Wry neck - questions on causes

[EldritchAcres]

Hello!

I've never experience wry neck in any of my birds (I've had chickens my entire life with some breaks inbetween) but an acquaintance has been getting multiple cases of it in every silkie hatch.

I know it is prevelant in silkies because of their skull shape, but I was wondering why it happens to chicks in a brooder? Whether is one chick, or a few. If it's a vitamin E or B1 deficiency, and they're not on medicated feed - do some birds get it and others don't because of differences in vitamin metabolism?

Or are they more fragile and are somehow getting head injuries (babies picking at each other maybe??) I'm always interested in learning more, and I was just curious as to the "why".

Thanks!

 

[User690263]

I've only had to deal with wry neck twice -
One was in a silkie rooster due to a vitamin deficiency, and the other was in a buff Orpington hen due to an injury (a kid was running around, didn't see her, and tripped over her. Not sure exactly what kind of injury it was -clearly head or neck- but I ended up having to euthanize because she wasn't improving and her quality of life was poor)

 

[EldritchAcres]

I've only had to deal with wry neck twice -
One was in a silkie rooster due to a vitamin deficiency, and the other was in a buff Orpington hen due to an injury (a kid was running around, didn't see her, and tripped over her. Not sure exactly what kind of injury it was -clearly head or neck- but I ended up having to euthanize because she wasn't improving and her quality of life was poor)

I'm so sorry about your Orpington, it's never easy having to euthanize even when it's the right decision.

 

[User690263]

Thank you