Silkie cockerel has head on backwards???

[Scooter&Suzie]

I just got back from a weekend vacation and came back to see my silkie cockerel (4-5 months old) head was on backwards. It was looking directly behind it's body... It wasn't like that before I left and I'm so confused. I was able to make tapping noises and it turned it the right way, only to turn it backwards again. It seems like that is the normal way it wants it's neck now. Did another cockerel hurt him maybe? I feel like I'm going crazy and seeing things. Is there a way I can fix it? If his head is stuck like that I guess I won't be able to sell him, so I'll probably just try to keep him. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Or are chickens able to move their head almost as much as an owl can? I'll go get some pictures and give him and expection. Please, any thing will be appreciated, even if you don't know what it is or what to do.

 

[Kevin565]

Could it be wry neck?

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Could it be wry neck?

Hmmm... I'm not sure. I googled it and entered it in the backyard chicken search and can't seem to find out too much of what wry neck is. But maybe, it could be. I'm trying to get some pictures, so maybe that will help. I went out, and his head was normal, but then he moved it backwards, again. Are normal chickens able to move their necks backwards?

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

I got some pictures, here they are. In all the pictures their necks are backwards. They are forwards more often than not. Do my silkies just have felxable necks? Or is there something wrong?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://browneggblueegg.com/Article.html
click on "crookneck" article in left column

also "silkie skull"

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck
here's a thread


Could be wry neck/crookneck. Some have used vitamin therapy with good results. Silkies especially are prone to it, because of the hole in the skull. (Brain injury.) It can also be infection in the brain- or vitamin deficiency -

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html
see selenium, vit e, and thiamine

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/216/vitamin-bi-deficiency
stargazing

Some silkies will walk in circles, walk backwards, do somersaults, look at the sky, etc.

I am not sure what is wrong with your silkie, but wanted you to have this info.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

http://browneggblueegg.com/Article.html
click on "crookneck" article in left column

also "silkie skull"

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck
here's a thread


Could be wry neck/crookneck. Some have used vitamin therapy with good results. Silkies especially are prone to it, because of the hole in the skull. (Brain injury.) It can also be infection in the brain- or vitamin deficiency -

http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html
see selenium, vit e, and thiamine

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/216/vitamin-bi-deficiency
stargazing

Some silkies will walk in circles, walk backwards, do somersaults, look at the sky, etc.

I am not sure what is wrong with your silkie, but wanted you to have this info.

Thanks you sooo much! It sounds like it could be that crookneck thing... I noticed their neck sometimes seemed a little odd, like this:


I was about to put up an ad for them, but now I am rethinking this. I don't want to sell someone sick birds.... They are crowded right now, that is why I need to find new homes. Do you think they will be fine or.... What should I do???????

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Well, I reread your posts. I was giving the information thinking it was just the one roo that had a problem.

The pic of your silkie in the tree looks normal to me. They move their heads around a lot, cocking their heads to listen to things.

I would think it highly unlikely for your whole flock to have wry neck.

It is not normal for a roo to hold its head backwards all the time, though.

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

Well, I reread your posts. I was giving the information thinking it was just the one roo that had a problem.

The pic of your silkie in the tree looks normal to me. They move their heads around a lot, cocking their heads to listen to things.

I would think it highly unlikely for your whole flock to have wry neck.

It is not normal for a roo to hold its head backwards all the time, though.

I noticed one of my pullets started it too... now that's three birds! They are all siblings, would that have anything to do with it? There were only seven in the batch... Do you think they might be okay?

 

[Shayna]

I would start giving them vitamin supplements. I wonder if your food is bad? If multiple are showing this, it would lead me to believe that it has something to do with a vitamin deficiency that your younger silkies are needing to grow. It would less likely be injury if you're not seeing missing feathers, etc. from aggressive birds picking at them.

 

[aoxa]

I would start giving them vitamin supplements.  I wonder if your food is bad?  If multiple are showing this, it would lead me to believe that it has something to do with a vitamin deficiency that your younger silkies are needing to grow.  It would less likely be injury if you're not seeing missing feathers, etc. from aggressive birds picking at them. 

I would agree. There must be something the food is lacking.. I had a polish with a similar issue. Poly vi Sol helped him (without iron) for a bit, but shortly after he was better, he passed away :/

Never had more than one like this though. I think that is cause for concern. If they are doing it occasionally it's not bad, but if it is stuck in a backwards position, I would look into it further.