Severe scoliosis of cervical spine - 8 day old chick

[Fillymj]

My 8 day old Barnevildoer chick keeps her head turned to the right with large lump on the left. Can push the lump into normal position which I do several times a day. She doesn’t seem to be in pain. Eating, drinking, pooping normally.

Took her to vet today for checkup. Was told she has severe scoliosis of cervical spine. R/O congenital abnormality with developmental connective tissue/muscular disorder.

I wanted to splint it but was advised against it. Doctor recommended a wait and see.

Has anyone had this type of thing before? Is there anything I can do for her? Is it possible for her to lead a relatively normal life?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

My 8 day old Barnevildoer chick keeps her head turned to the right with large lump on the left. Can push the lump into normal position which I do several times a day. She doesn’t seem to be in pain. Eating, drinking, pooping normally.

Took her to vet today for checkup. Was told she has severe scoliosis of cervical spine. R/O congenital abnormality with developmental connective tissue/muscular disorder.

I wanted to splint it but was advised against it. Doctor recommended a wait and see.

Has anyone had this type of thing before? Is there anything I can do for her? Is it possible for her to lead a relatively normal life?

No, I have never heard about anything like that, seems like the chick would passed away. Hope somebody else on here may know the solution to your problem.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is hard to tell by the pictures, and chickens can suffer from spinal deformities, but I wonder if it would help to treat for wry neck (torticolis?) Try giving some vitamin E and vitamin B1 thiamine, which are both in Poultry NutriDrench and Poultry Cell vitamins. You can even increase the vitamin E a little more with a supplement.

 

[Fillymj]

It is hard to tell by the pictures, and chickens can suffer from spinal deformities, but I wonder if it would help to treat for wry neck (torticolis?) Try giving some vitamin E and vitamin B1 thiamine, which are both in Poultry NutriDrench and Poultry Cell vitamins. You can even increase the vitamin E a little more with a supplement.

I have Nutridrench will start tomorrow.

Will also get better pictures of her.

Thank you much appreciated.

 

[smott]

I realize this post is a couple of years old, but I was just wondering how your chick turned out? I have a 3 month old lavender orpington cockerel with a very crooked neck, and I am curious about his prognosis and quality of life.

 

[Eggcessive]

I realize this post is a couple of years old, but I was just wondering how your chick turned out? I have a 3 month old lavender orpington cockerel with a very crooked neck, and I am curious about his prognosis and quality of life.

You can start a new thread of your own for more help. Have you tried giving some vitamin E 400 IU, 1/4 tablet of vitamin B complex, and a little egg for selenium?

 

[smott]

You can start a new thread of your own for more help. Have you tried giving some vitamin E 400 IU, 1/4 tablet of vitamin B complex, and a little egg for selenium?

@Eggcessive Thanks, I understand... I was just looking for information from similar threads before making a new one. Yes, he has been given all of the above many times, and I am beginning to think maybe he has a congenital defect of some soft.

 

[Eggcessive]

Wry neck can happen for several reasons. Vitamin E or B1 (thiamine) deficiency, head or neck injuries, heredity, and in some chickens with certain diseases, such as Mareks and some others. Has your pullet had wry neck since hatch or for very long?

@Eggcessive Thanks, I understand... I was just looking for information from similar threads before making a new one. Yes, he has been given all of the above many times, and I am beginning to think maybe he has a congenital defect of some soft.

 

[smott]

Wry neck can happen for several reasons. Vitamin E or B1 (thiamine) deficiency, head or neck injuries, heredity, and in some chickens with certain diseases, such as Mareks and some others. Has your pullet had wry neck since hatch or for very long?

I have treated wry neck several times in other chicks, and this does not look the same. I was not aware that wry neck could be a "chronic" condition. I have treated him with the selenium/vit e paste, nutridrench, scrambled eggs, etc with no change. I hoped it would get better as he grew/developed more muscle, but it just looks like his neck is permanently crooked over in an S shape to the right. I can manually straighten it, and I have seen him straighten it upright (for example when he fluffed up his neck feathers at another rooster). When he walks around though, he looks like he is hump-backed with his head over to the right and that right leg kinda wants to give a little. I'm wondering if it is some sort of spinal defect. I intend to post a new thread with all the details as soon as I can find time to get a good video of him walking and upload it!

 

[smott]

@Eggcessive I posted his entire story including videos of him here if you have any other advice that you could share!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-with-crooked-neck.1534638/