Wry neck? Any last ideas?

[brumby90]

Thought would give it one more try and see if anyone has any suggestions for what I believe is wry neck. Any last ideas I can try?
Silkie has had wry neck for over a month.
Give vitamin e and selenium each day (correct amounts)
Water with vitamins and electros.
Yogurt, chick seed etc

She cannot feed herself. Neck is twisted about 200-270 degrees now but can turn back around by herself when eating. Obviously, it exhausts her.
Sometimes will eat nothing and others will pig out for 10 mins.
Not sure what her weight originally was but has gone from 650grams to 595 grams in 15 days. Breats bone is sticking out a lot. Has seizures of neck sometimes also. Cannot stand, falls to side etc.
We have had extreme heat here so hard keeping her cool (sweats a bit so makes it worse on those days).
Thought would try magnesium (as it works on humans). No effect as yet

Does anyone have ANY other idea other than putting her down? No matter how crazy.

 

[red horse ranch]

There is a website that says turmeric tea will cure wry neck in chickens. You might have to do a google search for it. It's been a few months since I was reading it and not sure where it is.
So sorry you're hen is going thru this. I've had two roosters with wry neck in the last year and I finally gave up on both of them after trying everything that was recommended. The turmeric didn't help with the rooster I lost 2 months ago but maybe it will work for you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your Silkie.

Since she is wasting (losing weight), can't stand and has symptoms of Wry Neck, I would be inclined to say she has Marek's.

The only thing I can think of to add to your treatment is Prednisone. Do you have a vet that can help you out?
www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Prednisone/Prednisone.html

Also have you tried placing her in a sling to keep her more upright for short periods of time?

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have thiamine (vitamin B 1) in your vitamin regime? If not, I would try adding it or some chopped beef liver daily. B Complex tablets can also be crushed and a little added to feed. Sorry that she is not responding to get back to normal, but I would keep trying. Using wet chicken feed mixed with a lot of water and a little egg can be used to get her to eat more at a setting if your are helping her eat. As Wyorp Rock posted, Mareks could be a problem since wry neck can be a symptom. Wry neck is a neurological symptom of head injury, a hereditary disposition to wry neck, vitamin deficiency, and certain diseases such as Mareks.

 

[brumby90]

Have never heard of Prednisone and cant find it anywhere here.

She is placed in a bed sheet to keep her upright yes.

 

[brumby90]

I am giving her a vitamin mix (for birds) in water which contains all those you suggested. Have been doing that for a week or so.
She wont touch egg but seems to love strawberry yogurt.
I have heard suggested in could be mareks but it has been going on for a long time so thought she would be dead by now if it was but I am just guessing.
Then again, if it was just wry neck she should be better I suppose.

I should point out that she has deteriorated significantly since the wry neck first appeared

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Does anyone have ANY other idea other than putting her down? No matter how crazy.

How about physical therapy and a neck brace ?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have never heard of Prednisone and cant find it anywhere here.

She is placed in a bed sheet to keep her upright yes.

I am giving her a vitamin mix (for birds) in water which contains all those you suggested. Have been doing that for a week or so.
She wont touch egg but seems to love strawberry yogurt.
I have heard suggested in could be mareks but it has been going on for a long time so thought she would be dead by now if it was but I am just guessing.
Then again, if it was just wry neck she should be better I suppose.

Not all birds that have Marek's die right away, some can recover, but of course they are carriers.

You would need to get a prescription from your vet for Prednisone.

Look at your vitamin mix (if you have a photo of the product that would be good). The Mix you are giving may not have the correct amount of Vitamin E or B. Sometimes it's better to find human vitamins and use those (no iron). Even if you don't have a vet for the Prednisone, adjusting the vitamins to the below article - you might see some improvement.

++++Reference article and dosing information from "Crook Neck" http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article.html ++++++
If started before symptoms get severe, the bird will totally recover. The following is for an adult about 2 pound bird. Scale back for smaller birds. Do not over do the selenium; it is toxic in large amounts. Animals are more tolerant of vitamin E especially and of vitamin B.

• For the first week I give
  • Once a day
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
    • :25 micrograms selenium
  • Twice a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
• For the second week I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • About 1/4 piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human B liquid vitamins
  • Every other day
    • :25 micrograms selenium
• For the third and following weeks I give
  • Once a day
    • 2.5 mg of prednisone - less and less each day - none after third week
    • 400 IU of vitamin E
    • A piece of human vitamin B complex pill or a squirt of human liquid vitamins
  • Once a week
    • :25 micrograms selenium

Do not abruptly stop prednisone, the swelling rebounds. Decrease the dose gradually. Recovery can be slow; continue the vitamin E for several weeks at least.

You can get prednisone from a vet; just describe the problem of swelling in the brain probably due to injury. Yes Silkies' brains do stick out through a hole on the top of the skull. Print the pictures at Silkies Have a Hole in Their Head and show them to your vet.

Your vet might suggest a different anti inflammatory like Celebrex or Metacam.

You can get the vitamin E, selenium, and vitamin B complex or liquid vitamins at any pharmacy.

A Vet's Review of this Therapy
Diana Hedrick asked Janny Hermans, a poultry specialist in the Netherlands, to review this Therapy. Janny Hermans' reply is below. Janny Hermans warns about over doing the prednisone and agrees the vitamins E and B can also help. She does however address the possibility of poisoning causing the neurological problems. She suggests an antibiotic in case bacteria are the source of the poison.

 

[brumby90]

I had been giving 25 mg of selenium 2-3 times daily with 500-1000 iu of vit E (capsule)
I have tried slightly higher or less amounts trying to get some improvement.

She was pecked in the head by a rooster a couple of times the day before the wry neck appeared. Could be coincidence. Who knows.

The vitamin mix is called Multivet Vetafarm
http://vetafarm.com.au/product/multivet-with-moulting-aid/

Something I noticed is that her head does appear 'off'. Her right eye is swollen a little (maybe due to being rubbed by the way she was lying) or it could be some slight swelling as you mentioned.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Head trauma like a peck in the head can cause symptoms of Wry Neck. Swelling of the eye is concerning, she may have some swelling of the brain.

If you have a vet that can see her at all, that would be best.

Just a note - you mention you are giving 25mg of Selenium 2-3X a day - that is too much - 25mg once a day for the first week is more than sufficient - usually a little chopped egg will provide enough selenium for a bird. Selenium helps with the uptake of vitamin E.