Violent Head Shaking

[Stephanie Struble]

I have a baby chick that started violently Shaking her head like a million miles a minute, all day long, about 4 days ago. She is only about 4 weeks old, so just a baby, but was healthy up until 4 or 5 days ago. Poor little thing cries all day and tries to duck under the wings of the older chicks to get some mother loving, cuddling attention. She does run around eating bugs but does fall over quite a bit like she had too much to drink LOL. So, basically we have a heathy chick in general, eating drinking, chasing bugs, pooping normal etc. But shakes her head violently all day and falls over. Seems to be neurological. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to BYC.
What breed is this chick?
Did you hatch it from your own eggs?

What brand feed do you feed?

 

[RedDrgn]

That actually sounds like what happened to one of our cockerels when he was about 4 months old. State vet reported it was a neurological or metabolic disorder. We ended up euthanizing him because his attacks were pretty random and he'd fall off of roosts, perches, wherever he happened to be when they'd come on and could not maintain his balance. It got pretty bad, over the course of ~2 weeks, with more frequent and violent attacks. Freaked the whole flock out, and some would then start attacking him.

 

[coach723]

Vitamin deficiencies in chicks can cause neurological symptoms, and can sometimes be unusual. I would start supplementing with a good vitamin supplement and see if it helps.
Here are a couple of links to check out: https://www.tillysnest.com/2014/03/vitamin-deficiencies-in-backyard-chicks-html/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vitamin-deficiencies-poultry-rakesh-kumar
If you cannot find a good poultry supplement you can use poly-vi-sol without iron. Make sure that what you use includes the B vitamins, E, and selenium.
Vitamin deficiency can be caused by old or inappropriate feed, so check dates on bags and buy a quality feed. There are also metabolic issues, genetic traits, or injuries that can cause symptoms like these, and some breeds are more susceptible.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Vitamin deficiencies in chicks can cause neurological symptoms, and can sometimes be unusual. I would start supplementing with a good vitamin supplement and see if it helps.
Here are a couple of links to check out: https://www.tillysnest.com/2014/03/vitamin-deficiencies-in-backyard-chicks-html/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vitamin-deficiencies-poultry-rakesh-kumar
If you cannot find a good poultry supplement you can use poly-vi-sol without iron. Make sure that what you use includes the B vitamins, E, and selenium.
Vitamin deficiency can be caused by old or inappropriate feed, so check dates on bags and buy a quality feed. There are also metabolic issues, genetic traits, or injuries that can cause symptoms like these, and some breeds are more susceptible.

@Stephanie Struble Hi Welcome To BYC

I agree with @coach723 (good info btw) it won't hurt to see if treatment with vitamins will help.

If you have a video of your chick, we would interested to see her actions.
Just for kicks - take a look in each ear to make sure they are clear and have no mites, debris or infection that may be causing the head shaking.

 

[Stephanie Struble]

Vitamin deficiencies in chicks can cause neurological symptoms, and can sometimes be unusual. I would start supplementing with a good vitamin supplement and see if it helps.
Here are a couple of links to check out: https://www.tillysnest.com/2014/03/vitamin-deficiencies-in-backyard-chicks-html/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vitamin-deficiencies-poultry-rakesh-kumar
If you cannot find a good poultry supplement you can use poly-vi-sol without iron. Make sure that what you use includes the B vitamins, E, and selenium.
Vitamin deficiency can be caused by old or inappropriate feed, so check dates on bags and buy a quality feed. There are also metabolic issues, genetic traits, or injuries that can cause symptoms like these, and some breeds are more susceptible.

 

[Stephanie Struble]

Wow, thank you so very much. I will go get a good vitamin. I buy chick starter at TSC and it is not old so I am leaning on the Vitamin Deficiency or stress. Thank you so much, I really appreciate you taking your time to care so much to help me.

 

[Kiki]

Nutri Drench can be given straight to the beak so you know for sure the amounts she gets as opposed to adding something to water.

 

[Stephanie Struble]

Nutri Drench can be given straight to the beak so you know for sure the amounts she gets as opposed to adding something to water.

Yep that is what I was going to do anyways just for a more controlled environment. Thank you so much!