Sick Hen wryneck???

[OlMotherHen]

Update: June 28,2012 Hairdo has died in the night. Will update if the vet finds anything during necropsy.

Hi All,

I have a 6 month old silkie barnevelder mix hen who has just started laying. Last night I found her laying near her egg by the chicken pen her head was strangely twisted. At first she was trying to walk and I put the other chickens away (the silkie rooster was guarding her, sweet guy). When I got back she was lying down and would not get up. I thought she might have wryneck or stargazer. No other symptoms. Not sure of difference???

Anyway this morning I ran out and bought E, B combo and selenium and some baby food. I fed her baby food (two feedings about a Tbsp) and she was eating well. I have kept her hydrated too with sugar water. This afternoon she is quiet and seems to be sleeping a lot (eyes closed), was not interested in eating and barely interesting in drinking. She is sitting up normally now, but her head is resting on her back, tail high.

How much should I expect her to eat and drink? She is a banty and a little bigger than our silkie roo, weighs a few pounds.

I surmised a vitamin deficiency from her timidity around some of the standard chickens. I am going to separate the banties from the standards now as her sister is timid too and I don't want this to happen to her.

Any ideas? Am I on the right track. I was thinking if she is still not responding or interested in eating tomorrow we will head to the vet.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[CMV]

It sounds like you are on the right track. A trip to the vet sounds like a good call. The intensive treatment for wryneck/star gazing (they are the same thing, by the way) involves some meds that need a prescription to get access to. Your vet can give her the full treatment, which will mean she will recover much more quickly than just with vitamin therapy alone.

Good luck with her. Let us know how she does.

 

[OlMotherHen]

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately "Hairdo" died in the night. Now I am not sure if I should take her to the vet for a necropsy to make sure she didn't have some disease. The only other thing I can think of is that somehow her neck or head was damaged (most likely the big roo).

Makes you feel so helpless when you can't do anything for your chickies. Chickens teach you all sorts of lessons.

 

[CMV]

A couple years back I had a terribly aggressive cockerel that jumped on the head of an unsuspecting pullet. He snapped her neck like a pencil, but somehow it didn't kill her. She was standing around with her head hanging underneath her. Every time she tried to walk she would just turn somersaults. As near as I could figure he had badly dislocated her neck, but somehow it wasn't fatal. There was no way to salvage her, so I ended up putting her down. I wonder if something similar may have happened to your bird. I guess we will find out when the necropsy comes back.

I am sorry for your loss.