Silkie chicken has severe wry neck (5 or so days) - how much longer do I give her??

[Fergie Angel Jaqui Betty]

Hello,
One of my beautiful Silkie hens (12 weeks old) has wry neck (unknown cause). I have taken her to the vet twice where she was given fluid and vit B12 by injection, antibiotics, pain relief and a trial little neck brace! She only weighed 400g a few days ago at the vet and I would say less now (I haven't weighed her).
Background:
- noticed lethargy/listless about one week ago
- weather had been hot and wondering if she wasn't eating/drinking much as the others tend to dominate
- head wanted to go one way, becoming worse to then involve her legs/claws and cause her to walk backwards or try and flip over
- poos initially runny but solid and normal looking once I was providing care inside the house (no blood in poos)
- other chickens seem fine.. although one has always had a little neck shake/tilt thing she does from time to time..?
- mix of free range in backyard (grass/dirt) and enclosed chicken run
- sleeps indoors in a cage at night on 'Addichar'
- still on chick crumbles
- vet explained possible causes include Marek's, vitamin deficiency, bacteria illnesses (sorry, can't remember the names!) and said if further weight loss might need to make the call
- had been pecking at crumbles/fruit/veg placed next to her but in past couple of days seems more tired and I have been syringe feeding her a bird rearing formula (this was all I could find that I could mix into paste/liquid to syringe feed)
- managed to get 5 or so 1ml syringes into her by holding her beak open but now she is very resistant and I'm finding it tricky so just going drop by drop at end of her beak..
- in past couple of days, I've been including vitamin E, vitamin B complex, molasses, raw honey.. and added egg yolk today
- still pooing since stopped eating herself (I think mostly runny but only having formula)
- I did try various homemade neck type braces but tricky to get it right and have stopped using for now
I guess I'm wondering if I am putting her through all this and fighting a losing battle?? I read that it can take a number of days or weeks for chickens to improve from vitamin deficiencies, so I have wanted to give her a good chance.. In the past couple of days she has mostly slept and just tries to put her head upside down. I do keep trying to re-position her and prop her with blankets to prevent her tucking her head, but also wondering if this is best thing to do??
Can chickens swallow okay when you just put a drop at end of their beak (mine does move her beak and seems to get some in but hard to know!)
Has anyone experienced this sort of thing and had their chicken recover well?
Thank you, really appreciate any advice

 

[TwoCrows]

I know a couple of members that raise Silkies and may be able to help you here, let me tag them. I hope your bird will be ok!

@Debbie292d @2ndTink

 

[Fergie Angel Jaqui Betty]

I know a couple of members that raise Silkies and may be able to help you here, let me tag them. I hope your bird will be ok!

@Debbie292d @2ndTink

Thanks so much!!

 

[Eggcessive]

Wry neck or torticolis is common in silkies and other chickens. It may be a symptom of vitamin E or B1 (thiamine) deficiency, a head or neck injury, and may be seen in Mareks or some other diseases. I would treat her for at least 2 weeks or longer. Give her a small amount of scrambled egg daily for a little selenium.

 

[Fergie Angel Jaqui Betty]

Wry neck or torticolis is common in silkies and other chickens. It may be a symptom of vitamin E or B1 (thiamine) deficiency, a head or neck injury, and may be seen in Mareks or some other diseases. I would treat her for at least 2 weeks or longer. Give her a small amount of scrambled egg daily for a little selenium.

Good to know - thanks so much! My feeling is vitamin deficiency (or maybe hoping it’s that as it’s treatable!) I will give her longer..
Thanks again

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how she is getting along.

 

[2ndTink]

If you can get those liquid filled Vit E pills, poke a little hole in the end of one and squeeze that into her beak twice a day. Sometimes you can dip their beak in it and they'll suck it in and swallow like they would to drink water. If she's not doing that you will need to open her beak and squeeze it in, or tranfer it to your syringe and dropper it in that way.

The sooner you catch them with a Bit E deficiency it seems the quicker they recover, if it's been a week do at least 2 weeks as Eggcessive said as long as she doesn't get horribly worse.

Keep doing vitamin B as well, but you don't want just B12, you want the B Complex. I don't know what country you're in so I'm not sure what brands you have available but look for something with the full B vitamin spectrum, for people is fine. Same for the Vit E, get the people stuff. I had 3 this year, my first ones ever so the first one too about 2 weeks to recover, the second one was a 12 wk old juvie he took about a week and a half and the 3rd one I caught right away and 3 or 4 days was all it took. But continue treatment for another 2 weeks or so after they look fine just to boost them all the way up. Once they are on the mend I cut back to once a day, but for the first few days or until they are making improvements, I do twice a day.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you for the tag, @TwoCrows!

I've dealt with a couple of silkie issues (head jitters, leg issues, etc.), and I can only emphasize what both @Eggcessive and @2ndTink said above, as the E and scrambled eggs, and B-Complex works!

Just be patient, as it's going to take probably a week before you see a change, and you'll have to continue this for several weeks. Give this to the one with the head shakes too.

Assuming she gets better, be sure to find a vitamin supplement to add to all of their regimen, such as Rooster Booster granules mixed in their feed or Poultry Cell mixed in their water. The Poultry Cell, I only do about once a week. I think every other day would be better though.

Good luck!

 

[Fergie Angel Jaqui Betty]

Wry neck or torticolis is common in silkies and other chickens. It may be a symptom of vitamin E or B1 (thiamine) deficiency, a head or neck injury, and may be seen in Mareks or some other diseases. I would treat her for at least 2 weeks or longer. Give her a small amount of scrambled egg daily for a little selenium.

Thanks so much for the reply! Good to know.. Will keep going and cross all my fingers!

 

[Fergie Angel Jaqui Betty]

If you can get those liquid filled Vit E pills, poke a little hole in the end of one and squeeze that into her beak twice a day. Sometimes you can dip their beak in it and they'll suck it in and swallow like they would to drink water. If she's not doing that you will need to open her beak and squeeze it in, or tranfer it to your syringe and dropper it in that way.

The sooner you catch them with a Bit E deficiency it seems the quicker they recover, if it's been a week do at least 2 weeks as Eggcessive said as long as she doesn't get horribly worse.

Keep doing vitamin B as well, but you don't want just B12, you want the B Complex. I don't know what country you're in so I'm not sure what brands you have available but look for something with the full B vitamin spectrum, for people is fine. Same for the Vit E, get the people stuff. I had 3 this year, my first ones ever so the first one too about 2 weeks to recover, the second one was a 12 wk old juvie he took about a week and a half and the 3rd one I caught right away and 3 or 4 days was all it took. But continue treatment for another 2 weeks or so after they look fine just to boost them all the way up. Once they are on the mend I cut back to once a day, but for the first few days or until they are making improvements, I do twice a day.

Hi,
Really appreciate your time to reply! Very helpful - thank you! I wish I had got onto it sooner.. At least I know now.
Do you think she's able to swallow okay when I just dropper it under/onto her beak? She does move her beak but not in the obvious way they do when drink water.. She must be getting a bit as she is still pooing.
Thanks again