SLW with titled head

[Julia62]

Here is a video of me trying to give her water. This was after she had a fair amount of food and water. Sorry about the wabble, I was trying to hold my phone and the bowl at the same time. Her head/neck is so twisted

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks pretty uncomfortable like that. It is amazing the she can eat and drink. I hope the stimulation of the others doesn't cause her symptoms to get worse.

 

[Julia62]

She looks pretty uncomfortable like that. It is amazing the she can eat and drink. I hope the stimulation of the others doesn't cause her symptoms to get worse.

I know. When she eats the food, she can straighten her head enough to eat. But then it flops over. If she is contagious, maybe taking her outside isn't a good idea. I am so torn between humanely putting her down or waiting it out to see if she can recover.

 

[Julia62]

I took her outside for a bit today (with the others in the run) but she really doesn't walk around so we took her back in. No sunshine today anyway. She ate this morning and drank, then the head goes down. Her weight was 1lb 10.6oz, so actually up a tad. At least she hasn't lost weight. Put Vit E w/ Selenium on her food this morning. She talks when we go in the room and say hello to her. Tomorrow will be 7 days of this. Any one know when we might see improvement? Trying to keep hope that she can overcome this. Also trying to be humane...

 

[Eggcessive]

I think it would be a very difficult thing to care for a hen with wry neck, not knowing if it is Mareks, or whether she will get better, not having the wry neck. Someone recently had a 4-5 month old cockerel who had suffered from wry neck since he was a small chick. He had gotten along pretty well, able to eat and drink, but I can't imagine suffering from it that long. I do think some have it for days or weeks, and some never recover. It would be good to know if Mareks was the cause. I'm sure that it would be difficult to know when to call an end to her suffering, but i'm hoping you see some improvement soon. Here are some other threads about wry neck, in addition to the one in post #6:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630079/wry-neck-confused-about-treatment
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/382088/wry-neck-treat-or-euthanize-updated-with-great-results
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/167372/newbie-need-help-wry-neck-in-6-week-old/10

 

[Julia62]

I think it would be a very difficult thing to care for a hen with wry neck, not knowing if it is Mareks, or whether she will get better, not having the wry neck. Someone recently had a 4-5 month old cockerel who had suffered from wry neck since he was a small chick. He had gotten along pretty well, able to eat and drink, but I can't imagine suffering from it that long. I do think some have it for days or weeks, and some never recover. It would be good to know if Mareks was the cause. I'm sure that it would be difficult to know when to call an end to her suffering, but i'm hoping you see some improvement soon. Here are some other threads about wry neck, in addition to the one in post #6:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/630079/wry-neck-confused-about-treatment
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/382088/wry-neck-treat-or-euthanize-updated-with-great-results
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/167372/newbie-need-help-wry-neck-in-6-week-old/10

Thank you, I will take a look at those. I got a hold of the lady we got them from (at 10 weeks old) to ask if they were vaccinated for Mereks as chicks and she said yes. She asked if I thought she could be egg bound. I never looked at that but will in the morning. I don't think that is her problem. The tumor she originally had could have been caused by something (maybe Mereks) that then caused her immune system to be down which made her susceptible to Wry neck? Just trying to think of things.

 

[Julia62]

Her weight went up a tad to 1lb 11oz. She is eating and drinking but the head is not in control. She can hold it enough to eat, then it drops off to the side (not down in between legs like I have read in other wry neck threads). Still giving her Vit E, Selenium, Poly Vi Sol. She walks around in the tub and makes a big mess of everything

I change out the towels every morning. We have to fill her water every hour because she knocks it over. It's been 7 full days now.

 

[Julia62]

Checked on her again and noticed her right eye (the side that is always down and the side her tumor is on) is closed. Her left eye is open and looks clear. Is that typical with wry neck?

EDIT: I think it was because I was trying to hold her neck up. Held a mirror up while feeding her without touching her and her eye was open.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have heard of chickens with Mareks sometimes having a closed eye on one side. Since wry neck is also neurological, it could happen, I'm just not aware of it. Maybe others will chime in. About the waterer, does she knock over a gallon-sized one? The heavier they are, such as a 2 gallon metal waterer the harder they are to know over. I also have used black rubber bowls that hold 1 gallon, and are heavy. A nipple waterer with cups could also be tried. Or you could just put a cup of water down for her every 2 hours and let her drink her fill. I'm sure you are getting very frustrated, and want her to get well. I would probably set a certain amount of time for improvement, then think about if you want to have her euthanized, so that she doesn't suffer. You could get the blood test (drawn by a local vet) for Mareks. It it is done at Texas A&M: http://tvmdl.tamu.edu/tests_services/test_info.php?unit_id=1349
Here is a link about a bicycle water bottle used as a chick waterer: http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2013/03/30/nipple-waterer-for-chicks/

 

[Julia62]

I am just using a glass 1 cup bowl since she is in our bath tub! I think I will put a heavier pasta type bowl though so it won't be so easy to knock over.

I think my limit on this is this next week. If no improvements in that time, I think it's time. I feel bad about that and I don't want to give up on her, but I also don't think this is quality of life for her either. I can not cull her myself so we will have to take her to the vet. If I had to kill my own food/meat, I would seriously be a vegetarian!

There is no improvement in her neck mobility. She looses balance sometimes but mostly can stand up enough to eat and drink. But the head is always pointed down to the right side unless she is eating when I'm feeding her.

I really appreciate you chiming in. Makes me feel better, thank you.