Wry neck (almost 2 week old chick)--NOT drinking water on own but eating fine

[hollytruitt]

I have a Buff Polish chick that was a freebie with the Brahmas. Last Thursday we noticed she got Wry Neck. We thought we were going to lose her Thursday night as she didn't fight me holding her and just laid her head on my chest with eyes closed. I gave her lots of water through a medical dropper. Friday morning she was standing up and walking around. We continued to give her a lot of water and picked up her meds Friday evening .
*****We got Selenium/Vit E paste for sheep/goats. Gave her a pea size 2-3 times a day. She will eat that fine.
****We also gave her Save A chick electrolyte. We did try Poultry Nurtri Drench but she doesn't like the water.
She will only eat wet feed (mash) and few bits of dry feed. She is jumping around, flying from brooder plate to the roost in her brooder. She is only her own in this brooder as the bramas girls are rough.

My issue right now is she is refusing to drink out of her waterer. We continue to pull her out of brooder to give her water through dropper. She hates it. We are not sure why. I know it can take several weeks for her to drink on her own. My issue is she is eating well (mash feed --water in feed) but refused water. I even dip her beak in it and she is not having that either.

No sign of lethargia or weakness. So its puzzling why she will not drink water on her own.

We are considering putting her back with bramas to get them to teach her to drink water. Not sure yet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Photos of her and brooder setup including food/water station?

 

[hollytruitt]

Ok here is the pics

She is a lot better than last Thursday. She was very lethargic and laying down a lot. Now she is flying from the brooder plate to roost with no issues. Feed is watered down and she gobbles it up. Got her the rentacoop cup and a small ramekin with marbles as well as lid with little water to give her options and she is not having any of it. We are puzzled!! Even when we feed her water with dropper she shakes her head and then swallows. We did try to feed her meal worms to observe her behavior. She will eat some then ignore the rest. We even put one in her water to entice her and she will pick it out of the water and shakes if she gets water on her beak.

 

[hollytruitt]

Update for today May 2
Darlene do not like us hand feeding her water with dropper but she is shaking less, still stubborn though.
She is eating a lot of mash (water and feed mix). Still taking meds (sel/vit e paste). Still not drinking water on own. She is growing well. Very feisty!

We are in a predicament (will be soon)....We have 6 Golden lace Wyandotts coming later this week. (Arrival is unknown as they haven't been shipped yet). They will need to be in this brooder that Darlene is currently in. We will need to move her back with the Brahmas brooder and keep close eye on her. If they peck or bully her then we will remove her and move her with the golden laced wyandotts. Otherwise we will have to get another brooder and plate for her which we do not want to do. .

Only issue is she is not drinking on her own. That is a problem and I know it will take time for her to get comfortable with drinking on own.

Thank you!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd just provide her with the water and wet mash along with the vitamins and see how it goes.
Sounds like she's getting what she needs if she's active.