They pecked a HOLE in her ear!**Update: HELP! Wry Neck???

[wrestling_mom]

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She sounds just like MY silkie

 

[Ksane]

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My Silkies are the 'dreaded' hatchery Silkies and they don,t have holes in their skulls. They won't win any shows but they're healthy and their noggins are solid. It's not like all Silkies have open holes in their heads.

 

[drumstick diva]

My friend has a" dreaded hatchery silkie., Tiffany - you can guess by the time he turned into a roo he was used to being Tiffany. He suddenly developed the same symptoms, he would walk backwards, wry neck, did sommersaults - she thought he'd died any minutes. She went thru the whole deal that's suggested - polyvisol infant vits(no iron) drops from vit. e capsulesetc. etc. He also had seizures where he was very hot to the touch. Somewhere along the way he recovered - he is 3 years old and very protective of his girls, brings them treats etc. But can't fly at all or jump on even on low things. Unfortunately he discovered he can crow loudly and often - so far her neighbors are ignoring it.

 

[drumstick diva]

I've seen info on the forums where in some cases prednisone treatment makes a big difference fast. I believe it's to reduce swelling around the brain

By the way Tiffany doesn't have a vaulted skull and he wasn't like that when she bought him - it did happen early tho. My friend has had other silkies over the years and said she had another with the wry neck, and walking backwards etc.

 

[OmAnNom]

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I'm sorry you're going through this too! It really is just heart breaking to watch

Thanks all, your comments helped guid my research and I've found some interesting info. I had no idea silkies were predisposed to this kind of condition and I had never heard of their issues with a vaulted, open skull. How sad! I'm going to start the most common recommended vitamin regiment today and see if that helps..... For those of you that have treated like this, how do you get your hands on prednisone??? I've read so many mixed reviews about if they ever really get better or if it's kinder to not let them suffer; if she doesn't improve I fear culling may be the kindest option.

Links I found informative and useful:
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=casestudiesemergencies&action=display&num=1160927052

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/HoleInHead.html

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=97121

 

[OmAnNom]

Update for anyone dealing with or trying to treat Wry Neck:

The wound in the ear is clean and is all but healed without any assistance. The trauma induced wry neck symptoms have visibly dissapearded... After 5th day of treatment the Silkie appears completely normal, although we will continue to administer vitamins for a couple more weeks. Today she HAPPILY rejoined the flock.

Daily Vitamin regiment:
1 vitamin E 200 I.U. liquid capsule daily (squirt into mouth)
2-3 drops Poly-Vi-Sol (without iron)
1/2 tablet Slenium 200mcg (crushed into a couple pieces)
Duramycin-10 antibiotic in her water according to package directions (to ward off any possible infection from the ear wound)

Hope this helps anyone else looking for help. I know that there are much worse cases of wry neck out there, and I think that this case was significantly less sever, however this is what worked for us... it seems like this little one got lucky.