]

I picked up a catheter and large syringe at our local farm supplies shop the other day for just a couple of £s. I bought it for the large syringe as I was having to medicate a horse that was being fussy about his feed being "tampered with" but the catheter will come in handy to tube feed chickens (if I need it) as it has the enclosed rounded tip with slots in the side and the tube is pretty small. It was in the sheep section for use with lambs I would guess, but looks perfect for tube feeding chickens, so check out your local farm supplies store before going to the vet for one as I'm pretty sure it will be a lot cheaper.

 

[Brissychick]

I'm trying with the sof

Wry neck shows itself differently in some chickens. I usually prick the softgel with a toothpick, and squeeze the oil into the children's beak.
Good luck with him.

I'm trying. I'm treating for wry neck.

PS I found two puncture marks now that the swelling has gone down on his wattle.

 

[Brissychick]

I picked up a catheter and large syringe at our local farm supplies shop the other day for just a couple of £s. I bought it for the large syringe as I was having to medicate a horse that was being fussy about his feed being "tampered with" but the catheter will come in handy to tube feed chickens (if I need it) as it has the enclosed rounded tip with slots in the side and the tube is pretty small. It was in the sheep section for use with lambs I would guess, but looks perfect for tube feeding chickens, so check out your local farm supplies store before going to the vet for one as I'm pretty sure it will be a lot cheaper.

Awesome thank you very very very much. I'll have a look today. That would make it so much easier. He's not impressed with my feeding skills. It's hard work and I already have a very difficult time for my family.

 

[Brissychick]

Update today finally we have had a breakthrough. He's holding his head up like nothing is wrong. He's weak and he is tires often. I'm going to keep him separated for another few days. It's such a sudden recovery. This is one for the books.

 

[Eggcessive]

My goodness, I lost track of this thread. I am so glad that he has recovered the use of his neck and wings. With the swelling and and marks on his wattle, I would suspect that he was either bitten by a snake or was stung by a spider. It sounds very much like a neurotoxin. Botulism as mentioned earlier would cause a paralyzed neck and dropping wings, but the legs would have been paralyzed earlier and as well.

 

[rebrascora]

So pleased he is picking up at last.
Well done persevering with him!

Was there anything you did that you feel may have aided the recovery, so that others dealing with a similar situation may benefit?

Did you manage to tube feed him and if so, were there any tips or tricks you discovered that were helpful. Was it as daunting as you imagined? I have not needed to tube feed yet, so whilst I have the equipment on hand, it is always useful to read of other novice people's experience in using it.

Wishing him a continued and speedy recovery.

Barbara

 

[Brissychick]

So pleased he is picking up at last.
Well done persevering with him!

Was there anything you did that you feel may have aided the recovery, so that others dealing with a similar situation may benefit?

Did you manage to tube feed him and if so, were there any tips or tricks you discovered that were helpful. Was it as daunting as you imagined? I have not needed to tube feed yet, so whilst I have the equipment on hand, it is always useful to read of other novice people's experience in using it.

Wishing him a continued and speedy recovery.

Barbara

Hi Barbara

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't end up needing to tube feeding him. My local stores didn't have anything by the time I arranged something he was recovering. It's a mystery to what caused him to recover.