We've got a silkie named Oreo who we are fairly certain has a vaulted skull. We got her as a chick last summer. She grew into a healthy young hen, and nothing was really wrong with her other than the fact the she was exceptionally dumb. But then she went broody over the winter and emerged from the nest with some coordination problems and really bugged out eyes. She had that issue for a while, but eventually she's always been able to feed herself and get herself water sufficiently enough.
I have a theory that she got pecked on the head while she was broody and she got some brain damage or something, because her vaulted skull makes her head so vulnerable.
Anyways, I walk into the coop today and she's huddled in the corner and it looks like she's developed wry neck. Its really bad--SUPER twisted. I know that if this was wry neck caused by a vitamin deficiency then supportive care and an increase in selenium and vitamin E would help her, but since I think this wry neck might have been caused by a head injury, I don't know if theres much I can do. She's been kind of off for a long time, and this on top of her other issues (her bug eyes, coordination problems, the fact that winter is approaching and she still hasn't figured out how to roost and warm up with the others, she can't pick up treats off the ground, it takes her 10 minutes to even FIND the feeder) has me thinking it might just be time to put her down.
Her neck is so twisted and she looks so uncomfortable--should I be trying to support her head and neck in a normal position while we decide what to do, or should I let her keep twisting it like that?
Thanks in advance and please reply ASAP!
I have a theory that she got pecked on the head while she was broody and she got some brain damage or something, because her vaulted skull makes her head so vulnerable.
Anyways, I walk into the coop today and she's huddled in the corner and it looks like she's developed wry neck. Its really bad--SUPER twisted. I know that if this was wry neck caused by a vitamin deficiency then supportive care and an increase in selenium and vitamin E would help her, but since I think this wry neck might have been caused by a head injury, I don't know if theres much I can do. She's been kind of off for a long time, and this on top of her other issues (her bug eyes, coordination problems, the fact that winter is approaching and she still hasn't figured out how to roost and warm up with the others, she can't pick up treats off the ground, it takes her 10 minutes to even FIND the feeder) has me thinking it might just be time to put her down.
Her neck is so twisted and she looks so uncomfortable--should I be trying to support her head and neck in a normal position while we decide what to do, or should I let her keep twisting it like that?
Thanks in advance and please reply ASAP!
