[Fleecewife]

Hi. Does anyone know what causes wry neck in adult poultry?

[CameronS]

Possibly genetic, or result of brain damage/infection, or lack of certain vitamins

The easiest way to test (with out vets)  is to syringe feed, and keep isolated  . After a week of water, vitamins and food through syringe they may show signs of recovery, if the problem is the lack  of vitamins.

If they have not started showing signs of improvement, then it is most likely genetic or brain damage and the kindest outcome is to put down the chicken as if it is genetic or braindamage, it is incurable and only gets worse causing the chook pain and distress.

hope this may shed a little light, 

[Fleecewife]

Hi CameronS.  This is the third one of our hens which has gone this way in the last couple of years.  They were all home bred and probably inbred too, so I suspect you are right with the genetic suggestion.  They are totally free range on a very varied diet so I doubt it is a vitamin lack, and with it happening to three it is also unlikely to be brain damage (we did think that with the first one).  So it looks like the end of chook and the end of cockerels too.