Sudden onset of crookneck?? Seizures??? Bad itch???

[ZooMummzy]

I just found my 6-week old BR chick, Ava, in a very strange position in her cage. Her eyes were closed and her head was between her legs as if she was grooming herself. I carefully removed her in this position and was able to right her but then she kept going back, even falling over. At times her head will shake and twist while she is curled in this position. Right now she is doing fine with no problems except a slight turn to her neck. It is almost as if she is has an itch now and then that drives her crazy!

I have isolated her, given her poly-vi-sol and I am hand feeding and watering her. She is not having a problem eating or drinking or walking or pooing, she just can't control her head going down at times. I have read all the threads I can find and external links too. She has been on vitamin water (the name of the additive escapes me now but I bought it online after a member recommended it to me) with every other water change and fresh medicated starter feed only. Also she has not fallen or been injured by the other chicks in her cage. They are just as tame as she is. There are no chemicals near her and she is on wood pellet bedding, the same as she has been for a few weeks now.

Anyone else have this come on suddenly in a chick of this age? Anything else I can try or need to look for until I call my vet in the morning? I don't really have access to a pharmacy or anything tonight and have been relying on what I have in my cabinets for chicken care. Is poly-vi-sol enough? We are just sick thinking something might be wrong with her because she is our favorite new chick. She is so tame and loving and after losing two chicks this past week, it's almost more than we can bear.

 

[CityClucks]

Hey ZooMumzy. Have you tried searching for "crookneck" or "seizures" on this site? I don't know if Marek's Disease presents this way or not, so I can't help, but maybe if you search for some of the symptoms you'll find more info on here! Good luck.

 

[NotTheMomma]

My little gal had a very sudden onset of wry neck, but it doesnt look down. When I feel her neck, there is a very noticeable Z shape, like sever scoliosis.

Do you feel a crooked neck?

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
Thanks, yes I spent a couple hours reading everything and trying to gather everything I needed to help her. It is the strangest thing because as suddenly as it came on, it went away. She is back in her brooder now with her friends and doing just fine. I've been watching her and not one symptom. I don't know

 

[MoodyChicken]

Neurological issue that is either congenital or an injury. Hypericum should help. I had a 6 month old Polish roo do this and he recovered with Hypericum. But he HAD to be treated twice daily every day otherwise he would regress. For hypericum's dilution, go to my site linked in my sig poultry health > supportive therapy > scroll down to green treats and homeopathic remedies.

 

[ZooMummzy]

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Thank you. Where do I get hypericum? I have googled and can only find information about what it is not where to buy it. And when you say everyday, do you mean everyday of his life or till he recovered?

The problem came back late last night but so far I have been able to keep her eating and drinking and comfortable. It seems more annoying to her than painful so I am going to do my best to treat her and see what happens. The only injury she could have sustained was falling off her roost pole as their brooder is pretty safe.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
No, no crooked neck feeling. The weird thing is that sometimes she is just fine and other times not. She cleans herself and eats, drinks but then all of a sudden the neck will go down and she will start twitching. I have never encountered anything like this before so I am at a complete loss what to do or what to expect.

 

[MoodyChicken]

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You can find it at helth food stores. Usually comes in pill/tablet form. If you have the option, buy it in 30 mg concentration.

He had to be treated every single day for the rest of his life. I ended up putting him down for that reason... I didn't have the time to properly treat him. Your bird may be different though. Seeing as she's young and still growing she may grow out of it.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Thank you. I am going out to look for vitamin E too since all the other threads I have read on treating chicks my age have had good luck with it. Like you, I don't know if I could keep up the treatment everyday for the rest of her life so I will give everything a try and see how it goes. Thank you so much for your help and input and for having a great page to refer to!

 

[MoodyChicken]

Quote:
Are you feeding a complete diet? Unless she has cocci, worms, or some other parasite, a vitamin deficiency is highly unlikely. Chicken and chick feed is one of the most complete diets in the animal world. It won't hurt to give her the extra vits, but don't overdose her on them!

No problem! Hope she makes it ok!