Mia Patel
Have you ever seen a chick tilt its head all the way back and then roll it from side to side? This behaviour is known as wry neck, a condition that can affect chicks, adult chickens, and senior chickens. While it may look distressing, wry neck is typically treatable and rarely fatal. Wry neck is not a disease but rather a symptom of a range of issues, including head injuries, nutritional deficiencies, neurological disorders, or other diseases. It is characterised by neck muscle spasms that pull the head and neck into unnatural positions, causing the chicken to lose its balance and maneuverability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chick Behaviour | Tilting head all the way back, rolling it side to side, and losing balance |
| Chick Breed | Speckled Sussex |
| Possible Causes | Wry neck, vitamin E or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, head injury, brain problem, Mareks, fowl cholera, or other diseases |
| Treatment | Separate the chick, provide 400 IU of vitamin E, chicken vitamins, or vitamin B complex |
| Additional Treatment Options | Anti-inflammatory treatments, scrambled egg, tuna, sunflower seeds, or selenium |
| Human Difference | Humans can move their eyes within their sockets, while chickens cannot |
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What You'll Learn
It could be a form of wry neck
Wry neck, also known as stargazing, crookneck, or torticollis, is a neurological disorder that affects a chicken's neck muscles. It causes the head to twist or tilt to one side, backwards, or downwards. While the exact cause of wry neck in chickens is not fully understood, it is believed to be associated with several factors, including head injuries, nutritional deficiencies, and other underlying diseases.
Head injuries are a common cause of wry neck in chickens, particularly in breeds with a crest of feathers on their heads, such as the Yokohama hen. These chickens are more prone to serious injuries when pecked or hit on the head, which can lead to neurological problems and wry neck. In some cases, a vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin D or vitamin E, can also contribute to the development of wry neck. Additionally, wry neck can be a symptom of certain diseases, such as Mareks or fowl cholera.
The condition can cause difficulty in standing, balancing, and maneuvering, and may inhibit the chicken from eating or drinking properly. It can be quite distressing for both the bird and the owner. However, with proper care and treatment, most chickens can recover from wry neck. Treatment options include providing nutritional support, such as vitamin supplements (vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and selenium), and ensuring the bird can easily access food and water. In some cases, anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed by a veterinarian to reduce pain and swelling associated with head injuries.
It is important to monitor chickens for any signs of illness or discomfort and to take prompt action if any unusual behaviour is noticed. While wry neck can be alarming to observe, it is typically not as severe as it appears, and chickens can often make a full recovery with proper care.
To prevent wry neck in chickens, it is recommended to handle them gently to avoid trauma to their heads and necks. Providing a well-rounded and nutritious diet can also help reduce the risk of nutritional deficiencies that may contribute to the development of wry neck.
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A vitamin E deficiency
Chickens cannot move their eyes within their skulls, so they have to stabilise their heads to focus. This is why they sometimes tilt their heads all the way back.
Now, onto vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E deficiency is a rare condition caused by low levels of vitamin E. It is usually the result of an underlying health condition that affects the body's ability to absorb fats and fat-soluble nutrients. This includes malabsorption disorders such as abetalipoproteinemia, cystic fibrosis, or Crohn's disease, or impaired lipid transport. It can also occur in people who have had bariatric surgery or surgical removal of the small intestine.
The first identifiable sign of vitamin E deficiency is areflexia, or the loss of deep tendon reflexes. This then progresses to ataxic gait and a loss of dorsal column sensations. Other symptoms include spinocerebellar ataxia, polyneuropathy, muscle weakness, and retinopathy. The most severe symptoms are blindness, dementia, and cardiac arrhythmias.
Vitamin E deficiency is typically treated with oral vitamin E supplementation and, if possible, addressing the underlying cause of malabsorption. The outlook for patients is good, provided they adhere to the recommended dietary changes and/or supplements.
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A vitamin B1 deficiency
Several chicken owners have observed their chickens tilting their heads all the way back, rolling their heads from side to side, and losing balance. This behaviour is often accompanied by disorientation and an inability to balance or walk normally. In one instance, a chicken owner described a similar behaviour in a hen that had recently hatched chicks and experienced a seizure-like episode after being attacked by another hen.
Veterinarians and chicken owners have suggested that this behaviour could be related to a form of wry neck called opisthonotos, which is a neurological symptom. While the exact cause of this condition in chickens is not fully understood, it has been associated with vitamin E or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, head injuries, brain problems, or specific diseases such as Marek's or fowl cholera.
Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is an essential nutrient for humans and animals, including chickens. A deficiency in vitamin B1 can lead to a range of symptoms and health issues. Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it dissolves in cooking water, and the body does not store it, so it needs to be consumed regularly as part of a daily diet.
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B1 for adult males is 1.2 milligrams (mg), while adult females typically require 1.1 mg. However, these requirements may vary depending on age and other factors. Thiamine-rich foods include brown rice, whole wheat bread, and fortified foods. It is important to note that heating, cooking, and processing foods can destroy thiamine content.
A deficiency in vitamin B1 can lead to a range of symptoms, including confusion, muscle weakness, heart problems, fatigue, and in severe cases, paralysis. Some individuals at risk of vitamin B1 deficiency include older adults, people with diabetes, those with gastrointestinal issues, and individuals with restricted access to food.
In chickens, a vitamin B1 deficiency may contribute to wry neck or opisthonotos, leading to the observed head-tilting behaviour. Supplementation with vitamin B1, along with other vitamins and specialised care, has been recommended to address this issue and improve the health of affected chickens.
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A head injury
Head injuries may be either closed or open. A closed head injury is any injury that doesn't break the skull. An open or penetrating head injury, on the other hand, is when an object breaks the scalp and skull and enters the brain. It can be challenging to assess the severity of a head injury by appearance alone. Some minor head injuries may bleed a lot, while some major injuries don't bleed at all. Thus, it's crucial to treat all head injuries seriously and seek medical attention.
Head injuries are among the leading causes of disability and death in adults. They can be mild, such as a bump, bruise (contusion), or cut on the head. However, they can also be moderate to severe, resulting from a concussion, deep cut, open wound, skull fracture, or internal bleeding and damage to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are typically caused by violent blows or jolts to the head or body. They can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects, and the signs and symptoms may appear immediately or days to weeks later.
Infants and young children with brain injuries might experience headaches, sensory problems, confusion, and similar symptoms. Shaken baby syndrome is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by violent shaking. In adults, common causes of traumatic brain injury include falls, vehicle-related collisions, violence, and sports injuries. These injuries can lead to long-term complications or even death.
Wry neck, or opisthonotos, is a neurological symptom that can occur after a head injury or brain problem. It causes the head to twist to one side, downward, or upward. While the exact cause of the head-tilting behaviour in chicks is unclear, it could be related to a form of wry neck caused by vitamin E or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, a head injury, or certain diseases.
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A neurological disorder
A chick putting its head straight back could be indicative of a neurological disorder. One such disorder is stargazing, a nervous system disorder that causes a chick to bend its neck so far backward that its head touches its back. The beak will point upward, and the chick will typically tip over due to epileptic-like muscle spasms. This condition usually appears in chicks less than a week old and is caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency in the chick's parents' diet. If left untreated, the chick will die from a lack of food and water. However, if the deficiency is not too severe, the chick may recover with a vitamin B1 supplement.
Another possible disorder is torticollis, commonly known as "crookneck" or "wry neck." This condition can be caused by a blow to the head or neck, resulting in a head injury that leads to a nervous system disorder. It can also be caused by vitamin E or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, certain diseases, or a brain problem. Wry neck is characterized by the head being twisted to one side, downward, or up, and treatment includes separating the chick and providing it with vitamin E and a vitamin B complex.
Chicks with neurological disorders may also exhibit other abnormal behaviors, such as appearing uncoordinated, weak, staggering, or paralyzed in one or both legs. These disorders can be scary to witness and may lead to further issues if left uncorrected, such as trampling by brooder mates or the loss of the ability to eat and drink.
In addition to stargazing and torticollis, there are other neurological conditions that can affect chicks. These include Marek's disease, avian encephalomyelitis, botulism, and lymphoid leukosis, all of which can cause various neurological symptoms such as paralysis, head shaking, tremors, and loss of coordination.
It is important to note that this response is based on the assumption that the chick is exhibiting abnormal behavior by putting its head straight back. If the chick is simply holding its head upright in a neutral position, it may be normal behavior, especially if it is focused on something or stabilizing its head while in motion.
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Frequently asked questions
This behaviour is known as wry neck, a neurological symptom caused by neck muscles spasming and pulling the head and neck into an unnatural position. It can be caused by a vitamin E or thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, a head injury, or brain problem.
Separate the chick from its flock and provide specialised care in a quiet area. You can also give the chick 400 IU of vitamin E daily, along with a chicken vitamin or vitamin B complex for some thiamine.
Ensure your chicks are getting enough vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, thiamine, and selenium. Also, be aware that crested chicken breeds with a crown of feathers on their heads may be more prone to head injuries, which can lead to wry neck.
