I came home from a week long work trip last night and my adult daughter (animal caretaker when I am gone) was all upset because she thought she killed one of my 3-week old silkie chicks. The chick runs backwards with its head between its legs and sometimes looks like it is having a seizure (shaking with its beak hard against its chest).
Before I culled it I did some research on this site and think it might have wry neck. Does it sound like it might? The only thing I could get locally at that time of night was children's chewable vitamins, so I soaked one and crushed it up and added some chick mash. The chick nibbled up a little bit and we got it to drink a small amount of water. It had a huge runny poo (no blood or stink) and is in a box by itself on top of the brooder so it gets the benefit of the heat lamp and can hear its hatch mates. I checked the temperature and it is correct for 3 weeks and the chick seem comfortable.
This morning I got liquid baby vitamins without iron and have given it a few drops twice so far. It seems strong and alert, just can't control its head for very long. It has been pecking chick mash voraciously and even drank normally for a few sips. It really got into a few bits of scrambled egg tonight and makes little purring happy sounds while it is sitting on my lap eating.
I put the feed and water in a shallow wide mouth glass and support its head with my finger and the side of the glass and it pecks up food for 20-30 seconds before it seems to tire out and the head spasms to its chest. The glass and my finger help keep the head up and she (has that sweet look and is one of the smaller chicks) doesn't exert downward pressure, the neck seems to go limp and she loses control. After resting a little she goes back to eating with gusto.
Am I doing everything I can? Does this sound like a baby that might recover?
1) What type of bird , age and weight. 3 week old silkie
2) What is the behavior, exactly. head tucked between legs and can't hold it up, runs backwards, can't eat or drink without support.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 2 or 3 days (don't know for sure because I was away for work and my daughter was caring for the chicks)
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? no
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. 17 chicks panicked when she went to put the top on the brooder and this one ran full speed into the mob and tried to go under the rest. they trampled her a bit before she could be eased out of the pack.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. eating medicated chick starter, clean water, and some boiled egg today; has a good appetite.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. a little runny yesterday, firmer today
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? non-iron liquid baby vitamins twice today and hold the chick while stbilizing its neck so it can eat and drink every couple of hours.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? treat myself
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use metal stock watering tank with pine shavings, chick feeders, waterer, and a small log (firewood) to roost and play on.
The other chicks are very vigorous and growing well.
Before I culled it I did some research on this site and think it might have wry neck. Does it sound like it might? The only thing I could get locally at that time of night was children's chewable vitamins, so I soaked one and crushed it up and added some chick mash. The chick nibbled up a little bit and we got it to drink a small amount of water. It had a huge runny poo (no blood or stink) and is in a box by itself on top of the brooder so it gets the benefit of the heat lamp and can hear its hatch mates. I checked the temperature and it is correct for 3 weeks and the chick seem comfortable.
This morning I got liquid baby vitamins without iron and have given it a few drops twice so far. It seems strong and alert, just can't control its head for very long. It has been pecking chick mash voraciously and even drank normally for a few sips. It really got into a few bits of scrambled egg tonight and makes little purring happy sounds while it is sitting on my lap eating.
I put the feed and water in a shallow wide mouth glass and support its head with my finger and the side of the glass and it pecks up food for 20-30 seconds before it seems to tire out and the head spasms to its chest. The glass and my finger help keep the head up and she (has that sweet look and is one of the smaller chicks) doesn't exert downward pressure, the neck seems to go limp and she loses control. After resting a little she goes back to eating with gusto.
Am I doing everything I can? Does this sound like a baby that might recover?
1) What type of bird , age and weight. 3 week old silkie
2) What is the behavior, exactly. head tucked between legs and can't hold it up, runs backwards, can't eat or drink without support.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? 2 or 3 days (don't know for sure because I was away for work and my daughter was caring for the chicks)
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? no
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. 17 chicks panicked when she went to put the top on the brooder and this one ran full speed into the mob and tried to go under the rest. they trampled her a bit before she could be eased out of the pack.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. eating medicated chick starter, clean water, and some boiled egg today; has a good appetite.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. a little runny yesterday, firmer today
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? non-iron liquid baby vitamins twice today and hold the chick while stbilizing its neck so it can eat and drink every couple of hours.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? treat myself
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use metal stock watering tank with pine shavings, chick feeders, waterer, and a small log (firewood) to roost and play on.
The other chicks are very vigorous and growing well.
