Wry neck--How long before I should let her go?

[Di's Ladys]

I have a 19 week old silkie I have been treating for wry neck for about 4 weeks. I have been giving 400 iu vitamin E, a pinch of selenium, 1/4 vitamin B-complex, and a pinch of poultry booster daily. Also 1/2 to one egg daily. She can eat and drink by herself a little. She walks backwards with her head dragging on the floor but she can get herself where she wants to go. She will sit for a while with her head up but usually she lays with her head upside down. She doesn't seem to be in pain or distress but I wonder if I am just prolonging the inevitable. She has not shown any improvement yet. How long does it usually take for this to get better?

 

[azygous]

It should have resolved long before now. And, yes, this isn't the way she was meant to live, and it is distressing for her.

Before you relieve her of this burden, though, I suggest increasing the dose of Vitamin E to twice a day for another week just to see if the higher concentration of E will jolt her out of this. It's like a "hail Mary" pass in football at the end of the final quarter. You really have nothing to lose by trying it.

 

[Di's Ladys]

It should have resolved long before now. And, yes, this isn't the way she was meant to live, and it is distressing for her.

Before you relieve her of this burden, though, I suggest increasing the dose of Vitamin E to twice a day for another week just to see if the higher concentration of E will jolt her out of this. It's like a "hail Mary" pass in football at the end of the final quarter. You really have nothing to lose by trying it.

Ok. I will give it a try. Thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your silkie. My 6 year old salmon faverolles rooster started having some wry neck with his head curled down between his legs, but only whenever he is resting or sleeping. He has done this for about 18 months, and we haven’t had the heart to put him down. He eats and drinks normally and free ranges in the yard with no symptoms, and he has one hen that he lives with. They are very close, so I will keep him alive as long as he is not suffering.

 

[Chicalina]

I had a chick recently like this. Sadly he didn't live past 4 days and I asked myself the same questions, though he died before I made a decision. I cannot imagine nursing a chicken for 4 weeks like that.

I hope the double dose makes a difference. Perhaps set a deadline of a week to see an improvement. I did this, but each day I just wanted to give him one more day to try and get better

 

[Di's Ladys]

I had a chick recently like this. Sadly he didn't live past 4 days and I asked myself the same questions, though he died before I made a decision. I cannot imagine nursing a chicken for 4 weeks like that.

I hope the double dose makes a difference. Perhaps set a deadline of a week to see an improvement. I did this, but each day I just wanted to give him one more day to try and get better

I keep thinking one more day and she may recover. But I don't know if she is suffering. I just need to be sure she won't recover. But of course I don't know that.

 

[Chicalina]

I know how you feel. I was so full of hope for my little guy, but it dwindled as he got sicker and sicker. He couldn't eat by himself at all. At least your chicken can which is good.

I kind of knew a few hours before he died that it was going to happen. He got all weak and gurgly and listless. I should have ended it for him then, but i couldn't bring myself to do it, and I knew that nature was going to take its course pretty soon anyway.

Was your chicken healthy and normal until 4 weeks ago, or always a bit wonky? if the former, then there is perhaps more hope than if she has just declined further from a low initial base level of health.

I made my chicky a little frame out of two cups with a bit cut out for his head and holes for his legs. To try and support his head and neck so he could stretch it the other way and use his muscles. A bit of physical therapy. He didnt get to use it much and I don't know if it was the right thing to do, but I just wanted to try and help him.