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

[Chicken Wisperer]

I do not know how long your chicken has been sick, but I do know that Wry neck is a vitiman deficiency usually passed down when the parent chicken does not have enough vitiman E. All the selenium does is help the absorption of the Vitiman E. if your chicken got injured, and this injury caused a condition similar to Wryneck. It sounds like a brain injury, that will not improve from the altercation between the two chickens. If you think I am correct in what occurred, then you need to reevaluate and decide if it is Wryneck or the injury. I really believe it is the injury causing the problems.

 

[LouisesMama]

I do not know how long your chicken has been sick, but I do know that Wry neck is a vitiman deficiency usually passed down when the parent chicken does not have enough vitiman E. All the selenium does is help the absorption of the Vitiman E. if your chicken got injured, and this injury caused a condition similar to Wryneck. It sounds like a brain injury, that will not improve from the altercation between the two chickens. If you think I am correct in what occurred, then you need to reevaluate and decide if it is Wryneck or the injury. I really believe it is the injury causing the problems.

I have also considered this, as it wouldn't be fair to her to keep her alive if she did have brain damage. The reason I am leaning toward wry neck is because the 1st two weeks she showed no signs of wry neck and was only recovering from her injury. After the 2nd week her neck twisted and eyes started giving that star gazing look. I started reading about this and read where it takes about 2 weeks to show signs of defiecncy. But is this also the same amount of time to show brain damage as well?? Im just not sure so I'm still treating her for wry neck. Any thoughts on this??

 

[Chicken Wisperer]

I did some research on the internet and I came across this. Does this sound like what your baby does? I also looked up Merk's disease, but it doesn't sound like that to me. It sounds like this. I have two polish with the big hairdos , I keep them away from the other chickens in a coop in our garage. Let me know if you think this may be it.
Blessings to you and your chicks...

Water on the brain
The best silkies are those with a dome on their skull which produces an excellent crest although this is often quite alarming when seen in chicks as it appears as a large bump on top of the head – quite disconcerting to new breeders!

It is a particular problem with, although not limited to, some of the crested breeds and is often mistaken for Marek’s disease. An infection in the enlarged cranial cavity produces fluid which in turn presses on the brain. Symptoms include walking backwards and falling over. The bird may spin around in circles then suddenly recover, much to the misguided amusement of the keeper.

Treatment is simple and effective: isolate the bird and administer a liquid feed (pellets ground up with water) via a large syringe directly into the mouth at regular (two to four hour) intervals during the day, with the last feed at night.

An antibiotic preparation needs to be prescribed by your vet and injected into the breast muscle along with an anti inflammatory drug (ask your vet to show you how if you are unsure) to reduce the swelling and clear up the infection.

You may have to continue treatment for up to four weeks in mild cases however severe cases should be euthanized if there is no marked improvement after one week or if the bird is in considerable distress.

 

[LouisesMama]

I did some research on the internet and I came across this. Does this sound like what your baby does? I also looked up Merk's disease, but it doesn't sound like that to me. It sounds like this. I have two polish with the big hairdos , I keep them away from the other chickens in a coop in our garage. Let me know if you think this may be it.
Blessings to you and your chicks...

Water on the brain
The best silkies are those with a dome on their skull which produces an excellent crest although this is often quite alarming when seen in chicks as it appears as a large bump on top of the head – quite disconcerting to new breeders!

It is a particular problem with, although not limited to, some of the crested breeds and is often mistaken for Marek’s disease. An infection in the enlarged cranial cavity produces fluid which in turn presses on the brain. Symptoms include walking backwards and falling over. The bird may spin around in circles then suddenly recover, much to the misguided amusement of the keeper.

Treatment is simple and effective: isolate the bird and administer a liquid feed (pellets ground up with water) via a large syringe directly into the mouth at regular (two to four hour) intervals during the day, with the last feed at night.

An antibiotic preparation needs to be prescribed by your vet and injected into the breast muscle along with an anti inflammatory drug (ask your vet to show you how if you are unsure) to reduce the swelling and clear up the infection.

You may have to continue treatment for up to four weeks in mild cases however severe cases should be euthanized if there is no marked improvement after one week or if the bird is in considerable distress.

Some of the symptoms sound similar but she doesnt have a bump on her head. The breed I am treating is a balck Austrolorpe. She is about a year and half. Lately she has been pooping all over herself and been having to give her baths now. Good thing its 100 degrees out. I am having a hard time seeing any improvement....everyday she is the same.... I started giving her dried egg shells yesterday and still seeing some air in her crop...just not sure what to do for her next. Seems like one issue leads to the next.

 

[Winey Chick]

I wanted to revive this thread and report a positive result! The silkie pullet has completely recovered from the wry neck and is now enjoying being back out with her buddies.

This was the regimen we use:

Vit. E (400mg) snip the tip off a capsule and squeeze into mouth twice a day for 10 days, then every other day for another 5 days
Selenium (25mcg) dissolve one 250mcg tablet in 2 ml water and give 0.2cc once a day for 10 days, then every other day for another 5 days
Prednisone 1mg. dissolve one 10 mg tablet in 2 ml water and give 0.2cc twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then every other day for 5 days
B-Complex purchased in liquid form from Walgreens; 0.5 cc twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then every other day for 5 days

I wanted to revive this thread and report a positive result! The silkie pullet has completely recovered from the wry neck and is now enjoying being back out with her buddies.

This was the regimen we use:

Vit. E (400mg) snip the tip off a capsule and squeeze into mouth twice a day for 10 days, then every other day for another 5 days
Selenium (25mcg) dissolve one 250mcg tablet in 2 ml water and give 0.2cc once a day for 10 days, then every other day for another 5 days
Prednisone 1mg. dissolve one 10 mg tablet in 2 ml water and give 0.2cc twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then every other day for 5 days
B-Complex purchased in liquid form from Walgreens; 0.5 cc twice a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days, then every other day for 5 days

 

[Winey Chick]

My 16 wk old sebright has wry neck. I've been using your treatment plan for 48 hours and I haven't seen any improvement. I've been keeping her inside and hand feeding her. Her cone still has a nice red color and appetite is good. Should I just increase any of the supplements or wait a few more days?

 

[LouisesMama]

Is there any alternative to prednisone? Thank you, sounds like I need to up the selenium dose!

 

[LouisesMama]

Hi

My 16 wk old sebright has wry neck. I've been using your treatment plan for 48 hours and I haven't seen any improvement. I've been keeping her inside and hand feeding her. Her cone still has a nice red color and appetite is good. Should I just increase any of the supplements or wait a few more days?

Hi! Are you having any good results?? My hen seems to not be getting better. Idk if its that time or if I should keep treating her

 

[Sammynz34]

I just wanted to say thank you to all that had great information for this I have two silkie chicks that have this and I have been giving them crushed up selenium tablets and the liquid from vitamin E capsule and they are 90% better and still going

 

[red horse ranch]

I am treating my 7 month old rooster for wry neck. Today I bought some 160 ml Vitamin E capsules. I got him to swallow one whole capsule but I wonder if I really need to take the liquid out of the capsule or just keep giving it to him whole. I worry about forcing liquid down with an eyedropper since I'm afraid it will get in his lungs.
Any suggestions?