Hen Jerking her Head Around Weirdly, Something Stuck in her Throat/Crop?

[Birb Mom]

I don't think this is an emergency, I am not sure what it is.

Okay, so on and off one of my 6 month old easter egger hens has been showing weird behavior. She stops suddenly and reels her head back, often stepping backwards into things. It looks like she's trying to swallow? My mom and I have noticed she acts up after eating chunky things like oats and banana bits. She still has a hearty appetite and eats after these little behaviors, she also drinks plenty so you'd think it would be dislodged if anything were stuck.

And the last time this happened I checked her crop and compared it to the others and it was fine. She is just as active as the others. She just jerks her head back and looks confused after she does it. It is really sad to watch.

For now all I have been doing is keeping an eye on her and periodically massaging her throat and crop. Can chickens develop tics? Is she choking? Any ideas would help

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds like she's adjusting her crop contents, especially if you see it more after she eats stuff. It's normal.

 

[Birb Mom]

Sounds like she's adjusting her crop contents, especially if you see it more after she eats stuff. It's normal.

Huh, weird. None of the other chickens do that,so I figured it was abnormal, but maybe I just don't see them adjusting their crops?

 

[Teila]

Hey Birb Mom

I have a 2 ½ year old hen who has done something similar since she was 6 months old. I have not been able to pin point the cause but she occasionally moves her head, right, left and upward in a slow jerk/sway kind of action and looks zoned out when she does it. It only last for 30 seconds or so and then she is back to normal.

I do not think she is adjusting her crop because it is more isolated to the head and neck region. I am thinking it is neurological in make-up.

The first time she did it she freaked me out but as mentioned she has been doing it for the last two years now and is quite happy and healthy.

I would just keep a close eye on her.

 

[Birb Mom]

Hey Birb Mom

I have a 2 ½ year old hen who has done something similar since she was 6 months old. I have not been able to pin point the cause but she occasionally moves her head, right, left and upward in a slow jerk/sway kind of action and looks zoned out when she does it. It only last for 30 seconds or so and then she is back to normal.

I do not think she is adjusting her crop because it is more isolated to the head and neck region. I am thinking it is neurological in make-up.

The first time she did it she freaked me out but as mentioned she has been doing it for the last two years now and is quite happy and healthy.

I would just keep a close eye on her.

Huh, weird. Yeah, my gal does the same things. And it started around when she turned 6 months old, which is a weird coincidence. I have also started to suspect it is neurological, I just hope it's not detrimental to her health.

She seems completely fine save for those brief, rare episodes. I'll keep my eye out on her

 

[coach723]

Found this thread interesting...I have a nearly 3 year old rooster who has similar behavior which also started at about 6 months. It seems to come and go, can't relate it to anything and nothing seems to make it worse or better. I also was really worried when it started, but it's never progressed to anything else and he manages everything just fine. I've tried to get pics several times but it never happens when I'm ready. Always assumed something neurological also, but no idea what. He has not passed it on to any chicks either, so doesn't seem to be genetic. He seems perfectly healthy in all other ways.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you using poultry grit for her to take when she needs it? I agree with the others in that this could be neurological since there does seem to be a lot of posts of similar weird neck movements. There are quite a few threads on here about these movements, and some include videos. But I can never seem to find anything I am looking for in the searches since BYC changed things a few months back. It would not hurt to use some vitamins including thiamine (B1,) E, and the mineral selenium found in ege, tuna, and sunflower seeds. Or just get some Poultry Cell (not nutridrench) and give 2-3 ml daily by mouth or in food.

 

[greggooo]

Huh, weird. None of the other chickens do that,so I figured it was abnormal, but maybe I just don't see them adjusting their crops?

My EE has done this a couple of times.

 

[MIchickenlady]

My EE is doing this & walking backwards. Seems Neuro to me...I want to help her

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Walking backwards often means they are trying to avoid something, generally about the head. I would check her head over for injuries or new feathers coming in.