Wry Neck - Confused about treatment

[Lacrystol]

Thank you for answering, I do feel alone treating my girl

I never thought I'd be excited to see white swirls in her poo lol.. Can I ask why you think this hasn't been in her previous poos?
Yes she is eating like a trooper- FULL crop 3 times a day

and totally empty before each feed. I'm still feeding her but she is trying to eat more like a chicken. She pecks at the food ( I'm making the mash a little stiffer now) and flicks it into her beak. She doesn't ave complete control of her neck just yet & I find if I put a little tension on one side of the base of her neck she is fine and can peck, flick eat and swallow ( raising her head) quiet well. If I let go of that neck re rad seems to twist and she becomes unco ordinated.. She tries to stand up constantly while feeding and still backs up while eating. I'm guessing its because she is still weak & has been sitting in a box for 4 weeks now

Truly believe she is improving- I just hope she does regain her strength and is able to eat on her own. If she has improved the way she has ( remember her head was completely backwards & facing her tail) I'm thinking each day is a step closer...
Do you have an opinion on how long this could take if she is recovering? I think I read somewhere it can take up to 3 months- does that sound right?

Because she wasn't eating enough, now that's shes eating on her own and filling up her crop you should see more of that. That's a good sign too tells me her kidneys are functioning alright and no damage done. WHEW.. Could be a sign of worms too, has it been more than two weeks since you wormed her last? If so, worm her once more to be on the safe side..

I would put food down for her ALL the time, let her go at it. Keep doing your three times a day thing but in between keep some close by her. Sounds like her neck muscles are very weak, putting food down in front of her at all times will force her to use those muscles.. Recover could be quite a while, but she needs to start using those muscles on her own its the only way she's going to get strength.

Try taking her out of the box and let her walk around for like maybe 5 minutes 3 times a day, try to avoid helping her unless she completely falls on her face. If that's the case then just take her out for a minute at a time. Let her start building up those weak muscles.. She's really amazing, she should be on the Top 10 list. LOL..

Now if she does recover we are going to have to be very careful with reintroducing her back to the flock because she's been gone sooo long it's going to be like a new chicken entering the coop and pecking order will be cruel. They all will go right after her.. but of course, we have a while before that. LOL..

 

[Debstar1204]

Thank you- I have been holding the food bowl so she has to reach a little for it. I want her to use her neck muscles too, so I'm doing the right thing she still falls over A LOT but can happily balance in a sitting position now. That's why I made her a sling, do she can stretch her legs and put some pressure in them... I will keep building her up with food and continue to make her reach for her food just a little. She does lose control if her neck if I don't put a little pressure on the Left side near where it meets her body. I only need to hold like 1 feather with downward pressure to align her neck where it should be. IF I Don't Di this get neck springs back to her beak going side ways I know she can do it soI just need to build up her strength.
She is clucking heaps more now too-
Also she really likes to cling to my fingers with her feet if I hold my hand underneath her. She will happily cling to my fingers in the sitting position without leaning backwards. If I take my hand away ( can't leave it there lol) she leans back still & sits more on her tail.
Do you know why she would be pushing UP with her legs & chest to like standing straight up like a person??? She continues to do this & then slowly settles back into her sitting position...
So many questions & I still question myself whether I'm doing the right thing or not for her. It's nice for me to hear some positive comments from yourself. I am proud of my girl but still think I have weeks more of what I'm doing .. If she is ment to live and run with the flock ( I know it will be hard reintroducing her) I will get her there

 

[Debstar1204]

Me again LOL... I'm a little excited tonight- I found a normal formed poo in my girls box haha, excited about a poo I know strange hey. But it was firm like a normal chicken poo, with white swirls through it
Also she is standing to poo now which is good I think and is turning herself around by walking- but only in circles. This is a HUGE improvement considering she hasn't been able to stand without toppling over. She also balances herself now in the sitting position and will not fall over- YAY small improvements I know but they are improvements so I'm happy

 

[Lacrystol]

Thank you- I have been holding the food bowl so she has to reach a little for it. I want her to use her neck muscles too, so I'm doing the right thing

she still falls over A LOT but can happily balance in a sitting position now. That's why I made her a sling, do she can stretch her legs and put some pressure in them... I will keep building her up with food and continue to make her reach for her food just a little. She does lose control if her neck if I don't put a little pressure on the Left side near where it meets her body. I only need to hold like 1 feather with downward pressure to align her neck where it should be. IF I Don't Di this get neck springs back to her beak going side ways

I know she can do it soI just need to build up her strength.
She is clucking heaps more now too-
Also she really likes to cling to my fingers with her feet if I hold my hand underneath her. She will happily cling to my fingers in the sitting position without leaning backwards. If I take my hand away ( can't leave it there lol) she leans back still & sits more on her tail.
Do you know why she would be pushing UP with her legs & chest to like standing straight up like a person??? She continues to do this & then slowly settles back into her sitting position...
So many questions & I still question myself whether I'm doing the right thing or not for her. It's nice for me to hear some positive comments from yourself. I am proud of my girl but still think I have weeks more of what I'm doing .. If she is ment to live and run with the flock ( I know it will be hard reintroducing her) I will get her there

Perhaps she pushes up because if she pushes forward she knows she'll just fall flat on her face so to avoid doing that, she pushes up.. Sounds like she's trying to get up and walk but can't quite do it yet. Remember we are on Week 5, she's been sick for a very long time, it's going to take a lot for her to snap out of this. Already progress has been made, I mean she went from twisted neck to crooked neck, from not eating on her to eating on her own, your little trooper, HONESTLY, should not be with us right now. So for her to fight as hard and long as she is OMG, you should be proud, I don't think I could handle it, I would be crying each day just seeing some even if its a tiny bit of progress going on.. Your little trooper is refusing to give it, she's kind of like the train that could... "I think I can, I think I can"..

