chick born with wry neck

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chickenfan

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I've had a chick born from a bought in egg that is continually star-gazing and falling over backwards and also opening and shutting its mouth a lot. Its from the same breeder of the weak chick born a week ago (now OK) Pear Tree Poultry. I gather I should give it Vitamin E and Selenium but just thought I'd check if anyone else has dealt with a similar problem?
 
Cull Chickenfan. Potentially it could be a genetic weakness that you don't want.

Sorry, but we have the same dilemmas.
 
Hi Chris - it is not a bird I would want to breed with or carry on genetically. I'm in a difficult position at present as nothing else but one of my own birds has hatched. But I'm worried about bringing in disease.
 
I agree with Chris, cull it, it's not worth introducing the risk of Mareks or other problems, and it will never thrive.
What about the other weak one that was born a week ago? If you had two poorly ones from the same source, I would question whether it was good to try very hard with either of them. Development in the first week or two is crucial to lifelong health, and if a chick doesn't thrive, it's usually for a good reason.
 
The other chick is absolutely fine now and fortunately Mareks isn't carried in an egg. I shall have a go at getting it right as its vigorous and isn't suffering. However it makes me incredibly nervous about ever buying-in eggs again, especially from specialist breeders. I can't see how anyone who is trying to do it for a living could be doing it ethically.
 
I agree with you Chickenfan. To make a profit means cutting corners -I've seen it too many times and it's the same here. Breeding from pullets is rife and the resulting stock is rubbish. The only chance for good stock is from your own eggs or from a keeper who doesn't breed for profit. Seems all the breeds will quickly be ruined in terms of longevity and laying and no-one will have the years to spend getting these qualities back. We've bought 5 pullets so far. Of the two Buff Orpingtons neither is laying in their second year. Of the three Marans one died in her second year and the other two lay undersized eggs. The best stock we have are the Wyandottes and TNN's we exported -still laying good eggs at 5 & 6 years old.
 
Interesting re Pear Tree Poultry, they breed Thuringians and though I didn't get my eggs from there I had in the past considered getting some of their eggs. Funnily enough while ebay is often slated I have had some good results from the small hobby breeders who sell eggs on there, you need to read between the lines of course and carefully go over the feedback but I have had some decent birds via that avenue.
 
Chick is looking normal today. I will keep an eye and have given it a little Vit E and multivit. Its eating and drinking happily. Perhaps it was in the egg in an odd position and needed a little time to sort itself out. I seem to recall the air sac was on the side. None of the others hatched. If anyone on the forum has Araucanas or Araucana bantams, I'd love to find some hatching eggs next year.
 
Hi Dinosaw - just seen your email. I thought they seemed professional too. They sent me nice-looking eggs well packaged. I guess its late in the season now as some of the birds may be moulting. I've had a low hatch rate and one of the eggs I opened was stale, although the eggs were fertile when candled. I think you are right that it is possible to find good birds from hobby breeders on ebay if you read carefully between the lines. I plan to steer away from people with lots of breeds or show breeders in future. The worst eggs were from the 'best' breeder of bantam faverolles that was recommended by two people. Those were filthy, floating eggs I had to return and the eggs with huge misplaced air sacs, none of which hatched. I've come to the conculsion that expensive eggs are also less likely to be good and often the best ones are those that are modestly priced.
 
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