new chick head/neck bent backward???

daniellenoel

Songster
10 Years
Apr 22, 2009
217
0
119
Vail Colorado
our newly hatched chick fell asleep whith his head resting on the eggs but bent backward.
I think on top of one the other eggs in the bator overnight..now his head keeps tilted backward l almost like an ostrich could bend his neck back.
he can't really stand just sits on his bottom. When he lets his head fall back too much... he falls over backward
what do I do??? I have been holding him in my hand and then he can hold his head up well but when we put him back in the brooder... he sits for a while then slowly looks up and eventually falls over abckward again????
PLEASE ...HELP??
Thanks
 
Sounds like wryneck, what I did was get some vitamin E geltabs, poke a hole in one end and squirt the liquid into the chicks mouth once a day. It cured my chick in about a week.
 
some of the just hatched are weaker than others and often it will cure itself. Your's sounds like a little bit more extreme, you can put him in a coffee cup or something similar to help him hold his neck the correct way until he gets a little more strength. You have a couple of days before he has to eat, given that he absorbed the yolk in the egg, but after that the prob. will be not being able to eat or drink. I have had some make it and some of the more serious not.
 
I do think it's because when he hatched, he slept funny.....kind of like when you wake up with a stiff neck in the morning and you don't know why.....I think it might correct itself too.
 
ok... he seems to be doing okay.. especially when I hold him for a while. He is chirping a lot and very alert
but he is our ONLY one and I feel he needs s friend.. should I try to find another new chick to put in the brooder??
not walking yet.... should I be worried???
GOSH , the poor little guy. I hope he makes it. He did drink a little water when I dipped his beak in the water
if he props himself up in the corner a little against the wall he holds his head up pretty weel. then he seems tired and falls asleep and lays down forward...
I do not know. I am new at this!!!
Thanks
 
Be careful when giving water as they can asphixiate (sp?) if they get to much
If you don't have another baby to put in with him, some have found that it helps to put a sm. stuffed animal in with them. I have never done this, mainly because it won't take long until it gets nasty.
If he was just born this morning, he shouldn't necessarily be walking yet esp. with the neck issues.
If he is falling asleep and laying down forward that is actually a good sign that he is improving. I'd just sit back and wait. He already has all of the nourishment that he needs for the first two-three days. Chicks under a broody hen wouldn't be eating or drinking yet. Give him some time and keep him warm.
 
Quote:
Sounds like wry neck to me, too. I use Poly Vi Sol baby vitamins (without iron) from the baby isle at the grocery store. 1 drop a few times a day and they're better in no time.
 

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