You should get that movie and play it to her. LOL...

 

[Lacrystol]

Me again LOL... I'm a little excited tonight- I found a normal formed poo in my girls box

haha, excited about a poo I know strange hey. But it was firm like a normal chicken poo, with white swirls through it

Also she is standing to poo now which is good I think and is turning herself around by walking- but only in circles. This is a HUGE improvement considering she hasn't been able to stand without toppling over. She also balances herself now in the sitting position and will not fall over- YAY small improvements I know but they are improvements so I'm happy

OMG, THAT IS WONDERFUL TO HEAR. HAHAHAHA.. I think I can I think I can. WOOOO HOOOOO...

what a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Debstar1204]

Yes your right, she has made those tiny improvements. You said she went from a twisted neck to a crooked neck which is right. Is that 2 different things? And now that her neck is just crooked not twisted do you think she will be able to straighten it again. I ask this because it is the 5 th week if her illness.. I thought the twisted / crooked neck was the same lol.. Can you maybe explain the difference to me?
I'm going to try to take a pic of her for you today I want you see to my little fighter. You can let me know if you think she looks slightly better than my earlier pics.. I think she does but then again I'm practicley living with her at the moment and see her constantly lol..
I agree she shouldn't be here but she is and is eating sooo very very well. Last night I thought her crop was front heavy lol and so so full.. While she is eating and I kinda hold her neck I can feel the crook come and go. But her head always bounces straight back to its crook position after eating. Will the vitamin e still be able to help it or is it too long now? She still gets all the vitamins just not EVERY feed. I did cut back a little.. I've just about finished a whole bottle of vitamin e since this all started...

I've never treated a sick chicken before but I guess what I'm doing is working so ill keep at it
She does bring tears to my eyes as she is definitely a fighter.
My wish is for her to walk and peck in the garden again. I'm not even worried if she never joins her flock again. I just want her to feel the earth under her feet and be a chicken

 

[Debstar1204]

Here is a pic of her tonight whilst feeding- her head is to the side but you can see how she CAN hold it up. Except she only holds it like this when feeding ;(

 

[Lacrystol]

Yes your right, she has made those tiny improvements. You said she went from a twisted neck to a crooked neck which is right. Is that 2 different things? And now that her neck is just crooked not twisted do you think she will be able to straighten it again. I ask this because it is the 5 th week if her illness.. I thought the twisted / crooked neck was the same lol.. Can you maybe explain the difference to me?
I'm going to try to take a pic of her for you today

I want you see to my little fighter. You can let me know if you think she looks slightly better than my earlier pics.. I think she does but then again I'm practicley living with her at the moment and see her constantly lol..
I agree she shouldn't be here but she is and is eating sooo very very well. Last night I thought her crop was front heavy lol and so so full.. While she is eating and I kinda hold her neck I can feel the crook come and go. But her head always bounces straight back to its crook position after eating. Will the vitamin e still be able to help it or is it too long now? She still gets all the vitamins just not EVERY feed. I did cut back a little.. I've just about finished a whole bottle of vitamin e since this all started...

I've never treated a sick chicken before but I guess what I'm doing is working so ill keep at it

She does bring tears to my eyes as she is definitely a fighter.
My wish is for her to walk and peck in the garden again. I'm not even worried if she never joins her flock again. I just want her to feel the earth under her feet and be a chicken

Twisted because it was Twisted completely around laying on her back, Crooked neck because it's to the side now.. It's the same but I was trying to describe the progress, from laying on her back to going to the side..

That's great that she is eating a lot. OMG, Definitely keep up what you are doing, you may want to try and weigh her each week to see if she is gaining any weigh. I'm sure that would help ease your mind on the continuing progress...

I think I can I think I can. WOOOO HOOOOOO

 

[Lacrystol]

Here is a pic of her tonight whilst feeding- her head is to the side but you can see how she CAN hold it up. Except she only holds it like this when feeding ;(

OMG, SHE LOOKS AMAZING, SHE'S ALMOST GOT IT STRAIGHTENED OUT. much better then what I had imagine. WOW.... I was picturing her head right next to wing but she's got that head further away more towards the front. GOOOD JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If the vitamins are working keep them going....

 

[Debstar1204]

Thank you. Yes it is heaps better. But from behind you can still see the crook.. And as soon as she stops eating she holds her head flat against her body in the side. So you think she can still pull this?? I'm just hoping it doesn't stay like this..
She is doing very well
I read somewhere the omega 3 can also help, so ill try giving her some to see