Silkie problem

[fuzzyangelbear]

I am the one that owns the silkie roo that is showing weird signs that has been posted yesterday.

The roo, after bringing him in the house and looking him over better. He seems to have issues holding up his head, some what like a head tilt. Reminds me of a rabbit with pasturella.

The roo did drink when I put the dish up to his mouth and he is crowing like crazy! There is no discharge from the nose or eyes.

A few weeks ago my son and his friends were chasing the ducks in the same pen and the next day a hen of mine had what seemed like the same symptoms and died right there in my arms. The other hens and roo seem to be just fine.

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

Hello and Welcome,
I imagine that nothing likes to be chased but I have found that Silkies are super sensitive to stress.

SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ON CROOK NECK
I totally agree with the info in the links below. It is a great post.
And the only thing I can add is that besides a head injury from a bump or an otherwise harmless peck that was just a bit to rough in the wrong spot.
I have seen this condition come on suddenly from a bird being totally shocked/frightened/stress and also from what some of us think may be a lack of something in the diet.
Possible a lack of protein among other things, so I always suggest that Silkie owners give little to no cracked corn to Silkies as it has very little nutritional value
and corn is already present in the feeds we buy.
Speaking of feed in a lot of them the major protein source is Soy and so I also recomed that for snacks people introduce good protein snacks such as boiled/scrambled eggs,
dried Kitten food "FISH/BEEF", moist dog food that comes in the clear plastic bags, Meal Worms, None of this will be expensive to give as protein rich snacks not as a replacement to poultry feed. Give in small amounts PLEASE your chickens are NOT Dogs & Cats you do not want to over load them on ingrediants that were formulated for another species.
And I have noticed that by adding an assortment of healthy snacks I see less and less of Crookneck in my flock.
I like to make a warm wet crumble for my birds.
I put 2/3 cup of crumbles in a bowl and to that I add 1/3 cup of HOT water with a few drops of liquid Vitamins and a cap ful of Molasses and the oil from one Vit E pill.
Stir it and pour hot liquid into crumbles, MIX FAST you want it evenly moist/crumbly not totally mushy.
Sit with the baby and encourage him to peck at the food by moving it with your fingers or picking up bits and letting it fall to get their attention. they will try to eat it,
you may have to hold/support their necks a bit or even hold the bowl up for them. Persistence with helping them eat and drink will make all the difference.
Also some people like to try and massage the necks

Alan of BrownEggBlueEgg did such a great job on this subject that I thought you all would like to look at his link if you have not all ready seen it.
CROOKNECK - http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html
VAULTED SCKULLS - http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html

GOOD LUCK.

 

[RioLindoAz]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
Stress can kill a duck or chicken faster than a lot of diseases. Stress can make them ill as well. Chasing stresses birds badly.
If anyone goes out and chases my birds for fun, they are asked to leave my property.

 

[fuzzyangelbear]

Yes, I have asked my son not to let them back on the property if they can not behave themselves. The problem is, the chasing was weeks ago and the roo is showing signs now.

A crook neck does sound like what may be happening. Although, I do not give much scratch because they would rather have the egg layer. I also give them egg and alot of fruits and veggies. Have not tried the cat food. If this is the case will it cure it self? I will look at the links after done posting.

Would you recommend a vet at this point? I know with cats, dogs and other furries I can do alot my self being a vet tech, but I have no clue with chickens since I am very new to having them.

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

I have never had one cure its self. Do as many of the sugestions listed as you can.
It will most likly get worse if not treated, Then it is harder to treat because the bird
will need more hands on attention. you want to avoid it getting to that point.
Start treatment today if possible. PUT V&E in the water.

HERE IS A SEGMENT FROM MY WEBSITE.

8 ounce packet of Vitamins & Electrolytes I put 1/4 teaspoon per quart in my waters.
I have also used Gatorade and Pedealite when I thought a chick/adult was in need of it.

Lable off the 8 oz pack. The first set of numbers is for 8 oz and the second is per 1 lb.
If you have the 8 oz. packet of Vitamins and Electrolytes then you would mix ¾ teaspoon into 1 gallon of water.

Sodium (min.)……...…..32% - 32%
Sodium (max.)…..……..37% - 37%
Potassium (min.)..……….2% - 3%
Vitamin A……..2,500,000 IU - 5,000,000 IU
Vitamin D……..1,000,000 IU - 2,000,000 IU
Vitamin E…..………1,000 IU - 2,000 IU
Vitamin B-12…..…….2.5 mg - 5.0 mg
Menadione………….1,000mg - 2000 mg
Riboflavin…………….750 mg - 1,500 mg
d-Pantothenic acid…...1,250 mg - 2,500 mg
Thiamine……………...250 mg - 500 mg
Niacin………………..2,500 mg - 5,000 mg
Ascorbic acid………...3,750 mg - 7,500 mg
Pyridoxine hydrochloride 250 mg - 500 mg

Label from the 4 oz package is a concentrate.
If you have the 4 oz. packet of Vitamins and Electrolytes then you would mix ½ teaspoon into 1 gallon of water.

Lable off the 4 oz pack.
Sodium Min 28% - Max 32%
Potassium Min 2.4%
Vitamin A………….......2,500,000 IU
Vitamin D………….…..1,000,000 IU
Vitamin E…..……..…..……1,000 IU
Riboflavin……………..…….750 mg
d-Pantothenic acid………...1,250 mg
Niacin……………………..2,500 mg
Vitamin B-12…..…………….2.5 mg
MSBC……………………..1,000 mg
Folic Acid…………………….65 mg
Thiamine Mononitrate….…...250 mg
Pyridoxine hydrochloride….. 250 mg
Ascorbic acid……………...3,750 mg

I also keep Liquid Vitamins on Hand. Cost less than $3.00

Vitamin A 315,000 I.U.
Vitamin D3 67,000 I.U.
Thiamine 31.5 mg.
Riboflavin 42.0 mg.
Vitamin B6 33.0 mg.
Niacin 232.5 mg.
d-Pantothenic Acid 63.0 mg.
Choline 63.0 mg.

 

[Frizzledhen]

Hi Tammy (fuzzyangelbear),
Welcome to BYC. I hope your silkie will be ok. If I can help in anyway just let me know.
Gayle

 

[dlhunicorn]

There are lots of things that can show with imbalance (ataxia) and neurological symptoms incl. crookneck (throwing head back/twisting around to the back) and limberneck (head hanging forward/downwards) ... In the link below you will find the articles I have collected on the symptom:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=emergencies&action=display&num=1160928615