- Jul 25, 2013
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Sorry for such a long post, I am just at my wits end with a poor little chick and want to explain it properly. I am a student teacher at an elementary school, and one class hatched out chicks. Out of the 17 that were in the incubator, three hatched fine on their own. One got helped out (I said they should probably let it try longer, but some woman went a head and got it out of the egg). That chick had a crooked neck, he could still eat, drink and walk on his own, and I instructed the teacher to begin treating it for wry neck. However, he was like a half to a third smaller than his siblings almost right away. At the end of the week, the three healthy ones went to a home, and I kept the crooked one as I have chickens and wanted to care for him. I knew he would not survive without the proper care. He was so motivated to survive. So, I set him up a brooder and a heat lamp at my house. Continued with the vit. e and selenium. Making sure he was getting his food. After a little less than a week, his neck got worse and now, at almost three weeks old and me having him for almost two weeks, he cannot walk, his head/neck are almost completely doing a 360. He spends the day (when I am not holding him), laying on his side, once and a while flipping around. He cannot feed/water himself. If I hold him up and straighten his neck in my hands, he can drink and pick up food on his own if it is right in front of his face. But as soon as I let go his neck whips right back around. I have started him on a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of prednisone as I read that may help, along with the usual treatment. His neck feels tighter today. And almost like it there is a bend in it, but I think it could be the muscles tightening from being in the same position for days. I want him so bad to improve and live. He is such a little fighter. He spends his waking hours chirping, but I don't think he is in pain because when I put him in front of food he devours it. But he is clearly frustrated and uncomfortable even if he isn't in pain. Is it possible that this isn't even wry neck? I know it can take weeks and even months to improve. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or similar experience.