Weird . . . chicken with dislocated neck or shoulder?

[backintime]

One of my 5-week old cornish cross hens has a STRANGE sudden problem - her head extends out from her body at a weird angle, to one side. (If 12 o'clock is where her head should be pointing, it's at about 2 o'clock now!) She is still walking around. No outward signs of injury. I plan to cull her today in case she is suffering, but geez, I want to know what the heck happened to her!!! Has anyone ever seen anything like this?

 

[CoopCrazy]

I wonder if it isnt something to do with bone strentgh due to their fast growing genes...

ive not had that happen with mine ....

 

[Chicken Chat]

This may be out of left field, but could it be crook neck? One of my roos had that as an adult due to a severe pecking he received from another roo, with vitamin supplements he was good as new in a week.

 

[backintime]

Oh I hope it's just crook neck, whatever it is! She is still eating and hanging out with the other birds. She can't raise her head up as high as the others. It seems stuck in position, lower and off to one side, so I'm putting her feed and water lower. I can't tell if she's in pain or not. What exactly is crook neck?

 

[babsbag]

Look up crook neck or wry neck. It can be caused by a vitamin defiecincy. It can also be the beginning of something more serious, such as Marek's disease. Unfortunately that would not be good news. I had a hen with the same problem. She looked like she had no neck and she was looking off to the side all the time. After a few days she stopped eating. I babied her for 3 weeks but she didn't make it. I had a necropsy done and it was Marek's. I am sorry to even mention that thought, but as pet owners we need to "know it all".

I hope it is wry neck and that she recovers.