Hi I have a cockerel with weird symptoms that the vet has never heard of. I thought it was genetic when the same thing happened with my previous cockerel but obviously now it has happened again with this one it must be a virus or something. The bird starts staggering sideways periodically and half extends its feathers on that side to steady itself. It seems to be trying not to fall over. It also sticks its leg out at the same time. After the stagger it is fine and able to walk off normally. Then the same thing happens again maybe a minute later. This may happen several times and then may not happen again for ages. Sometimes the bird fluffs up its feathers and sometimes it shakes its head but not much. The vet couldn't link to any particular disease but something is going on. Ideas anyone? Anyone had a similar problem?
from the Finger Lakes of New York! I would definitely post this in the Emergencies / Disease / Illness section. Sure to get better answers there!
How old is your feed? is it wet? or smell moldy? I lost a how batch of chicks with those same syptoms. And the feed was old, even though i had just bought it. The store had it stocked piled in the back from the last hatching season, the put it out again in the spring. It was old, even though it looked fine when I smelled it, it smelled musty. The feed acted like a toxin and killed the chicks. Id check your feed and possibly put them on terramycin, just in case its not the feed. Usually if the bird has a illness terramycin will take care of it. GOOD LUCK
from WA. glad you joined us Check his ears for ear mites, I hope you find out whats going on with him!
Welcome to BYC. I agree with kidcody, could be ear mites in the ear canal which can cause vertigo. Use an eyedropper with vegetable oil in it and put some drops in each ear to suffocate the mites.
Hi and from Mississippi i had a welsummer hen get sick from eating wet food I had to learn the hard way
