Leghorn having trouble getting on the roost

[mldlm]

My leghorn has trouble getting on the roost at night, it is about 34 inches off the ground. She also is having trouble getting into the nesting box, which is about 8 inches off the ground. She only has been having trouble the last few days. From about 10 weeks old, she walks backwards a lot, she is now 17 months old. I wonder if it could be her vision or her legs. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

It could be a neurological defect caused by genetics, or a vitamin deficiency, or a prolonged episode of wry neck which also can cause anomalies in walking.

These will usually respond fairly well , with the exception of some genetic causes, to Vitamin E 400iu with a tiny sliver of selenium, and vitamin B complex. Found where people vitamins are sold. Give daily directly into beak.

Usually the chicken will respond immediately to the E, but it can take four to six weeks for the B-complex to work.

The perch may be much too high for a heavy bird. None of my heavy breeds were able to navigate a perch more than a foot off the floor. Expecting heavy birds to fly up to a high perch, and most roosters are also in this category, is to invite injuries.

 

[mldlm]

It could be a neurological defect caused by genetics, or a vitamin deficiency, or a prolonged episode of wry neck which also can cause anomalies in walking.

These will usually respond fairly well , with the exception of some genetic causes, to Vitamin E 400iu with a tiny sliver of selenium, and vitamin B complex. Found where people vitamins are sold. Give daily directly into beak.

Usually the chicken will respond immediately to the E, but it can take four to six weeks for the B-complex to work.

The perch may be much too high for a heavy bird. None of my heavy breeds were able to navigate a perch more than a foot off the floor. Expecting heavy birds to fly up to a high perch, and most roosters are also in this category, is to invite injuries.

Thanks. I will give vitamin right away and install a lower roost, too.

 

[DesertMouse]

Please let us know how she responds to the vitamins and the lower perch.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not consider a leghorn a heavy breed. My perches are 4 - 5 feet off the floor, and the birds get up there easily.

Not that I am against lowering the perches, but I don't think that is the problem.

 

[mldlm]

I would not consider a leghorn a heavy breed. My perches are 4 - 5 feet off the floor, and the birds get up there easily.

Not that I am against lowering the perches, but I don't think that is the problem.

Thanks, Mrs. K. I didn’t lower them after seeing her jump up on a perch in the run that is a good 45 inches high. I did give her (and the other four girls a dose of vitamins). She seems to be doing better. She still walks backward, but I just consider that one of her “quirks “. She walks forward a few steps, and then lowers her head and walks backward a couple of steps. She is fine in every other respect. She is laying eggs just fine. She is bottom of the pecking order.

 

[azygous]

How much E did you give her how many times for how many days? Try giving her a higher dose of vitamin E and give it with egg or a sliver of a selenium tablet. When torticollis fails to respond to the E, it means not enough is being given or there is a patholigical cause such as cancer affecting the neurological system.