Silkie with crooked neck.

[reveriereptile]

Just went out to check on my chickens and one of my teenage silkies was laying on the ground flipping around. I picked it up and she was holding her head crooked with one eye looking upward. I sat her outside of the pen and she got up and straightened her head some and started eating grass and even was able to catch a fly. Earlier I didn't see any notice any of them having problems. Could this be from a head injury or something else?

 

[chkn]

There have been a couple posts this week about 'head tilt' where mostly a vitamin deficiency is recommended cause. Vitamins B and E I believe are the primary culprit. Poly Vi Sol liquid baby supplements WITHOUT THE IRON are most commonly recommended. Look for threads in the last two days as I believe there are two posters with the same issue working on it (I think RedHen something is one).

 

[chkn]

Yeah, I've heard everything from a neck crimp, to ear infection, to vitamine deficiency but mainly the later.

 

[redhen689]

Read my thread, If you can find it!
My 2 week old chick started holding her head sideways, the first I noticed it was on Friday, maybe Thursday evening (all my days have been running together lately). I actually dissolved one of my vitamins (Centrum Silver for Women) and a calcium/magnesium supplement (Caltrate with minerals and D) in some water since I didn't have any poly-vi-sol and I had read also something about Calcium and several vitamins being helpful. I just diluted it further with some more water, and just filled their waterer up with it. The two broody hens and all 4 chicks drank that for 1 day, then I started Sav-A-Chick, which I got at the feed store. One packet makes a gallon, but i just sprinkled some into a couple of cups of water, and gave that to them for the following 2 days. By yesterday, (Monday evening) the chick was holding her head normally again. I did not separate her from the others, because she was able to eat and drink, and she was managing to get around okay, her adopted mom was keeping a good eye on her.

Good luck to you, I hope it's as simple a fix for you as it was for me.

 

[chkn]

Oh Red Hen that's awesome. Did the other poster have any success?

 

[Elite Silkies]

She probably has Wry Neck. I just had a silkie that had it. I used Vitamin E 800 mg a day. It took less than a week for her to get over it. I also wrapped her neck with bubble wrap, and then wrapped tape under her wings and back up and attached it to the neck brace, so that I could stabilize her head. I read about the bubble wrap from another member, I was using a toilet paper roll, but the bubble wrap works much better. I almost moistened her food so she could eat better and get liquids at the same time.

 

[reveriereptile]

Thanks for the information. I'll run to the store and get some stuff for her to see if that helps.

 

[reveriereptile]

I got some vitamins for her. When I came back I couldn't tell what one she was. They all were acting and looking normal again. I went ahead and put the vitamins in their water for them. That was weird though.

 

[Elite Silkies]

Quote:
Well, that is good news. Just a keep an eye out in case it comes back. I tired the multivitamin with my wry neck girl but it didn't work. The vitamin E showed a big improvement in only 24 hours. You just cut the top of the soft gel and squirt it their mouth.