whats wrong with my chick?

[its hilly]

Came home from work to find something badly wrong with my Araucana chick.
Its 4 weeks old and one of 5 hatched together. The others seem fine.

It cant hold its head straight. Its neck seems to be twisted round so that it is holding its head on one side. Its not floppy as if broken, theres normal muscle tone, but if I turn its head gently the right way it will immediately turn back over. Other than that it is normal. Its walking round, can eat and drink, seems able to keep its head straight for a while or tuck it over its shoulder to snooze. But keeps going back to upside down. It panics about it a bit, then goes back to normal non-panic. Might be imagination but it seems fractionally better now than when I came in.

Could it be a stroke, although wouldnt it go floppy? Or as its in a dog pen, which is more trashed than usual, could it have trapped itself and damaged the nerves in its neck? Or is it something worse?

[Glutton4...]

I've read about this. Just can't remember where - having a frantic 'Google' as we speak...

[Glutton4...]

I now wish I hadn't looked. Could be a million things. The most common result though, seems to be Mareks. Hope someone with some knowledge comes along soon to help you. Good luck.

[its hilly]

Showing all the symptoms af the little silkie chick in the 'croockneck' video. Will try the treatment.
Other options Newcastles..if any of the others show symptoms its OH S**T time.

[its hilly]

Crossed G4. Isnt (so far anyway) showing any of the other symptoms of Mareks.
Would be just my luck for it to be one of the really infectious 'cull them all' things.
At the moment if it wasnt for bad luck we'd be having no luck at all

[Helgalush]

Sorry your chook is poorly. I hope he/she gets better soon and isnt in too much pain. Also hope it doesnt spread to your other chooks. Sorry I have no advice, I have never kept chickens.

[Bramble-Poultry]

sometimes a chick can strain its muscles and it will naturally position them in the most comfortable position. the fact that the bird can move its neck properly when it needs to is reassuring. i would keep your eyes on it and see how it fairs.

we have a cuckoo peking who fell from his perch and strained his neck. it took three weeks for it to return to its correct position. it could feed itself all the way through so we gave it the benefit of the doubt. glad we diod coz he is a real stunner now!!

[Nicos]

Could be an ear infection?.
......do you recall I had a similar problem with Lily last year...

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ily_40279.html

as you will see we finally culled her'


A little while after the event Suechooks found this....

http://www.*************.co.uk/forum...9f680a283ed73a

which suggests 'star gazing'- due to Vit B shortage.


so- try both those approaches before you panic.None of my other chooks were affected- so try not to think the worst just yet!

[RichmondHens]

Hilly, my first thoughts from your description is Marek's. See your vet for an official diagnosis. Marek's generally affects chicks, growers and POLs. It is infectious but not all birds display symptoms (unfortunately like a lot of chicken illnesses) and these can vary in presentation . One of your adult birds may be a carrier without symptoms and the disease has only appeared now in the young stock. Keep the chicks separate from all your other birds and please see your vet for advice.

[its hilly]

Some slight improvement today, seems to hold its head straight more, and for slightly longer at a time. In fact the only time it turns its head right over is when Ive startled the chicks.
RH, my eggs are incubated at home, nowhere near my adult birds, although if it is Mareks its come in from a carrier and this was one that was bought in as a hatching egg. There were some bought and some of mine in a sterilised inci. As Mareks isnt passed from egg to egg then surely my own eggs couldnt affect a bought in egg before hatching? Normally I change from my 'outdoor' clothes before going in to the chicks, but yes I could have brought it home if Ive got a carrier. But its not affected any of my other hatches if thats the case, and I havent added any new adults since September 09, only hatched young. The upside down neck is the only thing wrong with it, and Ive gone over it with a fine tooth comb for any other symptoms. Sincerely hope it isnt as is it is Id either have to cull them all and start over somewhere else, or give up any idea of breeding or showing my stock.

[mr darcy]

Pooor wee thingI do hope everything sorts itself out for you

[Nicos]

How's it doing?

What are your plans???

Do you have a vet who actually 'knows' about birds???
Might be worth asking round.

My daughter had a bunny with gut and teeth probs and we were directed to a practice in Manchester.
When we arrivd there was a guy outside with a huge owl- and someone inside with a reptile. Seems the vets there specialised in 'different' things.

(And yup Munchie was sorted out)

[its hilly]

Its bouncing round bullying the others, and stuffing its face as usual, mostly upright head and neck, but still having upsidedown moments. Seems to be if something breaks its concentration or startles it into panic mode. The others are fine. The upside down and walking backwards when startled are ABSOLOUTELY the only signs of anything wrong. And that fits with 'crookneck' but would like to be sure.
My vet is a farm vet, chickens arent pets. Need i say more. Am trying to find a vet who knows something about chooks to see if they will test it, if they think it looks like something contagious.

[its hilly]

Well found a chicken keeping/poultry knowledgable vet in Barrow where i work. Only works at Barrow part-time though. She will call me tomorrow for a phone consultation, depending on that I will bring little monster in if needed. After all this I'm fairly sure its a roo, but need to know for others sake, rather than his/hers.

[its hilly]

And the vet said...

YIPPEE

Well, no, she didnt, I did. She thinks the stupid little so'n'so has wryneck, nerve damage due to some form of trauma. Second possibility ear disorder (good comment Nicos). So for now we are on watch, if it improves, good, if not then try antibiotics.
Apparently Mareks causes floppy paralasis, which is progresive (sorry cant spell at all today) and the bird would actually look and feel sick. And die quite quickly.
My little twit is as bright as a button, and although its neck is twisted some of the time it isnt floppy, and its eating and drinking happily. Basically its simply isnt showing any other symptoms it should be for any af the horrible things.
Thank goodness. It may still not be right but at least its probably eventually fixable.
But Im really glad that I got an answer either way, its not knowing that makes things worse. And lets face it, if it had been something serious and meant that I had to lose my flock, delaying a diagnosis wouldn't have made things better.
And at least it now has a name..Nick (as in Harry Potter, Nearly Headless Nick The resemblance to the flip head scene is uncanny)