Wry neck?

[TheNuttyChick]

I don't know what's going on. This is my second of two Russian Orloff pullets that I bought at the feed store for Chick Days and 1 died in May and now the other is doing the same thing. From what I've read, it seems to be wry neck but why and how do I catch it in time? I got home from work and my husband said she had been like this for a few hours, I tried to give her vitamins but she was too far gone. We culled her tonight.

My question is, could this be a hatchery problem or is it genetics? All the other pullets seem fine although it seems to come on very fast with these 2 Orloffs.
Any idea what I can do to make sure none of the other birds get it? Could it be contagious?​

 

[CMV]

It is usually genetic from what I gather, but it can come from improper nutrition. Are you feeding a reputable poultry starter formula?

 

[TheNuttyChick]

Thank you CMV, I am feeding them Country Feeds medicated and NatureWise non-medicated, but have decided I want to try Green Mountain Feeds(organic) or a mixture of all. Could it be an Orloff thing or bad breeding from wherever the feed store got their chicks. It just come on so fast and my husband wasn't sure what to do until I got home from work. I just feel so bad that maybe I could have helped her or the other Orloff, but instead I let the first one die and culled this one. I just want to make sure none of the other kids get it.​

Would Gatorade(electrolytes for chicks not people) help and how long should they drink that?
My husband never wants to do that again(he has really gotten a soft spot for them).​

 

[CMV]

Gatorade won't help.

I think I might contact the hatchery/store/place you got the birds from. You have 3 probable genetic issues with 3 different birds. That is either lousy luck or substandard breed stock wherever the birds came from. I would be asking for advice and/or some money back. Two birds have died and one bird cannot be used for breeding purposes, so he will likely need to be culled if you intend to start a breeding program. That's not good customer service selling a substandard product. I would be complaining to someone about it.

 

[TheNuttyChick]

The 2 Orloffs came from a feed store(not sure where they ordered them from) and the Icelandic came from private owner in my area.
I will be contacting/visiting the feed store to see if anyone who purchased Orloffs is having the problem.
It's just so heartbreaking, I really wanted them.
And no, I do not plan on breeding at this time. I don't have the facilities for that. They are just my backyard birds right now.
My pets and I love them all.
Thank you again very much for the advice.
Being fairly new to this, I could use all the help I can get.
I just don't want them to suffer if I can't help them.

 

[leadwolf1]

Wry neck normally doesn't kill that quickly. I think you are looking at something else. Not that this has anything to do with your chicks or, maybe it does, but the entire order that my feed store expected showed up DOA. They were the only chicks, Russian Orloffs, that the feed store lost.

After the loss of the second, I would have had a necropsy done to see just what I was dealing with. If you lose another from similar symptoms, I would suggest that you go this route.

 

[leadwolf1]

Did the Icelandic die of similar symptoms? If so, how long between deaths?

 

[TheNuttyChick]

The first Orloff(from feed store) died in May and I wasn't quite sure how to help her so she died slowly even though I tried to care for her as much as I could.
The second Orloff(from feed store) my husband found yesterday early afternoon all twisted, I had him cull her last evening when I got home from work after a lot of thought.
The Icelandic cockrel(from a private owner) is fine, but for some reason has developed an offset lower jaw.
I thought it might be an injury, but not sure if it's genetic.
I wanted to stop by the feed store today, but they are closed (will see tomorrow).
I'm curious if any of their other customers who bought Orloffs is having the same problem or is it me.
Maybe the hatchery was getting their chicks/eggs from a bad breeder.
Or, maybe it is a genetic problem with Orloffs.
One day I would love to get into breeding heritage chickens, but not where I live right now(need more property and a more chicken friendly town).
I never thought I would get attached to these silly birds and my husband wasn't too particular about them to start with, but they are so sweet.
I guess it is a learning experience.
Lessons to be learned, some the hard way.​

 

[TheNuttyChick]

Well, the feed store said they haven't had any problems, so I guess it's something that I have or haven't done.
Any suggestions on how I could prevent this from happening?​

 

[KRob86]

I don't think you did enough to help them get better. I've had it in two of my hens. First one at 4 weeks, her head started to tilt and curl upside down, but she could still eat, I fed her vitamin E from capsuls and enfant vitamin drops. 3 days in, she was all better.

The second one was 5 weeks old, wouldn't move, when I reached down to pick her up she twisted up and started doing backwards summersaults and shaking uncontrollably. I grabbed her and put her in a cardboard box, she couldn't move or eat, just layed twisted with her eyes closed. I contemplated culling, but I had to give her a chance. I would untangle her neck and force her to drink water with vitamin drops, selenium and vitamin E, by dipping her beak into it, and tilting her back, all while fighting seizure type shakes. Day 3, her comb was limp and bright pink, I mixed anti-inflamatorys, vitamin E, vitamin drops and selenium into plain yogurt, and force fed her the same way. Day 5, she started being able lift her neck for a few seconds, so I started giving her the mixture in gatorade soaked chick starter, I hold her head and rest it in a bottle cap with food, and she moves her beak and tongue slowly, and giving her gatorade by dipping the beak manually. Day 6, started giving boiled egg too. Day 8 she is up and walking, still a little off balance, but is eating and drinking on her own. Day 9 Hard to tell anything was wrong, she's slow at walking, but improving quickly, eating dry food, drinking lots, getting really excited when she sees me. Don't give up so quickly, give them help and let them have a chance.