Wry Neck... Stargazing... Call it what you like- it's terrifying!

[Baby_Annie]

Hello all... I'm brand new to this site- first forum I've ever joined! I live on 6 acres in Northern Alberta, Canada and have a flock of 19 very spoiled chickens- 11 mature laying hens and 8 juveniles. One of my 8-week old silkies (Her name is Ninja) has "wry neck", and I have been scouring your posts for some time, then developed a treatment regime based on this AMAZING article- thank you so much for sharing it!

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

I'm on Day 8 of treatment, and I get more clever every day- who says you can't teach an old cat new tricks! I used tiny cubes of fresh brown bread to "soak" up the vitamin E that I squeeze out of 2 200IU capsules twice a day, then crush a 1/4 tab of selenium into the mix, and top it off with a drop of Kindervital (organic baby vitamins). I then give Ninja a treat of 3 blueberries and all the scrambled eggs she wants. Wanting her to have as much opportunity as possible to remain bonded to the rest of the juveniles, as well as being able to forage in the 6 acre free range forest that my other chickens have claimed, I leave her outside during the day. But, these babies sleep high at night- and Ninja can't jump that high without having a seizure, so I bring her inside each evening for her meds and to sleep with two stuffies in a laundry basket beside my bed. Obviously she has become VERY tame, and I have fallen VERY much in love with her...

Things were going really well until I brought her in last night. She seemed to have relapsed- more seizures, more frequently. What???? She ate well, but when I picked her up to take her to bed, I noticed a torn looking wound on her wing. As I was cleaning it, I noticed a second one on her back. I think the other girls must have gone after her, she had a seizure, and they just went after her harder. My heart is broken.

I wasn't sure she make it through the night, but she did. I read 16 pages of posts this morning, and I'm going to add turmeric to my regime. I will also treat the wounds with Vetricyn (That stuff is AMAZING), and she stays in the house until (or if) she recovers. I feel terrible for not isolating her longer- I will never make that mistake again with a weak chicken- but I don't want her death to be my lesson!

Any suggestions on what else I can do?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Welcome. I have kept silkies in the past. They are susceptible to pecking because they act odd, and than if pecked in the crest they can suffer brain damage from it. Is it possible it was originally pecked in the crest? Does it have a vaulted skull? Is it your only silkie?

Silkies should only be kept with other silkies or other mellow bantam breeds due to their behaviors, and gentleness, especially any pullets. The roosters can often hold their own in a mixed breed flock unless they are show quality or have a crest that obscures their eyes generally.

I have no experience with wry neck, so I can't advise on that. Sounds like you are handling that part well.

 

[Eggcessive]

When you have a sick or injured chicken, it can really help to place them in a metal dog crate so they can stay with the others to see them and feel more comfortable. It also helps to not have to re-integrate them later with all of the pecking. Of course, when they are very sick and need tending often, or to keep flies out of wounds, bring them inside for a bit is good. Here is an old but ongoing thread about the treatments others have done with their wry neck patients:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck.97121/

 

[Baby_Annie]

Thanks for the advice.. It's been 16 days, and the seizures are sometimes better, sometimes worse. I'm frustrated- I'll admit. The pecking wound are healing, and as I write this, Ninja is sitting in my lap having one seizure after another. Then she will sit and be fine for several minutes at a time. I can't find an avian vet nearby, but I'm thinking at this point there might be, as you suggest, a brain injury. Augh- what to do!

 

[Baby_Annie]

Help, please... Ninja seems to be getting worse! The seizures seem stronger- it's harder to bring her head up for her when they come, and they seem to happening more frequently. We are having a heat wave- does that affect the seizures? She is still eating really well- but not drinking much water because it triggers seizures. I'm giving her cut-up grapes and cherries and adding water to her crumble...

I have been giving a baby vitamin-but saw the iron and have stopped. I have a B complex, but am struggling to decide how much to dose. It is Jamieson B100 complex... 100 mg each of B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, biotin, folate, choline and inisitol. Any advice?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would cull her, but that's probably not the advice you are looking for, sorry.

 

[Baby_Annie]

I appreciate the honesty. It's hard to make that call when she seems completely fine between seizures... flapping around and getting excited for treats...

 

[Baby_Annie]

That may very well be the call I have to make- but I want to try the vitamin B addition first. I need to cover all bases to justify the final decision- I think it's my responsibility as a pet owner. Any idea as to how much of the tab I should give her?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sorry, I have no clue, and I totally understand.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

I had a successful wry neck recovery in a chick before, although the baby wasn't a Silkie and from what you said in your previous posts didn't have as serious wry neck as Ninja. Try feeding her some molasses if you have any. That worked for me and my baby. Also, if you could keep her out of the heat that would probably help. I hope that this works and that sweet Ninja gets better soon!