Starry's Story- overcoming wry neck

[Cindarelly]

We incubated goose eggs two years ago. One of them pipped, but couldn't get out of the she'll. My husband helped it out and I left for work.

I came home from work and this little gosling couldn't lift it's head. It would move, but bang it's head while trying to move. I carried it with me in my pocket and made a neck brace.

The poor little baby had a bad case of wry neck. I searched all over and decided to give her electrolytes (emergen-c) and vitamin E. She couldn't eat by herself, so I wet her food with electrolytes and would hold her over the food and water. I'd dip her head into water to clear her nostrils.

We were doubtful she'd recover, but I loved her so much.

After about 4 days of constant care, she could finally stand. She would fall over easily and still couldn't drink by herself, but she was progressing.

We kept her inside at night for 3 months. She'd go outside with her friends during the day, but she got picked on and stepped on if she fell over.

After lots of balance "therapy" she was doing great. Occasionally we'd find her on her back and would help her get back up. We made her try to get up herself first so she'd get stronger.

Now she's almost two years old. We didn't know if she'd allow a gander to mate her bc she doesn't like being touched on her back. Last year she was mated, laid the largest eggs and is the sweetest girl I know. I love her and am so glad to have been able to care for her, even though I had no goose experience.

Don't give up on the little ones! She was always spunky and had the will to live. They don't all make it, and it's so sad to see, but when they do, it's amazing to see God's creation.

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

That's beautiful! What a comeback story!

 

[Sammi_0411]

Hey so i took on my aunties 5 year old pekin hen as have more time and knowledge. So she has had wry neck for jus over a week ive had her since friday shes in a large indoor cage on the warm she was pratocally dying at the weekend refuswd fold and water even with assitance monday morning thought i was gona wake up to her gone but she has made improvement a little each day i been giving her vit e vit b and selinium as well as boosts in food her neck not as twisted and she very alert and vocal my concern is she still cant walk she crashs round cage and her head goes like she having seizure when she trys to move and have to help her off her back several times how long do i give i refuse to cull when she improved so much at moment but what if she cant walk again she cant join her flock and be a normal chicken nt ready to give up on her yet any advice is much appreciated. First two picks when she bad at wkd last pic is today. Im glad ur goose made it through
Tia
Sam xx

 

[theoldchick]

 

[Cindarelly]

Hey so i took on my aunties 5 year old pekin hen as have more time and knowledge. So she has had wry neck for jus over a week ive had her since friday shes in a large indoor cage on the warm she was pratocally dying at the weekend refuswd fold and water even with assitance monday morning thought i was gona wake up to her gone but she has made improvement a little each day i been giving her vit e vit b and selinium as well as boosts in food her neck not as twisted and she very alert and vocal my concern is she still cant walk she crashs round cage and her head goes like she having seizure when she trys to move and have to help her off her back several times how long do i give i refuse to cull when she improved so much at moment but what if she cant walk again she cant join her flock and be a normal chicken nt ready to give up on her yet any advice is much appreciated. First two picks when she bad at wkd last pic is today. Im glad ur goose made it through
Tia
Sam xx

Hey Sam! I'd give her a month. You can add nutritional yeast to the food and the electrolytes to the water. I used emergen-c bc that's what we had and the poultry electrolytes were very similar, but had dyes in them. I read since they are water soluble vitamins that it's relatively sage to have high doses for a while.

I know what you mean about the "seizures". I hated when that happened, they look so helpless.

It might boost her morale to visit her other flockmates for a while. You could put her cage near them for visits.

I hope she gets better! You're doing a great job.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Thanks so much xx

 

[Goosebaby]

Hey so i took on my aunties 5 year old pekin hen as have more time and knowledge. So she has had wry neck for jus over a week ive had her since friday shes in a large indoor cage on the warm she was pratocally dying at the weekend refuswd fold and water even with assitance monday morning thought i was gona wake up to her gone but she has made improvement a little each day i been giving her vit e vit b and selinium as well as boosts in food her neck not as twisted and she very alert and vocal my concern is she still cant walk she crashs round cage and her head goes like she having seizure when she trys to move and have to help her off her back several times how long do i give i refuse to cull when she improved so much at moment but what if she cant walk again she cant join her flock and be a normal chicken nt ready to give up on her yet any advice is much appreciated. First two picks when she bad at wkd last pic is today. Im glad ur goose made it through
Tia
Sam xx

@Sammi_0411 You can try giving b complex, vitamin C & E.
I’m not too familiar chickens and I may be wrong but this reminds me of symptoms of merecks, you might find better help for your hen if you make a post about what’s going on with your poor hen in the emergencies forum https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

 

[Goosebaby]

We incubated goose eggs two years ago. One of them pipped, but couldn't get out of the she'll. My husband helped it out and I left for work.

View attachment 2514163
I came home from work and this little gosling couldn't lift it's head. It would move, but bang it's head while trying to move. I carried it with me in my pocket and made a neck brace.
View attachment 2514164
The poor little baby had a bad case of wry neck. I searched all over and decided to give her electrolytes (emergen-c) and vitamin E. She couldn't eat by herself, so I wet her food with electrolytes and would hold her over the food and water. I'd dip her head into water to clear her nostrils.

We were doubtful she'd recover, but I loved her so much.

View attachment 2514168View attachment 2514172

After about 4 days of constant care, she could finally stand. She would fall over easily and still couldn't drink by herself, but she was progressing.

We kept her inside at night for 3 months. She'd go outside with her friends during the day, but she got picked on and stepped on if she fell over.
View attachment 2514180
After lots of balance "therapy" she was doing great. Occasionally we'd find her on her back and would help her get back up. We made her try to get up herself first so she'd get stronger.

Now she's almost two years old. We didn't know if she'd allow a gander to mate her bc she doesn't like being touched on her back. Last year she was mated, laid the largest eggs and is the sweetest girl I know. I love her and am so glad to have been able to care for her, even though I had no goose experience.

View attachment 2514182View attachment 2514184

Don't give up on the little ones! She was always spunky and had the will to live. They don't all make it, and it's so sad to see, but when they do, it's amazing to see God's creation.

What a wonderful story, so good to see this little one thriving after such a rough beginning.

 

[Sammi_0411]

Thanks already trying vit e and b and selium il try c too i did consider mareks but rest flock clearly fine and looks like wry neck she has been improving a bit with the vit e etc thank u il consider everything xx

 

[Sammi_0411]

Thanks so much for ur help guys unfortunately she kept going downhill and best thing was to put her to rest not even my chicken bit im pretty distressed as i been nursing her last few weeks know was right thing to do but feel terrible