Chicken tilting head all the way back and moving it back and forth

[haprao]

Help!
I have a 1 year old spotted Sussex that started tilting her head back and moving it side to side repeatedly while in the coop. When I picked her up out of the coop and set her on the barn floor she continued the odd behavior. When I attempted to pick her up off the barn floor she tried to get away but kept falling over. Once I got her up and set her outside she acted normal all day. Tonight when she was put back into the coop she started with the head tilt and back and forth movement again.
Does anyone know what this could be? It started yesterday afternoon. None of the other chickens are showing any signs of this.
I have attached a picture, sorry it's not the best quality due to her constant movement, I was unable to attach a video.
Thank you in advance!

 

[SIMZ]

I'm curious to see what others say about this. That is strange and if it was a chick, I'd call it "Stargazing" and tell you to try some drops of diluted Nutri-Drench (Like weak tea). Doing that couldn't hurt while you're waiting for other responses. It has worked with chicks for me in the past. It would be a good idea to separate her and see how she's eating and drinking and pooping, as well as any other symptoms.

Interestingly, I have a hen that was a "Stargazer" as a chick. The Nutri-drench took care of the problem, BUT she will do what you're describing when I put her into a cage. She will still stand and act normally, but will also tilt her head backward and move it around staring at the top. That's the only time she does it, though.

I hope you get some help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @haprao Welcome To BYC

It's hard to see in the photo If you have a chance a video would be helpful.
Have you added any new chickens to your flock in the last 30days?
Any chance she fell from a roost or could have been injured?

I agree with @SIMZ It does sound like "stargazing" (Wry Neck, Crook Neck, Torticollis).
It's a bit odd that it seems to come and go.
As suggested, vitamins won't hurt - Poultry Nutri-Drench given once daily at 1cc per 3lbs since she is an adult. Offer some egg or tuna for selenium.

Wry Neck is a neurological symptom of head injury/trauma, vitamin E deficiency and certain diseases (Marek's, Newcastle, Avian Lymphoid Leukosis).

If she continues - you may need to give a vitamin treatment of Vitamin E, B and Selenium - some people also add Prednisone which a vet would need to prescribe - this course of treatment is described in this article: http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

 

[haprao]

Hi @haprao Welcome To BYC

It's hard to see in the photo If you have a chance a video would be helpful.
Have you added any new chickens to your flock in the last 30days?
Any chance she fell from a roost or could have been injured?

I agree with @SIMZ It does sound like "stargazing" (Wry Neck, Crook Neck, Torticollis).
It's a bit odd that it seems to come and go.
As suggested, vitamins won't hurt - Poultry Nutri-Drench given once daily at 1cc per 3lbs since she is an adult. Offer some egg or tuna for selenium.

Wry Neck is a neurological symptom of head injury/trauma, vitamin E deficiency and certain diseases (Marek's, Newcastle, Avian Lymphoid Leukosis).

If she continues - you may need to give a vitamin treatment of Vitamin E, B and Selenium - some people also add Prednisone which a vet would need to prescribe - this course of treatment is described in this article: http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html

Thank you for the info.
I tried several times to upload a video and it for some reason won't allow me to do so.

No new chickens.
Poops are normal.
No signs of mites or any other parasites.
She does have the tendency to get out of the coop. She jumps from window (where they can get out of to the run) to top of fence(approximately 6 feet tall) and then jumps out onto the ground outside the run. Usually we get her back in, but somehow she has gotten herself back in yesterday and today.
We looked up stargazing and it does look exactly like that. However we are still unsure why when she's outside she's totally normal and it's only when she's in the coop that she's acting this way.

 

[haprao]

I'm curious to see what others say about this. That is strange and if it was a chick, I'd call it "Stargazing" and tell you to try some drops of diluted Nutri-Drench (Like weak tea). Doing that couldn't hurt while you're waiting for other responses. It has worked with chicks for me in the past. It would be a good idea to separate her and see how she's eating and drinking and pooping, as well as any other symptoms.

Interestingly, I have a hen that was a "Stargazer" as a chick. The Nutri-drench took care of the problem, BUT she will do what you're describing when I put her into a cage. She will still stand and act normally, but will also tilt her head backward and move it around staring at the top. That's the only time she does it, though.

I hope you get some help!

Thank you! We looked up stargazing and it looks just like that. Unsure why it comes and goes though.

 

[MommaHen2Many]

when I needed to post a video, someone recommended youtube, and then link that video post to a post here. If you have a google account you have a youtube account.

 

[haprao]

Help!
I have a 1 year old spotted Sussex that started tilting her head back and moving it side to side repeatedly while in the coop. When I picked her up out of the coop and set her on the barn floor she continued the odd behavior. When I attempted to pick her up off the barn floor she tried to get away but kept falling over. Once I got her up and set her outside she acted normal all day. Tonight when she was put back into the coop she started with the head tilt and back and forth movement again.
Does anyone know what this could be? It started yesterday afternoon. None of the other chickens are showing any signs of this.
I have attached a picture, sorry it's not the best quality due to her constant movement, I was unable to attach a video.
Thank you in advance!

 

[haprao]

Thank you for the idea.
Here is the link with the video.
Again, she only does this in the coop.

 

[SIMZ]

That is what my adult Lavender Ameraucana hen (Stargazer chick) does when she's in a cage - just not as severe as your video. Start by giving her Nutri-Drench - dilute it to a weak tea strength and give her just a few drops maybe 2-3 times a day OR add it to her water OR put some in some scrambled eggs each day for her. See if that improves it at all. It's a good idea to keep her separate until you figure out exactly what's going on and why. It can have different causes in adult birds.

Let us know how she's doing!

 

[Chiken tender]

My oldest silkie rooster started doing this head waggle this summer. I didn't want to cull him so I tried researching the symptoms. Found nothing helpful at first. I didn't give up and bumped into this article. Game chamger. It took a few weeks of a daily waffle egg with vitamin E, vitamin B complex and some selenium mix with water dribbled on the cooked egg and he is back to normal. There were a few days where we weren't sure if it was helping him or not. It has helped him. He is pretty much back to leading his ladies. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.