Wry neck? Help please

[Fezziwig]

We replaced all available water with the infused water so they had to drink it. We didn't catch ours in time though,so it didn't work well. How old is the duckling do you know?

Today is day 4. It looked really terrible this morning. When I woke up, it's neck was curled almost into a complete circle, and I thought it had no chance. It was laying on it's stomach, but it's bill was pointed up. I felt so bad for it, but I decided to give it some water. I hate the idea of it dying from thirst. So I gently straightened its neck and dipped it in the water. After that it started walking around a little better, neck still crooked, but it started drinking and eating on its own again. It was able to point its head upwards slightly like ducks always do when they drink. It makes me wonder if the Wry Neck is essentially the muscles contracting and creating severe cramping. Overnight, it probably cramped up again as it slept, and it wasn't able to pull it's neck up. When I went to sleep last night I was pretty hopeful because it was eating and drinking on its own. Unfortunately, I have to work 8 to 4:30, but my wife can check on it a few times between her classes. I asked her to gently straighten it's neck and water it a few times and feed them all some finely chopped spinach and dandelion.

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Today is day 4. It looked really terrible this morning. When I woke up, it's neck was curled almost into a complete circle, and I thought it had no chance. It was laying on it's stomach, but it's bill was pointed up. I felt so bad for it, but I decided to give it some water. I hate the idea of it dying from thirst. So I gently straightened its neck and dipped it in the water. After that it started walking around a little better, neck still crooked, but it started drinking and eating on its own again. It was able to point its head upwards slightly like ducks always do when they drink. It makes me wonder if the Wry Neck is essentially the muscles contracting and creating severe cramping. Overnight, it probably cramped up again as it slept, and it wasn't able to pull it's neck up. When I went to sleep last night I was pretty hopeful because it was eating and drinking on its own. Unfortunately, I have to work 8 to 4:30, but my wife can check on it a few times between her classes. I asked her to gently straighten it's neck and water it a few times and feed them all some finely chopped spinach and dandelion.

Well done on persevering - you are doing all the right things.

I agree with you re the muscle contraction and you may find some very gentle and careful massage might also help.

If your wife can make sure the little ducky drinks when she visits, that would be ideal.

Speaking from experience, no matter what the outcome, it helps to know you did everything you could.

I am keeping it all crossed for you all ! X

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Today is day 4. It looked really terrible this morning. When I woke up, it's neck was curled almost into a complete circle, and I thought it had no chance. It was laying on it's stomach, but it's bill was pointed up. I felt so bad for it, but I decided to give it some water. I hate the idea of it dying from thirst. So I gently straightened its neck and dipped it in the water. After that it started walking around a little better, neck still crooked, but it started drinking and eating on its own again. It was able to point its head upwards slightly like ducks always do when they drink. It makes me wonder if the Wry Neck is essentially the muscles contracting and creating severe cramping. Overnight, it probably cramped up again as it slept, and it wasn't able to pull it's neck up. When I went to sleep last night I was pretty hopeful because it was eating and drinking on its own. Unfortunately, I have to work 8 to 4:30, but my wife can check on it a few times between her classes. I asked her to gently straighten it's neck and water it a few times and feed them all some finely chopped spinach and dandelion.

I think you have a chance then to help. Mine didn't get it for a few days after hatching, and then we waited a day or two because we weren't sure what to do.

 

[Fezziwig]

The duckling is looking much better today. She can eat and drink on her own. For the first time, she's now laying down with her head pointing forward instead of curled with her beak to the ground or curled almost in a full circle. She still can't lift her head quite the same as the others, but much better overall. There have been a few times when I thought she wasn't going to make it, but I just kept making sure she was eating and drinking, and I'm starting to feel like there's a good chance of recovery. I'm just worried about overdosing all my ducks on Vitamin E and Selenium. I didn't separate her, and I've been dosing them all because she kept crying when she was alone, and I didn't want her to die alone. I'm hoping I can taper off on the vitamins and just substitute with vegetables high in vitamin E and Selenium, and continue adding Sav-A-Chic, which has Vitamin E. I've been giving them lots of spinach and dandelion leaves because I feel like they are less likely to OD on a natural source than supplements, and natural is probably better metabolized. Any thoughts on how long to continue with liquid Vitamin E and crushed Selenium?

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Yay ! What great news and a reflection on your efforts !

Little ducky is also clearly a fighter

Unless they are the stage where they are chugging their water down like a newbie at a bar in Freshers week, I think the risk is low. Put another way, unless they are past the stage where they kind of dabble with the water and are submerging their heads and chucking it around the brooder I would leave as is for the short term.

An alternative is to have a needle-less syringe or a clean dropper and supplement your poorly duck (i'd be aiming for every couple of hours where possible) separately.

Well done again !

 

[Fezziwig]

Yay ! What great news and a reflection on your efforts !

Little ducky is also clearly a fighter

Unless they are the stage where they are chugging their water down like a newbie at a bar in Freshers week, I think the risk is low. Put another way, unless they are past the stage where they kind of dabble with the water and are submerging their heads and chucking it around the brooder I would leave as is for the short term.

An alternative is to have a needle-less syringe or a clean dropper and supplement your poorly duck (i'd be aiming for every couple of hours where possible) separately.

Well done again !

I'm happy to report that the little duckling with wry neck is doing quite well. Her neck now appears to be normal most of the time. However, sometimes when she drinks water, she throws her neck backwards and almost falls over. I've only seen this part of the time. Is this a problem of coordination/weak neck muscles, or is it a sign of something else?

 

[HalfWayUpAMountain]

Well thats great news !

I see no reason to think its anything other than wry neck especially as it has been responding to your treatment.

My understanding is it can take weeks for wry neck to resolve so I think carry on with what you are doing ?

And as an aside, well done you for standing by your duckling !