Why is Buddy "crooked"?

[CarriBrown]

This is Buddy the Buttercup. My superbroody, Tina, adopted Buddy and four of her siblings as five day olds. Buddy is the only one we kept. She's been a great little bird, but one day, I noticed that she seemed "crooked", like the wind was blowing her. I didn't think much of it because she has quite the rudder

but it got worse and worse. Now, her neck is literally an "S". She seems to get around ok, but if she is in any sort of pain, I want to give her peace.
Anybody seen anything like this before?

Yes, that is where her little head is normally. She can't stick her head up or around like a "normal" chicken. She leans to peck off the ground. We put the feeders and water up higher so it would be easier for her. She just seems depressed some days (like yesterday) and others she seems fine (like today).

 

[hinkjc]

Carri - I would start with a full vitamin supplement until more help comes along. Get the infant Poli-vi-sol brown vitamins at the drug store and put a dropperful in a gallon waterer to get her started. This could be a couple things, but if its related to malabsorption of vitamins, you will have that covered and I don't feel the vitamins would hurt anything.

Jody

 

[dlhunicorn]

I do not have a direct answer for you though you could look in the MERCK manual under SKELETAL abnormalities (there are two sections dealing with viral and non-viral)... I think you should give her a week on polyvisol (four drops in beak once a day) along with AviaCharge2000...this cannot hurt and might help...I suggest the AviaCharge as it is one of the few complete nutritional supplements I know of and if you give that then you have pretty much everything covered...the POLYVISOL in addition to that will not be excessive and will deal with the therapeutic amounts of A-B--D vitamins.

 

[CarriBrown]

Thank you to both!! I'll get on that and let you know how Buddy is doing.

 

[CarriBrown]

WOW!

The improvement is AMAZING. I checked on Buddy this morning and she looks a lot better! Her neck isn't totally straight, but her head is actually on the top of her body instead of on the side! She can now see out of both eyes instead of one being blocked by her body.
Her mood is much better, too. One thing Buddy hasn't done in weeks is peck on the ground. She was pecking when we let them out!!!

And it wasn't a "I'm in pain but I'm going to peck anyway"... She was pecking with ease.
Another thing I haven't seen Buddy do in who knows how long is take a dust bath. Well, today, she and Hotwing were taking a nice, long bath together!!!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your help! I had Buddy in the house in my arms the other night, bawling my eyes out because I was convinced she wouldn't make it one more day. And now, she is pecking AND dustbathing like a happy girl!!!

Pics to come!

 

[hinkjc]

Carri - that is awesome. So, did you just add vitamins and she showed that much improvement already? If so, I am so happy to hear it was something so simple.

I hope she continues to improve.

Jody

 

[CarriBrown]

I bought the viatmin drops (the girl asked me how old the child was, and I said it was for a chicken... imagine the look I got...) and we also have a vitamin that you add to their water. Last time we did the vitamin water, they didn't like it, so this time, we added just a little and we are going to keep increasing it. That way, they won't notice the difference so much!

They are all drinking so the vitamin water plan is working. I can't believe the improvement!

 

[hinkjc]

That is so wonderful to hear. Are you referring to the Durvet V & E for the water? If so, be careful..it is toxic in too high a volume. Stick to the packaged instructions which is 1/4 teaspoon per 1 1/4 gallon of water. If it came with a scoop, it's easier to measure. I'm so glad you posted and she is doing better.

Jody

 

[dlhunicorn]

electrolytes must be dosed at the exact amount...
if you are using an electrolyte mix this is not the same as vitamin supplement...try to get one without the electrolytes (unless you bird is in shock, dehydrated or panting)

 

[CarriBrown]

No, it is not an electrolyte mix. It's a vitamin supplement that's yucca flavored.

Sounds kind of gross but, what the heck. They're drinking it.
And then Buddy is being given the 4 drops a day along with the water. We origionally bought the vitamins for their water because we have a high fluoride content in our water (seriously, our water is disgusting).