6 month old rooster twisting neck, unbalanced, making odd sounds

[MaryZoe]

My 6 month old Crested Cream Legbar roo, Crush, started making sounds that resembled a barking dog more than a rooster a couple days ago. At first we were slightly amused. Today I watched him more carefully and realized he is also twisting his neck to the back and walking with an uncertain gait. I immediately put him into sick bay. We did recently acquire a new rooster and a couple new hens, which might have caused him some anxiety (they are a in a separate coop, but he can see and hear them). Crush was 3-4 days overdue and not even pipped when I took his egg out of the incubator and put it in my pocket to get rid of it after I cleaned the incubator. I then forgot he was in my pocket, leaned over, and heard the egg crack. I was expecting to reach my hand into a gooey mess, but instead I heard peeping. I helped him a little, then put him back into the incubator. He eventually hatched with no more than a few crooked toes and an absurdly large comb that falls all over his eyes and head. But now this. Does it sound neurological, genetic, or like a vitamin deficiency? I feed them organic feed, he free ranges all day, and I supplement my chickens with kitchen scraps. He is not the top rooster, but he is #2.

My only thought in terms of possible nutritional deficiency is that I use goat-proof chicken feeders, into which my chix have to stick their heads in a PVC tube to eat. Perhaps it's hard for him to get his oversized comb into the feeder. So perhaps it is a deficiency of some sort.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Thanks, MaryZoe

 

[kitkat5505]

Possibly wry neck? Start him on some vitamins or electrolytes. Vitamin e is good for wry neck. Make sure he has food and water available, help him drink with syringe if needed.

 

[MaryZoe]

Possibly wry neck? Start him on some vitamins or electrolytes. Vitamin e is good for wry neck. Make sure he has food and water available, help him drink with syringe if needed.

That was my first thought. He chose bad timing for the type of intensive care I read elsewhere here. My daughter's getting married at the end of this week. Lots of people in town and LOTS to do here. He'll get extra vitamins and electrolytes, but not the different dosages 4-5 times a day that was suggested by another user a couple years ago. Poor fella.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

My 6 month old Crested Cream Legbar roo, Crush, started making sounds that resembled a barking dog more than a rooster a couple days ago. At first we were slightly amused. Today I watched him more carefully and realized he is also twisting his neck to the back and walking with an uncertain gait. I immediately put him into sick bay. We did recently acquire a new rooster and a couple new hens, which might have caused him some anxiety (they are a in a separate coop, but he can see and hear them). Crush was 3-4 days overdue and not even pipped when I took his egg out of the incubator and put it in my pocket to get rid of it after I cleaned the incubator. I then forgot he was in my pocket, leaned over, and heard the egg crack. I was expecting to reach my hand into a gooey mess, but instead I heard peeping. I helped him a little, then put him back into the incubator. He eventually hatched with no more than a few crooked toes and an absurdly large comb that falls all over his eyes and head. But now this. Does it sound neurological, genetic, or like a vitamin deficiency? I feed them organic feed, he free ranges all day, and I supplement my chickens with kitchen scraps. He is not the top rooster, but he is #2.

My only thought in terms of possible nutritional deficiency is that I use goat-proof chicken feeders, into which my chix have to stick their heads in a PVC tube to eat. Perhaps it's hard for him to get his oversized comb into the feeder. So perhaps it is a deficiency of some sort.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Thanks, MaryZoe

Six months with our experience anyway is puberty transition. If you think he is still challenged, keep a close eye on him. Cleanliness and nutrition is crucial for special needs poultry. I am impressed by your concerns and I know he is in good hands!
FC

 

[MaryZoe]

Thanks, Farmer Connie. He's been mature for what seems like a couple months now--after the ladies and all. I just checked my chart and he's actually 7 months old. So I doubt it's puberty-related. When I picked him up today his head drooped somewhat. That was when I knew something was up. I hope the vitamins and electrolytes help.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Thanks, Farmer Connie. He's been mature for what seems like a couple months now--after the ladies and all. I just checked my chart and he's actually 7 months old. So I doubt it's puberty-related. When I picked him up today his head drooped somewhat. That was when I knew something was up. I hope the vitamins and electrolytes help.

Is he eating his share?

 

[kitkat5505]

That was my first thought. He chose bad timing for the type of intensive care I read elsewhere here. My daughter's getting married at the end of this week. Lots of people in town and LOTS to do here. He'll get extra vitamins and electrolytes, but not the different dosages 4-5 times a day that was suggested by another user a couple years ago. Poor fella.

I know how that is. I just had baby #8 when we got our chicks and one had wry neck. So definitely couldn't give her as much attention as I wished. But 2-3 times a day I helped her drink some vitamin e in a little water (it was easier than just the vitamin e alone) and put a bowl of electrolytes in the brooder and helped her drink from that when I'd put her back in. Didn't give her precise doses of anything, just what I could get her to drink in the few minutes I had to spare. I didn't have any way to separate her from the rest so just had to hope they'd give her room and not trample her. She's a feisty 14 week brat EE now with no care for the effort I put into keeping her alive lol.