Healthy but strange head turning...

[MeghanMermaid]

I just got 2 Silkie chicks that are about 2 weeks old. They are healthy, happy, eating and drinking but I keep seeing one of them turn her head back and forth slowly, like she is saying "no" when she gets a drink. It looks like something nuerological when she does the movement, but she only does it a couple times after drinking, then goes right back to normal chickie behavior. And, she doesnt do it everytime she drinks, only sometimes, but often enough to notice. Do you think she's having trouble swallowing? She does NOT seem to do the behavior when eating starter or mealworms...?? Its the strangest thing!

 

[GitaBooks]

She could be having some difficulty swallowing, or it could just be her method of getting food/water down, however, I agree, it sounds neurological. As long as the symptoms don't get worse then she should be fine with whatever is causing it. However, I would not suggest breeding her, in case its genetic.

Best of luck with them!


Silkies are more prone to head trauma then many other breeds.

 

[Eggcessive]

How does her crop feel? Does it feel soft and slightly full like the other chicks? They will do some weird head movements at times if the crop is impacted from eating pine shavings or bedding.

 

[MeghanMermaid]

Crop feels normal, soft and "bean-baggy". Im almost certain this is some kind of neurologic behavior. It is a very robotic, repetitive turning, like a tick or "posturing" and cant be controlled. She goes RIGHT back to acting perfectly normal. She does the turning 3-4 times then the whole behavior is less then 3 seconds.

 

[Eggcessive]

Try some poultry vitamins in the water for a couple of weeks. That type of neurological behaviour can be similar to wry neck--twisted neck, walking in circles, walking backwards, and odd neck movements back and forth or in a circle. Silkies can have a vaulted skull which makes them prone to head injuries, so it could also be a cause. I hope this improves.