What is wry neck, what causes it and is it contagious?

[Newchickymama37]

Yesterday I found my only EE in the coup with her neck twisted and her head upside down and when she tried to move it it would just flop around. She couldn’t keep her balance to stand and she looked so pitiful I had to cull her. She was fine the day before and she even laid an egg yesterday (I know because she was my only green egg layer)! I have 35 other chickens and they are all fine. I had just gotten her about a month ago from someone who raises a ton of barn mixes just to sell them cheap for meat! I only knew it was wet neck because of videos I’d seen here but I didn’t really know too much about what it is and what causes it. Anyone who knows more about this I would really like some info so that I can prevent it happening in the future.

 

[azygous]

Wry neck often afflicts new chicks due to a temporary vitamin E deficiency, which in turn causes neurological symptoms such as balance and motor control. It can also affect older chickens for the same reason. It's not contagious, as far as I know.

The treatment is simple - vitamin E oil 400iu with a sliver of selenium. Often B-complex is also given to strengthen the nerves and muscles affected. Victims often recover fully after a short period of treatment.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

As far as I know wry neck is caused by nutritional deficit... Maybe E and Selenium??

Maybe brought on by bullying away from food, or internal parasite load, incorrect feed, or too many treats.

Sorry for your loss.

I wouldn't purchase anymore birds from a non NPIP source and even NPIP only chicks that have never been to pasture or under a hen... your flock is quite large to be risking them all against some disease that may not have presented itself yet at the other location. Marek's is NOT considered report able... even for NPIP flocks.

I have to be honest though... I wouldn't expect a hen suffering from nutrient deficit to be actively laying the day before.

Would have been nice if you were able to refrigerate the body and send for necropsy to confirm. But, good for you for having the strength to cull a bird you deem to be suffering.

 

[NewHomesteader]

Wry neck often afflicts new chicks due to a temporary vitamin E deficiency, which in turn causes neurological symptoms such as balance and motor control. It can also affect older chickens for the same reason. It's not contagious, as far as I know.

The treatment is simple - vitamin E oil 400iu with a sliver of selenium. Often B-complex is also given to strengthen the nerves and muscles affected. Victims often recover fully after a short period of treatment.

what happens if your chicken doesn't drink the vitamin E?

 

[coach723]

what happens if your chicken doesn't drink the vitamin E?

Usually you mix the contents of the capsule with a bit of cooked egg or tuna to get them to eat it (and that provides the selenium needed for uptake) or mixed in a bit of feed with the selenium supplement. If the bird is having a really hard time eating/drinking you will have to help them until they recover well enough to do so on their own. Video at the end of this article.
https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/wry-neck.html