8 - 10 wk old roo has head down between legs and shakes it. Cant stand, pushes backwards

[Mother Bird]

He does seem slightly improved. I picked up Selenium and Vit. E this afternoon and will add that to his diet. My daughter is done with school now, so he will have more care during the day!
Thanks for trying to help get me some answers. I appreciate your input as well

 

[Mother Bird]

I'm happy to say that Ike is showing more progress. I was able to unwrap him and take him from the box for a short time. I stood and even preened his feathers for short periods. The spasms of head down and shaking and pushing over backwards remain, but they are less frequent and less severe! He seems more able to focus and more relaxed. He is casually looking around instead of fighting himself. Hi head is more upright and his drinking has improved as he brings his head up more rather than letting it role from his beak.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

First of all

!!!!
I'm so happy Ike is showing improvement!! As I read your updates I began to think it was a Vit.E deficiency too. I hope he'll continue to get better!

Good luck with your "Cluck" "Cluck"

 

[Mother Bird]

Thanks for the welcome and input on Ike.

So, as I said...I've seen some improvement but nothing new today. Most seem to feel it is vitamin related. Does anyone know how much selenium and Vit. E I should be giving? I've given between 60 and 100 IU of Vit. E and 50 to 100 mcg of Selenium per day. Am I close to being in the ballpark?

 

[Mother Bird]

Ike does show more signs of improvement, but still need full time, one on one care to keep from convulsing and to be able to eat/drink.
I've increased the vitamins but really don't know how much I should be giving him of the multi, selenium and vit E.
Would love some help in know how much and how often...

 

[Chixine]

We have a chicken who has been doing this for about a month now. We did the the selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin B. She still has symptoms, some days worse than others. Seems like 1 good day followed by three bad ones.

 

[Mother Bird]

I know what you mean. Ike is making progrees, but it is slow and hard to measure. The other thing I added that you didn't mention, is a liquid multi vitamin from the pharmacy OTC. They didn't have poly-vi-sol without iron, so this was offered..."Wellesse Multi Vitamin+". It has A, C, E and the B's plus phytonutrients from fruit. I give additional E and Selenium too. I've also switched them over to medicated starter feed.

Ike is now able to stand, take a few steps and continues to eat good. He still drops his head frequently and goes into the convulsions. Any stimulus or stressor will trigger it, but I also see it come on very sporadically. I'm begining to wonder if I caught it in time, or if too much damage was done to his neuro system to bring him all the way back...?

The good thing is this...I see steps, baby steps, forward. I don't really see him going backwards in his progress! Slow and steady wins the race? I hope so

 

[Mother Bird]

One more thought...

Something I've noticed that really seems to help him relax and focus is heat. I've been putting a warmed rice pack in his box and he finds his way over to it and sits on it. He then relaxes, brings his head up and acts quite normal. We have him inside the house, so the room is warm. He just seems to need that extra warmth.

 

[Mother Bird]

Ike Update-

It's been almost three weeks since I discovered my sick and bizarre acting little roo...He is now able to stand and walk again!!!
I just returned him to the crate with Tina, so Ike and Tina are together once more!

We still take him out to eat alone, so we are sure he is getting the full dose of vitamins we continue to mix with his feed. We are giving them to Tina as well, but she hasn't shown and symptoms.

Ike does still spasm with stimulation, but it is much less severe and fairly brief. A full recovery is in sight!

 

[NovaAman]

Well. I am glad you found what was wrong with him. I woulda thought maybe mareks or something like that...