Wry neck at 4-5 weeks old?

[brideofchaos]

Anyone ever have a chicken at this age develop wry neck? I had never even seen wry neck until a month ago when one of my feed store Speckled Sussex developed it at 1-2 weeks of age. Now I have a silkie who's about 4-5 weeks old that has it. I know normally it's attributed to a vitamin E deficiency, but can anything else cause it? My hubby has taken it back in the house and put it in its own box (of course, this stuff always happens when I'm out of town, he says lol) and will start giving it Nutri-drench directly by mouth and in its water. Could it be injury related? It's acting just like my Sussex did...swinging it's neck and stargazing, but otherwise feeding/drinking fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

Actually, wry neck (crook neck, star gazing, torticollis) is a symptom of certain diseases, head injury, vitamin deficiency, or anything that can cause brain inflammation. Treatment beins with decreasing stimulation and noise, given vitamins and selenium, and helping the chicken to eat and drink. With very young chicks it can be from vitamin deficiency in the parent stock, but in older chickens I would look at Mareks disease, avian leukosis, and head injury as possible causes. Even with some respiratory diseases and fowl cholera, there can be wry neck. Here are some links to read:
http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[brideofchaos]

That was VERY helpful, thank you! Didn't even think it could be because of her vaulted skull and being pecked...but that makes the most sense in her case. They are all at an age where they are jockeying for position in the flock and the silkies and polish are obviously the most susceptible to such pecks. We'll baby her and feed/water/vitamin her like we did with the Sussex. Even though it was a different cause probably, I'm sure just some TLC and monitoring her eating/drinking should do the trick, just the same.

Thanks for the help,
Wendy

 

[brideofchaos]

Just thought everyone might appreciate an update. He recovered last week! It took a couple weeks, but he rejoined the flock a few days ago and is doing really well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Great news, thanks for the update.