heatherschiefer
In the Brooder
- Aug 17, 2021
- 8
- 18
- 39
So I have this pullet, she's a RIR who should be reaching the age of laying. She was a spring chick. One morning I noticed she was walking with her head tilted and immediately began treating for wry neck.
There are no other symptoms. The only thing I noticed was a small crack in her beak, so I suspect head injury of some type. That has since healed and I can not identify any other injuries.
She's been inside ever since about September 25 or 26.
She was able to eat and drink the first week. She did have spasms and was losing weight, but the crooked neck seemed minor and she was interested in food and being outside. Then seemed to get much worse. Now she's flipping backward, only turns to her left and walks backwards, her neck is more like a twisty straw and she is not interested in eating on her own.
She is gaining weight, however, because I am spending 2+ hours every day spoon feeding her. She had a good day yesterday, walking straight lines, focusing on bugs outside, etc. Today she seems loopy again. Alert, but loopy. Most days she gets a bit perky when I put her out, today you can see that her tail is down so not her best day. Typically it's up high and you can tell she's enjoying being out of her crate.
I've attached a photo of what I'm giving her and approximate dosages. I've tried aspirin, but only a couple days at a time, obviously. Didn't seem to help though.
I'm just struggling with work and caring for this bird who's just too young to put down in my mind for something that seems curable. Is there something else I could try? Something I've overlooked? If it's a head injury, is it possible she never fully recovers? If that's the case, how do I know when it's time? Like, how long do we go on this way? My birds are more pets than anything and to put down a young hen like her is just hard to accept.
There are no other symptoms. The only thing I noticed was a small crack in her beak, so I suspect head injury of some type. That has since healed and I can not identify any other injuries.
She's been inside ever since about September 25 or 26.
She was able to eat and drink the first week. She did have spasms and was losing weight, but the crooked neck seemed minor and she was interested in food and being outside. Then seemed to get much worse. Now she's flipping backward, only turns to her left and walks backwards, her neck is more like a twisty straw and she is not interested in eating on her own.
She is gaining weight, however, because I am spending 2+ hours every day spoon feeding her. She had a good day yesterday, walking straight lines, focusing on bugs outside, etc. Today she seems loopy again. Alert, but loopy. Most days she gets a bit perky when I put her out, today you can see that her tail is down so not her best day. Typically it's up high and you can tell she's enjoying being out of her crate.
I've attached a photo of what I'm giving her and approximate dosages. I've tried aspirin, but only a couple days at a time, obviously. Didn't seem to help though.
I'm just struggling with work and caring for this bird who's just too young to put down in my mind for something that seems curable. Is there something else I could try? Something I've overlooked? If it's a head injury, is it possible she never fully recovers? If that's the case, how do I know when it's time? Like, how long do we go on this way? My birds are more pets than anything and to put down a young hen like her is just hard to accept.
going on Day 16 here. 
