Twisted Neck

[ARJESS]

Hi! I have a chick that hatched sometime this morning. When I went out and checked on momma hen I found it laying outside the nest, cold. I thought it was dead but it seemed to be gasping every few second, so I placed it back in the nest. I have since checked on it and it looks like it has twisted neck - that’s from my google searches anyways, this is my first time with a broody hen. A few times today I have found it outside of the nest on its back. Each time I have gently placed it back in the nest on its stomach. It’s still craning it’s neck back and it’s eyes are still closed. I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do to help the poor thing. Another chick has hatched since then and is WAY more active and doing really well.

 

[swamphiker]

That sounds like wry neck. Here is a page with info: https://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-wry-neck-in-chickens/

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your chick. Wry neck or torticolis can be a common neurological symptom in baby chicks, and is also seen in older chickens with head injuries, vitamin deficiencies, and in some viruses. The treatment is vitamin E and thiamine, plus some selenium that can be easily given with a small amount of cooked egg.If you cannget Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell, youncan give 2 drops, and it has all of those ingredients. I would try to prevent the chick from getting away from the broody, or placing it in a brooder under a heat lamp. The broody may not be taking care of it because of the defect, but it is going to eventually die if it keeps getting out.

 

[ARJESS]

It lives! I kept checking on it every 20 minutes or so to make sure that it was still under mom and placed it back in the nest when it was out. I’m wondering now if it was just really exhausted? It is hopping around with the rest of the chicks this morning and I can’t even tell the difference. Not entirely sure which chick it was to begin with haha! I’m going to give electrolytes and probiotics anyways to give them the best shot at a good start! Thank you for your responses.

 

[swamphiker]

It lives! I kept checking on it every 20 minutes or so to make sure that it was still under mom and placed it back in the nest when it was out. I’m wondering now if it was just really exhausted? It is hopping around with the rest of the chicks this morning and I can’t even tell the difference. Not entirely sure which chick it was to begin with haha! I’m going to give electrolytes and probiotics anyways to give them the best shot at a good start! Thank you for your responses.

Yay! I'm glad to here that the chick is doing better.