Chicken walking backward, as if a seizure

[CocoBChick]

Hello all,
I have a 11 month old Easter Egger who in the last 2 months I have seen walking backward with her head down as if in a seizure. It is very momentary and seems to only happen when eating, at least that is when I noticed it first. She was eating some food with chilli peppers, and I thought that must be the reason. Then today she did it, when one of the other hens asserted dominance while they were eating and had pecked at her. She was eating greens. I have also noticed her balance seems a little off, when when she is excited she seems to almost stumble. She is the best layer I have, almost lays daily and big beautiful eggs, eats very well and eats what the other girls pick around. When we had a rooster, she kept close to him and developed quicker than the other hens, laying first before the other hens her same age. She is the most docile of the four hens. I am at a loss as to what the backwards stance with head down could be. Some forums say neurological issues cause this. Could a disease onset be suttle...I just do not know.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Then today she did it, when one of the other hens asserted dominance while they were eating and had pecked at her.

I have also noticed her balance seems a little off, when when she is excited she seems to almost stumble.

Welcome To BYC

Do you notice she's being pecked each time she backs up?

Could be a response to back up out of the way, but backing can also be a neurological symptom.
You can give her Vitamin Therapy - 400UI Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily along with a treat of egg, give for a few weeks to see if she improves.

Consider adding another feed station, so more dominant hens can control all the food.
If giving treats, scatter them fairly broadly, again, so this lessens bullying and everyone can have a small snack in peace.

I'd also check her over for lice/mites and make sure her crop is emptying overnight.

Hello all,
I have a 11 month old Easter Egger who in the last 2 months I have seen walking backward with her head down as if in a seizure. It is very momentary and seems to only happen when eating, at least that is when I noticed it first. She was eating some food with chilli peppers, and I thought that must be the reason. Then today she did it, when one of the other hens asserted dominance while they were eating and had pecked at her. She was eating greens. I have also noticed her balance seems a little off, when when she is excited she seems to almost stumble. She is the best layer I have, almost lays daily and big beautiful eggs, eats very well and eats what the other girls pick around. When we had a rooster, she kept close to him and developed quicker than the other hens, laying first before the other hens her same age. She is the most docile of the four hens. I am at a loss as to what the backwards stance with head down could be. Some forums say neurological issues cause this. Could a disease onset be suttle...I just do not know.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Is her head kind of tucked in while she's walking backwards? I had an EE who did this. I believe I treated her with Rooster Booster Poultry Cell (for the B and E vitamins and selenium). I don't think it completely resolved, but it got better and it didn't seem to affect her much. She lived several more years and died recently at 9 years old.

 

[CocoBChick]

Welcome To BYC

Do you notice she's being pecked each time she backs up?

Could be a response to back up out of the way, but backing can also be a neurological symptom.
You can give her Vitamin Therapy - 400UI Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily along with a treat of egg, give for a few weeks to see if she improves.

Consider adding another feed station, so more dominant hens can control all the food.
If giving treats, scatter them fairly broadly, again, so this lessens bullying and everyone can have a small snack in peace.

I'd also check her over for lice/mites and make sure her crop is emptying overnight.

Thank you for your response. She does not do it every time pecked. I have only 4 hens, so the feeding area has plenty of space. They do get alot of treats, so maybe an unbalanced diet could be a reasonable suggestion. I will look into giving her vitamin therapy. Do you have any suggested brands? I saw at the local farm store, they have vitamin supplements to add to chicken water or feed. Mites/lice are not an issue, I check the hens regularly in all the prone areas. As for her crop, the other day I picked her up, and she seems thin but eats alot. They do not lack eating at all, their food station is a constant source and treats daily, along with foraging in the backyard.

 

[nuthatched]

I'd get the vitamins from the grocery store, much cheaper.
Cut way back on the treats, too much can cause nutrition issues.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your response. She does not do it every time pecked. I have only 4 hens, so the feeding area has plenty of space. They do get alot of treats, so maybe an unbalanced diet could be a reasonable suggestion. I will look into giving her vitamin therapy. Do you have any suggested brands? I saw at the local farm store, they have vitamin supplements to add to chicken water or feed. Mites/lice are not an issue, I check the hens regularly in all the prone areas. As for her crop, the other day I picked her up, and she seems thin but eats alot. They do not lack eating at all, their food station is a constant source and treats daily, along with foraging in the backyard.

Then today she did it, when one of the other hens asserted dominance while they were eating and had pecked at her.

Depends on hen's personality whether or not there's plenty of space, 1 hen can definitely dominate 3 others at one feeder but usually can't do very well monitoring 2.

Feed station is a constant source of food (Nutritionally balanced poultry feed correct?).
Daily treats, what and how much? We all love to give treats, it makes us happy to see the girls excited to see treats. Moderation is key sometimes, go easy on treats like scratch, etc.
I do probably give more treats than I should myself. Some days they don't get anything "extra", but I do give a little scratch a couple of days a week and another day or two, they may get some greens or some cabbage or veggies.

You can find vitamins at Walmart, CVS, online, etc. Here's an example.

 

[CocoBChick]

Depends on hen's personality whether or not there's plenty of space, 1 hen can definitely dominate 3 others at one feeder but usually can't do very well monitoring 2.

Feed station is a constant source of food (Nutritionally balanced poultry feed correct?).
Daily treats, what and how much? We all love to give treats, it makes us happy to see the girls excited to see treats. Moderation is key sometimes, go easy on treats like scratch, etc.
I do probably give more treats than I should myself. Some days they don't get anything "extra", but I do give a little scratch a couple of days a week and another day or two, they may get some greens or some cabbage or veggies.

You can find vitamins at Walmart, CVS, online, etc. Here's an example.
View attachment 4283077

Thank you for the suggestions. I do go way over board with treats, and my husband supports his own treat counter. I think I need to practice self control!

Is her head kind of tucked in while she's walking backwards? I had an EE who did this. I believe I treated her with Rooster Booster Poultry Cell (for the B and E vitamins and selenium). I don't think it completely resolved, but it got better and it didn't seem to affect her much. She lived several more years and died recently at 9 years old.

She does tuck her head down when she walks backwards. Just as fast as she does it, she comes out of it.