Dystonia Symptoms.

[Victoria Thompson]

15 mo. Black Copper Maran has no ability to grip for roost. Comb pale. Head back to swallow raises feet unless he swerves head back & forth but still needs help to lower head back down. Eating & drinking well. Walks heavy-footed. Poop fine. Feathers beautiful. Anyone seen this behavior?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

15 mo. Black Copper Maran has no ability to grip for roost. Comb pale. Head back to swallow raises feet unless he swerves head back & forth but still needs help to lower head back down. Eating & drinking well. Walks heavy-footed. Poop fine. Feathers beautiful. Anyone seen this behavior?

Hi @Victoria Thompson Welcome To BYC
Can you post photos or a video of him?
Can you take him to a vet?
What type of food/treats do you feed?
Any injuries that you know of?
Do you mean he has to move the head back in order to swallow?
Is the crop emptying overnight?
Have you added any new chickens to your flock within the last 30days?

Sometimes it's hard to know what's going on with a chicken, but from your description it sounds like he may have something neurological going on. The needing help to lower the head, inability to grip and swerving the head back/forth could symptoms of Marek's.

 

[Victoria Thompson]

Hi @Victoria Thompson Welcome To BYC
Can you post photos or a video of him?
Can you take him to a vet?
What type of food/treats do you feed?
Any injuries that you know of?
Do you mean he has to move the head back in order to swallow?
Is the crop emptying overnight?
Have you added any new chickens to your flock within the last 30days?

Sometimes it's hard to know what's going on with a chicken, but from your description it sounds like he may have something neurological going on. The needing help to lower the head, inability to grip and swerving the head back/forth could symptoms of Marek's.

Thank you for your reply. I'll get a video when it's daylight. We have no chicken vet in this area. He eats Layena + grit + oyster shell as he's in with his hens (except for last 24 hrs.) 1st thought was injury but ruled that out w/observation. Moves the head to & fro in a struggle to maintain balance when swallowing but he's not successful at it. Crop does empty. No new chickens. Marek's vaccination at 1 day old.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your reply. I'll get a video when it's daylight. We have no chicken vet in this area. He eats Layena + grit + oyster shell as he's in with his hens (except for last 24 hrs.) 1st thought was injury but ruled that out w/observation. Moves the head to & fro in a struggle to maintain balance when swallowing but he's not successful at it. Crop does empty. No new chickens. Marek's vaccination at 1 day old.

Check his ears for any infection or signs of ear mites (look through his feathers for lice as well).
Is he only having trouble maintaining balance when he eat/drinks and is trying to swallow?
Have you looked inside his beak for any obstruction, plaques or lesions?

 

[micstrachan]

Hi. I don’t have much timexat the moment, but sounds neurological to me, too. Coukd he have gotten into something toxic? Moldy feed woukd count here.

 

[VictoriaThompson]

Hi @Victoria Thompson Welcome To BYC
Can you post photos or a video of him?
Can you take him to a vet?
What type of food/treats do you feed?
Any injuries that you know of?
Do you mean he has to move the head back in order to swallow?
Is the crop emptying overnight?
Have you added any new chickens to your flock within the last 30days?

Sometimes it's hard to know what's going on with a chicken, but from your description it sounds like he may have something neurological going on. The needing help to lower the head, inability to grip and swerving the head back/forth could symptoms of Marek's.

That's why I guessed dystonia. One foot is closing involuntarily, balance issues when swallowing and walking. The second photo is you seein g his feet in the air, sitting on his hiney while also seeing the bottom of his throat (tan) because his head went completely upside down and picked up his feet. He's stuck in this position until I flip his head back over and down. His crop has been emptying everyday until today. No lice. Layena + Grit + oyster shell as he's been in with his hens. He is of the newest chickens, from day old and he's 15 months. Had Marek's vaccination at 1 day old. Didn't eat but one bite today because his crop didn't empty last night. Sorry about the photo quality, maybe his sight won't be so sensitive tomorrow. I have a video of the head swerve but it won't post here.

 

[VictoriaThompson]

Hi. I don’t have much timexat the moment, but sounds neurological to me, too. Coukd he have gotten into something toxic? Moldy feed woukd count here.

I have chicken houses so something toxic is out. I feel pretty sure that there was no moldy food as we go through it very quickly and it's kept in a feed room in metal garbage cans bought for this purpose. Also I see that his comb is not only pale but very puffy/swollen. I think it's neurological. No mites or ear problems. No problems inside his mouth that I can see or feel. Why would his crop suddenly not empty last night? Any ideas?

 

[VictoriaThompson]

My chickens are raised like this in a large chicken house and I hose the floor every day. They have heat and air for the harsh times

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Victoria,

Have you checked his temperature? Pale comb and wattles,lameness, head tremors and fever (108-110 degrees F) may indicate Streptococcosis, according to "The Chicken Health Handbook", by Gail Demerow.

If he has a high fever, that could explain his strange body motions. However, you said his poop is fine, yellow diarrhea is another symptom that he doesn't have.

Just thinking out loud, what may be ailing your poor boy...

Hopefully someone will recognize these symptoms. But, do check for fever, as fever does affect brain function.

God Bless.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

" because his head went completely upside down ", Wry neck ?