Can a Chicken Break Its Neck and Live?

A lot of chicken owners care a lot about their backyard flocks. 

This makes the sight of injured chickens scary! 

If you have an injured bird, you may wonder if your chicken can live if it breaks its neck.

A broken neck doesn’t necessarily signal the end of a chicken’s life, but cervical dislocation is lethal. As with many other injuries, this partially comes down to the severity of the bird’s injuries. Backyard chickens may also have a condition known as wry neck, which can give them a twisted neck.

If you want to learn how to give your chickens a better chance against their injuries, keep reading, and we’ll cover everything! 

can a chicken break its neck and live

Can A Neck-Injured Chicken Survive? 

Again, this depends on the severity of the injury and how well your chicken responds to treatment. 

Treating your birds quickly and effectively will help increase their chances of survival.

Your chicken’s health before the injury also affects their recovery. 

Young, healthy chicken bodies are likely to recover more smoothly than a chicken weakened by illness or age.

How Do You Treat a Chicken Neck Wound? 

Whenever you find an injured chicken, it’s best to start by separating them from the rest of the flock in the coop. 

This ensures they have some time to recover and heal without interference.

From there, start to address their injuries. 

In most cases, the starting point is to clean up any wounds and stop any active bleeding. 

Warm or hot water and a cloth is a good starting place. 

For particularly difficult-to-clean wounds, create Dakin’s solution with a tablespoon of bleach, a teaspoon of baking soda, and a gallon of water. 

Don’t do this in advance; only make it when needed. 

Cleaning these wounds will help you better see them and help prevent infection.

As for a C-spine injury, most chicken owners have to figure out how to stabilize the injury by creating a neck brace. 

If you have one available, this is a good time to contact a vet who works with these animals to offer more comprehensive chicken care. 

Once the injury is stable and treated, don’t forget to take care of your chicken’s basic needs. 

While they’re recovering, it will be hard for them to get around and meet their basic needs. 

They’ll need your help to get all their water and nutrients while recovering. 

Many chicken lovers also advise having a euthanasia plan for your birds when planning first aid in advance. 

This way, you’re prepared if their injuries are too grave, but you’ve found the chicken before you’re caught in a crisis.

What Kills a Chicken by Breaking Its Neck? 

Unfortunately, if you find your chicken with a broken neck, it’s often hard to determine what caused it without immediate evidence. 

Predators or even unfortunate accidents can lead to dead birds.

If you see signs of what happened or find your birds while they’re still in a predicament, this is your best bet to put the pieces together. 

Otherwise, it’s often hard to tell. 

Wry Neck in Chickens

A wry neck in chickens can look like a broken neck, but it isn’t the same. 

You might also hear of this condition called other names such as “twisted neck” or “crook neck” for its effect. 

You’ll more likely see this condition in baby chicks than adult chickens. 

It’s noticeable because your chicks will have a twisted neck and difficulty standing.

This condition can prove difficult because your birds will likely need help getting all their food and water since their neck won’t turn to let them consume either as easily as a chicken without a wry neck. 

However, it’s a completely curable condition, so don’t give up on your chicks yet!

What Causes Wry Neck in Chickens? 

There are a few potential causes as to why backyard chicken keepers run into wry necks among their animals. 

It can come from eating material with toxins, deficiencies in certain vitamins, or even simply thanks to a genetic predisposition for the condition.

Another theory suggests certain breeds of chickens are more likely to develop a wry neck. 

The theory claims Silkies or Polish chickens are more likely to develop a wry neck. 

This theory is highly contested in practice as these breeds are seemingly affected at the same rates.  

Is Wry Neck in Chickens Contagious? 

No, if you have a chick with a wry neck, they aren’t going to give it to all the other birds in the entire flock.

While they won’t give a wry neck to one another, you’ll still likely want to separate the animals with this condition. 

This way, you’re giving them space and time to heal. 

If you deduce a bird is suffering from a wry neck due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it is a good idea to reassess all of your animals’ feed to ensure all your chickens meet their dietary needs. 

This will help prevent other related instances in the flock.

Treating Wry Neck in Chickens

There are a few measures to take against wry neck once you notice it. 

First, just like with any injury, treating your chicken separately from the flock is a good idea. 

This will give them the space and peace to heal. 

Keeping them nearby the flock will likely reduce their stress, though.

As mentioned earlier, vitamin deficiencies can lead to wry neck. 

So, ensure your birds are getting adequate selenium and vitamin E to help against this condition. 

Chickens with wry necks will likely need additional supplements to help combat the deficiency. 

Most chicken owners suggest treating wry neck by offering supplements of this vitamin and mineral two or even three times a day while the condition persists. 

Patience will go a long way here! 

It’s advised to ensure that your birds get plenty of vitamin E even after you’ve helped their bodies heal. 

This will help prevent relapses of the condition in the future.

A big part of ensuring your bird survives through this, though, is ensuring they get enough food and water while they heal. 

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Author

Growing up amidst the sprawling farms of the South, Wesley developed a profound connection with farm animals from a young age. His childhood experiences instilled in him a deep respect for sustainable and humane farming practices. Today, through Farmpertise.com, Wesley shares his rich knowledge, aiming to inspire and educate others about the joys and intricacies of rural life.

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