Wry neck...Treat or euthanize?? UPDATED with GREAT results!!

[Fancychooklady]

Can I use infent vitamin drops with Iron?

No , without iron or better still a good poultry multi vitamin.

 

[Chicken Wisperer]

I have a young chicken with Wry neck, I have been treating her with Infant Vitamins without Iron. Now I have switched to Vit E oil capsules, I drain out the oil, mix in ground up selenium, and heat up about a 1/2 tsp gatorade and mix well. I have been putting this in her beak with an eye dropper. She seems to get better and is able to eat and drink. She does not have good balance at all, and walks in circles. But sometimes she can hold her head up for a whole day. Sometimes she sleeps all day long.

So my question is, Can she live like this? What happens if she just is always the way she is now. It has been about 6 weeks or so. There is some improvement however it is limited. Will she get better? is it a slow process?

 

[Wickedchicken6]

I had one rooster I finally had to euthanize. It was going to be winter and he was failing with hope in sight.

The other recovered and I've never had issues since. I prefer a good poultry vitamin mix myself. I also purchased a bottle of liquid supplement from my pet store that's supposed to be good for all birds. That may also be a good choice. As long as she's not suffering, I'd say she's ok. It could be a long process. Any improvement, however slight, is a good sign. If she starts to fail and you can see she's no longer enjoying any part of life...then it's time.

Hopefully she'll continue to improve. I found bringing my one guy out into the sunshine seemed to help a lot.

 

[Chicken Wisperer]

My baby chicken "Blue passed away, wry neck was just too much for her.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

My baby chicken "Blue passed away, wry neck was just too much for her.

I'm sorry that it didn't work out.

 

[Selena Guerrieri]

hi- I am fairly new to raising chicks- we initially bought 6 chickens 2 years ago. Inherited 5 Bantams from a school (got ride of 3 because they were roosters- kept a gen and rooster) and last year bought 6 more. This year we bought 6 more but when selecting them, I noticed a baby who had her head back- I took her because I'm a sucker and everyone needs love! After reasearch it seems to us, that she has wry neck. I don't think it seems bad now that she is home. She has her head held correctly most of the time, I see her eat, and drink. When she drinks, she does throw her hard back to swallow. I am trying the vitamin E mixed with Selenium but it's not so easy to give to her. I see it online in powder form but it says for horses. Does anybody know if it can still be used in lower doses? Or where I can buy it in powder form for chickens?
If she takes smaller amounts of water she doesn't always put her head back. I have separated her from the others but she keeps chirping- she is not happy!
Thank you-
Selena

 

[LouisesMama]

Wry neck (torticolis, twisted neck, star gazing, crook neck) is a neurological condition. Some types may be caused by a thiamine deficiency (note the star gazing in the link above,) but other types may be caused by vitamin E deficiency, head injuries, and in advanced stages of infectious diseases, such as respiratory diseases, Mareks, fowl cholera, and avian leukosis. A multivitamin for poultry, plus a small amount of selenium to help vitamin E absorption, is a good approach. Eggs, tuna, and some crushed nuts are a good source of selenium.

I am reading through these threads, this comment popped out to me because my hen was attacked by a raccoon and survived being scalped. Her head injury Is healing nice but now has developed wry neck. Is there any way of saving this hen? Its been 2 and a half weeks since attack and about 5 days since wry neck symptoms. Thank you for any feed back!!

 

[LouisesMama]

So it's been about two months now, and I am so happy to report that Penny is doing much better. After sitting with her for about an hour, at least twice a day, and feeding her vitamin B Complex, selenium, and vitamin E, (dosages recommended by our vet) about two weeks ago she started to show signs of improvement. Today she still cocks her head sideways sometimes, but for the most part she stands and walk around with her head almost straight up. I'm hoping for a full recovery, but we'll just keep up the treatments and see what happens. If anyone who is reading this has a chicken with wry neck, I want you to know that at times, I was ready to give up, wondering if what we were putting her through was fair to her. I'm so glad we stuck with it. I can't tell you that wry neck can be cured every time, and it was very painful to watch her at times, but just know, if you are willing to commit to help them, chances are good you will succeed. And so you know, Penny is about three years old. A lot of what I read was from people who had chicks with wry neck. There is hope, even when things look pretty grim.....

Charlie

Hi, I am treating an adult 1 year old Austrolope. She was attacked by a raccoon and survived, 2 of her sisters weren't as fortunate but shes not well off right now either. Her head was scalped and deep too. Right now its been 2 and a half weeks. Her head is healing nice but has developed wry neck about 5 days ago. It took me a day or 2 to figure out it was wry. I have been treating her with rooster booster and polyvisol. After a few days of treatment she is not getting better. This hen has been through it and I'm trying my best to treat her. Today I have started seeing that a head injury can cause this too. Considering everything she has been through is there any hope for her to make it since it may have been due to head injury? Today I picked up vit E oil and selenium and yogurt. I am hoping this helps but almost feel like we're on the last straw here. Its painful to watch her in this condition. Is it worth having her go through this??

 

[Chicken Wisperer]

I am reading through these threads, this comment popped out to me because my hen was attacked by a raccoon and survived being scalped. Her head injury Is healing nice but now has developed wry neck. Is there any way of saving this hen? Its been 2 and a half weeks since attack and about 5 days since wry neck symptoms. Thank you for any feed back!!

Louise's, my chicken passed away from wryneck. I gave her Vitamin E , and Selenium. It sometimes made her better. But it progressed and she got pneumonia, and passed. I know some survive and get better. I did all I could do to make her better, I was not going to kill her, I figure that's not my place to decide. So just keep treating her and pray !

 

[Chicken Wisperer]

↑
Louise's, my chicken passed away from wryneck. I gave her Vitamin E , and Selenium. Itsometimes made her better. But it progressed and she gotpneumonia, and passed. I know some survive and get better. Idid all I could do to make her better, I was not going to kill her,I figure that's not my place todecide. So just keep treating herand pray !

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