Stargazing? Or something else?????

[ottbjumper06]

This is my 5 week old Wheaten Ameraucana cockerel from Wayne Meredith. What is he doing with his head, and why? Is it a vitamin deficiency Or something else? Please and thank you!

 

[ottbjumper06]

I've just noticed it within the past day or so.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your chick is showing opisthonotos, star gazing or a type of wry neck, also called encephalomalacia. It may be from a thiamine deficiency or vitamin E and selenium deficiency. Below is a link from Merck Manual and 2 links about encephalomalcia:

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/node/600
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...alacia-exudative-diathesis-muscular-dystrophy
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

THIAMINE DEFICIENCY

Polyneuritis in birds represents the later stages of a thiamine deficiency, probably caused by buildup of the intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism. Because the brain's immediate source of energy results from the degradation of glucose, it is dependent on biochemical reactions involving thiamine. In the initial stages of deficiency, lethargy and head tremors may be noted. A marked decrease in appetite is seen in birds fed a thiamine-deficient diet. Poultry are also susceptible to neuromuscular problems, resulting in impaired digestion, general weakness, star-gazing, and frequent convulsions.
Polyneuritis may be seen in mature birds ~3 wk after they are fed a thiamine-deficient diet. As the deficiency progresses, birds may sit on flexed legs and draw back their heads in a star-gazing position. Retraction of the head is due to paralysis of the anterior neck muscles. Soon after this stage, chickens lose the ability to stand or sit upright and topple to the floor, where they may lie with heads still retracted. Thiamine deficiency may also lead to a decrease in body temperature and respiratory rate. Testicular degeneration may be noted, and the heart may show slight atrophy. Birds consuming a thiamine-deficient diet soon show severe anorexia. They lose all interest in feed and will not resume eating unless given thiamine. If a severe deficiency has developed, thiamine must be force-fed or injected to induce the chickens to resume eating.
Thiamine deficiency is most common when poorly processed fish meals are used, because they contain thiaminase enzyme. In such situations, adding extra thiamine may be ineffective. In regular diets, deficiency is prevented by supplements of thiamine at 4 mg/kg.

 

[welasharon]

I've had two and treated them with poly vi sol baby liquid vitamins WITHOUT Iron! Iron will kill them. One of them took two weeks but finally it worked. I put a couple drops in the mouth twice a day.

 

[ottbjumper06]

Thank you both!

 

[Ocala RIR]

yea I got one chick that does that. I'm figuring vitamin deficiency. The eggs I got from someone didn't feed his hen right. It look sad to see this. Guess to pump the little guy up with extra vitamins and hope this condition goes away.

 

[Ocala RIR]

The star gazing ordeal. Did some research and came up just boil the eggs and crush them whole(shell too). I fed them 3 x a day and this went away. Done it til I didn't see this condition anymore. Course I do have them on medicated chick feed. They are (4 only) are well developed. feathers and size now 2 weeks old.