How to tell if a chick with Crazy Chick Disease will get better

[carrierebecca1]

hi, we have a Silkie that is two weeks old today. From day one she was very wobbly and then she quickly developed all the symptoms of Crazy Chick Disease. I have been treating with Wheat Germ Oil (for Vitamin e) and Selenium along with Nutri Drench. There are times she does okay and seems strong and alert and eats and drinks and I feel like she may eventually be okay, but then we have a day like today where she never settled down and her symptoms were almost constant. Everything I have read said it can be treatable if dealt with early enough, but as she was born this way I’m wondering how to tell if she’s too far gone. I don’t want to give up on her but also don’t want her to suffer as this seems like no way to live. I cannot seem to find how long it should take to see improvement if it’s going to work.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your chick.

I'm not sure how much vitamin E she would be getting with wheat germ oil and the nutri-drench combined.

I would try 400IU Vitamin E along with 1/4 tablet of B-Complex for a week to see if that makes a difference. Eliminate the Selenium and give her egg instead.

There is no way to know if she will recover or not. All you can do is try vitamin therapy and see how it goes. Re-evaluate daily as to the quality of her life, it may be kinder to let her go if there is no progress.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

? What is crazy chick

 

[Wyorp Rock]

? What is crazy chick

Crazy Chick Disease if Encephalomalacia. Symptoms would look similar to Wry Neck I suppose. Encephalomalacia can be fatal with the kidneys shutting down, but vitamin therapy seems to be listed as a treatment option.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Crazy Chick Disease if Encephalomalacia. Symptoms would look similar to Wry Neck I suppose. Encephalomalacia can be fatal with the kidneys shutting down, but vitamin therapy seems to be listed as a treatment option.

so like swelling of the brain? Guess I could of googled. LOL Steriod treatment an option?

 

[getaclue]

I too would go with 400IU of Vitamin E.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

so like swelling of the brain? Guess I could of googled. LOL Steriod treatment an option?

I don't think steroids would help, but then again...I just don't know.
It's a rare disease caused by vitamin E deficiency. My very limited understanding is that is it a "true" neurological disease that affects the brain and is not just a "symptom" like wry neck. This disease shows deterioration of the brain upon necropsy. Again, my understanding is limited, this one I have not read that much about. Symptoms would look like Wry Neck but with Crazy Chick Disease, it's associated with central nervous system lesions (deterioration found during necropsy).

I have seen where some mistakenly call Wry Neck, Crazy Chick Disease.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

I don't think steroids would help, but then again...I just don't know.
It's a rare disease caused by vitamin E deficiency. My very limited understanding is that is it a "true" neurological disease that affects the brain and is not just a "symptom" like wry neck. This disease shows deterioration of the brain upon necropsy. Again, my understanding is limited, this one is not one I have read that much about. Symptoms would look like Wry Neck but with Crazy Chick Disease, it's associated with central nervous system lesions (deterioration found during necropsy).

I have seen where some mistakenly call Wry Neck, Crazy Chick Disease.

I have never heard of it. Is there a way to tell while the chick is still alive ?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have never heard of it. Is there a way to tell while the chick is still alive ?

Probably through vet testing.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Probably through vet testing.

Thanks Wyorp.