Help, having a problem with one of my chicks!

[Hansen6dad]

I have four Barred Rock chicks. They are almost 3 weeks old, and last night one of them is starting acting strange by keeping it's head down and walking backwards while shaking it's head, almost like it is trying to use it's beak to get something off it's chest or belly, but there is nothing on it. It's head is down so low it is plowing through the shavings. even when I tap the side of the brooder it does not stop. Every once and a while it will act normal and then its right back to the wierdness. It is the smallest chick out of the 4. Any ideas?

From a concerned new chick dad,
Thanks, Hansen6dad

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Have they been in contact with other chickens or things that were used by other birds?

 

[Hansen6dad]

No, he even keeps his head down when I pick him up, I did let them into their coop run this weekend for about an hour, we had good weather, 70 degrees.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Hoping someone else pops up with another thought but it sounds like what one of my adult hens caught a year ago. Pigeons brought it in apparently.

For my gal it was a virus. I had two other hens with her and they were fine but Cher developed this sudden neurotic twitch where she was rubbing her face on the ground continually. She stopped eating and drinking and the only direction she could move in under her own power was backwards.

We got her over the initial attack but she never fully lost the twitch. We had to put her down after she knocked the coop ladder down on herself and started wedging herself into the coop support gaps and panicking herself.

Seriously, hope it is something else.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

What kinda feed and did the chicks get vacinated ?

 

[Hansen6dad]

the chicks were not vaccinated. I am using non-medicated chick starter. I keep them in the house, change the food twice a day along with the water. and change the shavings every 2 to 3 days. I keep it very clean.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39604/some-causes-of-early-chick-mortality
please review this link above

is there any blood in the poo or black poo at all??

 

[Hansen6dad]

No

 

[Hansen6dad]

No

 

[Sally Sunshine]

did you hatch the chick?
does her belly look bigger softer or blue/blackish than the others? or she only acts weird? she doesnt smell? no pasty butt
I wonder if she has a deficiency, no other chicks are showing signs?