Silkie chicken sick

[agnewcoop]

I have a small flock of 6 month old chickens (these are my 1st chickens).
My Silkie was laying in a ball in the coop floor this morning, he was extremely limp when I picked him up, he will lay on his back on my lap and close his eyes.
I have checked him for injuries and find nothing. He keeps putting his eggs between his front legs and just stays like that.
I keep picking his head up and dipping his beak and he will drink water. Has not ate or pooped all day.
We have two vets that will see chickens but can't go until tomorrow.
Help please!

 

[chickcrack]

You're going to have to actually put the vitamins, food and water in him until he can do it on his own. I use a syringe with no needle. The hanging head in the bath pic is what wry neck looks like. I would seriously get selenium, 25 mg crushed tablet, and mix it with the vitamin e and polyvisol without iron and give it 2-3 times a day. It takes a couple days but the longer the chick goes without proper treatment or not getting enough nutrients the worse off he'll be. My vet leaned me a metal scope to get food a vitamins in easier for my last chicken emergency which I was so grateful for and will buy one to keep on hand for future use.

Agree 100% with this reply! I have a lot of experience with wry neck. It takes some time and patience. In my experience even when you see some improvement do be surprised with a set-back or two. Vitamin B complex also may help...I used human vitB complex crushed into moist food or water. Syringe or tube feeding is going to be necessary. Egg yolk added to moistened food helps a ton to get nutrition in. Excitement and stress seems to cause "spasms" that look like a seizure so a calm environment is important. Good luck!

 

[Ezs Choukies]

That is fantastic news! Your lil guy is going to be so attached to you!

 

[Eggcessive]

Has it been very hot where you live, or could he have been kept from drinking and eating? Does he have any diarrhea or blood in his droppings? Was he vaccinated for Mareks disease? How does his crop feel--full, hard, puffy, or empty? Can you try feeding his bits of chopped egg, tuna, and add some yogurt and water to his feed. Add some SaveAChick or electrolytes and vitamins to his feed. Check his skin for signs of lice or mites. I hope that he makes it so that you can take him to the vet.

 

[agnewcoop]

It is hot here but I have a fan going, window open and fresh water every day.
Have not been vaccinated and crop is good.
Skin is clear.
After doing tons of research it seems to match wry neck symptoms.
I went ahead and started polyvisol and vitamin e, electrolyte in water. I am having to hold its head to drink and I got it to eat some bites of yogurt. I brought it in the house to stay cool and quiet, isn't any better but isn't worse so hopefully will be good until I can call the vet in the am.
Thanks for the reply!

 

[agnewcoop]

UPDATE
I started giving polyvisol and vitamin e per the vets suggestion last night and making him eat and drink every hour. He will take about 3 sips each of the vitamin mixture the water with antibiotic I'm it and tiny bite of food. I have to hold his head up while doing this.
He stood up a couple times today but most of the day just slept with his head drooped between his chest.
I have been feeding Greek yogurt in addition to tiny bites of mushy chicken food.
Right after I fed him this time he pooped out runny very white liquid. Is this just from the yogurt or can this help determine what may be wrong?

 

[Eggcessive]

White in the droppings is urates, or the equivalent of kidney waste. Feeding him often and the vitamins and electrolytes will help. if you have electrolytes with vitamins, giving Polyvisol may be too much vitamins. Let us know how he progresses. Try feeding him a little raw or soft cooked egg. It contains selenium which helps with vitamin E utilization. Wry neck is more of a neck spasm, called torticolis. Is his neck limp? Can you post any pictures of him? Here is a good article to read:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

Does he move his legs or wings? Botulism is a disease which causes paralysis of the legs, wings, and the neck from eating a toxin found in decaying animal or fish carcasses, maggot, or vegetable matter that has been underground or under water.

Let us know how he is getting along.

 

[agnewcoop]

I can't get a pic bc he is all black and so fuzzy, you literally can't tell his head from his butt in a picture when he is in the position that he is in
I tried feeding him scrambled eggs but he wouldn't eat, I will try again today.
His wings and legs are fine, he can straighten his neck and hold his head up but only for a little bit then he tucks his legs under his chest and moves his head side to side several times then lays down and goes to sleep.
Last night he literally did a complete flip when he tucked his head.

 

[agnewcoop]

Is there anyway to post a video?

 

[Eggcessive]

You can post a YouTube video and either post a link or insert it in the reply box that looks like film. Flipping over does sound more like wry neck. When I want to give a sick bird nutrition, I mix a raw egg, a small amount of plain yogurt, some feed, and add water to make it soupy. It whips up into a nice mixture.Most chickens will eat small bits of tuna, hamburger, and liver which all contain vitamins and minerals. Silkies sometimes have a vaulted skull which may be more easily injured. Other problems which affect the brain can cause wry neck symptoms as well. I hope he starts recovering. Here is a video about feeding a chicken with wry neck to watch: