[raeburg]

I've noticed that one of buff orpingtons is moving with it's head twisted to one side and down.  They are 3 weeks old and have been fed on chick crumb and the odd scrambled egg.   It hasn't always appeared like this.

Any ideas

[joyfull]

Hi Raeburg, there is an illness called limberneck which is caused by botulism (spread through fly pooh) but not sure if this is what your chick has - could you post a photo to aid diagnosis?

[raeburg]

I'll try

[raeburg]

pic attached.

[raeburg]

Actually looks worse than it is most of the time, but that's the general pose it adopts

[Missie]

Hi raeburg,
last year i had a leghorn with her neck like this,i had not heard of the disease above,i was told by a member here it was Markes disease,this was confirmed by Cambridge poultry.
Kind regards

[carolbriar]

Missie, was it Mareks disease or Markes.  If it is Mareks it is not good news I would say.

[Missie]

Hi carolbriar
it was certainly Mareks disease,I had to cull her immediately,the rest of my flock have been fine-though they had the odd cold in the winter!

Missie, was it Mareks disease or Markes.  If it is Mareks it is not good news I would say.

[joyfull]

Raeburg I would get her to a vets just to be sure, it could be one of several things including those previously mentioned plus a lack of vit B.
Keep us informed xx

[raeburg]

Bother. It does seem to be weaker than the others and spends a lot of time sitting rather than running around. I'll get it to the vets asap.

[joyfull]

best to be sure  , hope it is ok xx

[raeburg]

It seems to improved when dosed with soluble multivitamins.  Can't get into vet tonight so will take it tomorrow (have to pick up cats meds anyway).  Thanks Joyfull and everyone

[joyfull]

fingers crossed that it's just the B vit deficiency then - keep me posted Rae xx

[raeburg]

Despite having seemed to improved, chick took a turn for the worse today and fitted.  Vet checked it out, couldn't see any symptoms of Mareks. Decided that it was neurological and I had it PTS. I am not confident that i could humanely dipatch a chick so it was worth £7

[joyfull]

so sorry  xx