"twisted neck"???? Silkie chick

[TarHeelBlue]

Last night I woke up hearing one of my new silkies (3 days old) cheeping nonstop. It didn't sound right, so I went to check on it - finding the chick looking like it was in the Exorcist. It's head was twisted all the way around and he was looking up at me, Poor little guy looked scared to death. I had lost one earlier, so it scared me too. I picked him up, turned on my computer (at 3 in the morning) and tried to find an answer to what was happening. the only thing I could find was that maybe he needed vitamins/????? I don't know - so I held him and gave him drops of water which he took (with some vitamins in them) I sat there trying to find an answer on BYC, and after about 5 minutes, he seemed OK. (Oh yeah, and lots of prayers for the baby) I gave him some more water, - he was trembling by then, so I put him back in the brooder. when I got up this morning at 5 he looked OK. Does anybody have any idea what this was and what should I do???? I left them with water which I put vitamins in. Any help/answers would be appreciated greatly.

 

[sonjab314]

The first thing that popped into my head was wry neck. But wry neck doesn't fix itself that fast to my knowledge so I have no idea. I hope he makes it

 

[TarHeelBlue]

Thanks, me too. so weird, afterwards, I almost thought he had a seizure, but it wouldn't last that long. I sure hope someone figures this out. Does anybody know of a good book to buy that has these things in it? I want to take the best care of my chickens and a reference book would help a lot (although BYC is the BEST!)

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

They can easily maladjust their neck as well. I have a friend that adjusts his silkies necks regularly. I too had a chick that did this and with some gentle stretching and massaging of the neck, it went back into place.

Who in the heck knows how this happens???

 

[gumbii]

maybe it got bumped on the soft spot on it's head...? they have vaulted skulls...

 

[TarHeelBlue]

New thing - now he kinda runs in circles when he is upset or scared/ I have given him Poly vi sol in the water and a few drops for him, and a drop or two of vitamin E. any ideas anybody???

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Does the chick have a vaulted skull? If so, it could have been injured. If not, it sounds like a mild case of wry neck. Keep on the polyvisol and you might want to add a little bit of Vit. E. from a softgel capsule. Poke a hole in the end and squeeze some into his mouth.