head turned backwards

[Anonymous]

hello again, wonder if anyone can help. one of my 6 week old silkies has started behaving very wierd. it has its head turned through 180 degrees looking up to the sky, it seems fine not looking poorly, any ideas.thanks.

 

[podstable]

Probably a thing called Stargazing - not that unusual in chicks of crested breeds. Some say due to vit deficiency ,multi vit drops/contents of vit E caps thought to help. Maybe due to brain trauma where brain herniates through vault of skull-if so may go spontaneously. Normally seen in chicks raised artificially not via broody . Worth giving chick a chance/vits etc if generally well, feeding,drinking etc as can resolve but sadly most dont. If under heat lamp worth trying heat mat instead . I think its very unlikely to be Mareks related in a chick that young as wont have had long enough to develop tumours.Also poss wry neck. Let us know how it does, Ros

 

[Anne W]

I had a little silkie that suddenly started to hang it's head low down and to the side. She responded to a week of Baytril . Hope yours will be ok.

 

[Anonymous]

Stargazing in snakes is dangerous and lethal.Reptiles and birds are closely related,with snakes,it is caused by a nasty disease.
I do think though,that with your chick it is more likely to be a physical problem,do give it the extra vits,but,gently feel it's neck to see if there is a vertabrae out of kink.
I would remove any light or heat source from above,and scatter the food on the ground for it.
Does it put it's head down to eat and drink?

 

[pebojuno]

Hi,
I had a similar problem with a fully grown cockerel after he jumped and landed awkwardly- so it could be some kind of physical injury rather than stargazing.

As he was able to eat and seemed happy enough we gave the cockerel a chance and he eventually made a full recovery- he is the father to a few growers now too I'd agree with the other posters about treatment- try vitamins and make sure it can eat and drink properly and give it a chance to recover as long as it isn't suffering and is growing well.

The thread on my boy is here http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2035

 

[Anonymous]

thanks to you all for your kind help, unfortunately the chick in question was not able to eat or drink properly and after a few days got too weak, i had to despatch it .

 

[foxy]

Possibly your young silkie could have had physical injury as already been suggested. Silkies are particulary prone to neurogical damage due to their susceptible "vaulted" skulls.
Sorry you lost your chick