EE Chick is running in circles (video included)

[SimplyEarth]

I picked up 5 Easter Egg chicks today from Tractor Supply. While I was watching the chicks I saw one that was running in loops and it looked like it was on crack (for a lack of better words). I had an employee pack up five chicks and I specifically tried not to get the hyper one but, once he started scooping them up, we lost sight of it.

As fate would have it, I got them home & quickly discovered that (despite my efforts) he/she had landed in my batch. I'm rather fond of the little nugget now as I find the irony of getting stuck with him rather endearing. I decided to move them in from my sunroom for the night to keep tabs on him. He is still running in frantic circles despite having placed them in a temporary enclosure indoors. I'm worried he is going to drop from exhaustion

I tried googling any similar instances and I found the following post here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rcles-wth-video-what-is-this-behavior.334066/
I watched the YouTube video she posted & it looks just like mine. What's also strange is that people sharing similar stories all had an Ameraucana or Easter Egger. It makes me wonder if it's a breed specific disorder/disease/genetic issue. I haven't been able to find any answers on what is causing the behavior.

Does anyone have any insight to share? Here is the link to a video of my own ADHD chick:

 

[Cassandra Lana]

Americana chicks are so cute! Reminds me of when mine was a baby. Have you tryed picking up the baby bird ? You may be able to hold it still till it falls asleep.

 

[aart]

Not breed specific, it's got a neurological issue...could be genetics or incubation issue.
What happens when you pick it up?

 

[rosemarythyme]

My guess is neurological. I had a spinning chick (not so hyper) that "doodled" everywhere she went, and she ended up having a host of other issues.

You can try some Poultry Nutri-Drench (direct dose her a drop or two a day) and see if that helps improve the situation. May take a more intensive vitamin treatment if that's not enough.

 

[Sciencemom]

I picked up 5 Easter Egg chicks today from Tractor Supply. While I was watching the chicks I saw one that was running in loops and it looked like it was on crack (for a lack of better words). I had an employee pack up five chicks and I specifically tried not to get the hyper one but, once he started scooping them up, we lost sight of it.

As fate would have it, I got them home & quickly discovered that (despite my efforts) he/she had landed in my batch. I'm rather fond of the little nugget now as I find the irony of getting stuck with him rather endearing. I decided to move them in from my sunroom for the night to keep tabs on him. He is still running in frantic circles despite having placed them in a temporary enclosure indoors. I'm worried he is going to drop from exhaustion

I tried googling any similar instances and I found the following post here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rcles-wth-video-what-is-this-behavior.334066/
I watched the YouTube video she posted & it looks just like mine. What's also strange is that people sharing similar stories all had an Ameraucana or Easter Egger. It makes me wonder if it's a breed specific disorder/disease/genetic issue. I haven't been able to find any answers on what is causing the behavior.

Does anyone have any insight to share? Here is the link to a video of my own ADHD chick:

I also bought 6 at Tractor Supply and got one that’s doing the exact same thing. Their supplier has some oddball genetics I’d guess. Mine will run in circles and figure 8s. I’m not sure how this chick will mature. Right now she’s keeping the others stirred up. She’s very disruptive but clearly it’s some sort of pathological problem:/ I’m not sure what can be done to help.

 

[WittyChickens]

I just got an easter egger chick from Bomgaars yesterday that is also doing this! Just like the video in that older post. Yesterday little Amelia Egghart seemed more normal, although I noticed her balance was a bit off. I also noticed when I picked her up and put her down, she would stand with one foot on the other and not correct herself. Today she started circling, so I took her back to Bomgaars to get a new one but they were sold out. So, I decided to keep her for now and see what happens. When I got home she was MUCH more hyperactive than before... racing around in figure eights, circling, falling over and laying on her right side.... she is a cute little thing and all but I'm not so sure about her... hopefully her companion Margaret Hatcher can put up with the activity.
Has anyone seen them grow out of it or grow up normal? I saw one comment on another post that said her chick stopped after about 6 weeks but that is all I have seen!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I had an Americauna from a breeder that did this. I always thought she was nuts but I picked her up one day in the sunlight and realized she was blind in one eye. Her other eye wasn't great. She is no longer with us for various reasons but she had trouble adjusting to changes in the flock, moving of feed stations, etc. Have a look at your chick's pupils and see if they look small or mishapen.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I just got an easter egger chick from Bomgaars yesterday that is also doing this! Just like the video in that older post. Yesterday little Amelia Egghart seemed more normal, although I noticed her balance was a bit off. I also noticed when I picked her up and put her down, she would stand with one foot on the other and not correct herself. Today she started circling, so I took her back to Bomgaars to get a new one but they were sold out. So, I decided to keep her for now and see what happens. When I got home she was MUCH more hyperactive than before... racing around in figure eights, circling, falling over and laying on her right side.... she is a cute little thing and all but I'm not so sure about her... hopefully her companion Margaret Hatcher can put up with the activity.
Has anyone seen them grow out of it or grow up normal? I saw one comment on another post that said her chick stopped after about 6 weeks but that is all I have seen!

Do you have a video? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

Falling over, circling, etc. could be neurological.
Some folks give vitamin therapy. 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily but if you have vet care, that's always best.

 

[seminolewind]

My dear sweet rooster, Ugly Eddie. Something was always not "normal" him from baby on. After work that's the first thing we would talk about, what Eddie did today. I could go on for a page or two but I won't.

I think Eddie was either dropped or pecked in the head. My baby. At first he displayed torticolis (sp). I fed him by spoon for over a month. Then it went away but he started walking circles backwards. On and On. But I think he became having a routine of seeing me and heading for the feed. At some point during all this, I decided to end it. I gave him 10 xanax or valium one night and sat with him til 1 am. Nothing. So I went to bed. The next morning he was still here and active and crowed. He started to walk frontwards in circles. He was eating and holding his weight and I gave him some young hens to keep him company. At some point, he started to go downhill. My husband dispatched him while I locked myself in the bathroom and wailed!

What I want to say is that any chicken with odd behavior but still eating and drinking probably has nerve damage of some type, maybe from a peck or an injury. I personally would take the time and keep him nourished and comfortable for a while. If he doesn't recover, at least you gave him a chance of everything you could do. I've had other chicks and chickens with all types of neural problems of unknown origin. On each one, I did the best I could. There is no black and white. We don't know if he will improve, see if he'll eat wet mash made from chick feed, and water. See if you can keep him in a mug with paper towels support. That's all you can do. Know that my heart is with you-I take these things to heart.

 

[DrFyl]

Do you have a video? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

Falling over, circling, etc. could be neurological.
Some folks give vitamin therapy. 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily but if you have vet care, that's always best.

I was thinking Vit E, too. Maybe some members of that breed are lacking in some nutrient or amino acid. Will be super if you can find a solution. Sounds like many chicks could be helped. My naturopath says that any diet change takes a minimum of three months to make a detectable change in our bodies and, more often, six to 12 months. Chicks are so tiny. Maybe their little bodies can make a change quicker.?