Is my rooster having a seizure?

[Stockpilejoy]

This is Hansel my precious stray rooster I took in about 6mos ago when he showed up in our neighbor's yard. At that time he looked as if he had been in a fight with another rooster since his wattle was injured and he was missing quite a few feathers.Thinking he is a little over a year old. Before I videoed incident he was previously dust bathing in another area for about 15mins then took ten steps and dropped when I started recording. Each time when he has these episodes it appears to be after he takes a dust bath. Sometimes his eyes will close. I have witnessed a total of about 5 now. This was the first time I was able to record incident since in past by the time I'd fetch phone he'd be fine. The first time it happened I thought maybe his legs were asleep or weak since when he attempted to stand he just fell over. After reading up on seizures in poultry I suspected Vit deficiency but have not seen any changes since giving my flock poly vi sol, Rooster Booster, and Save-a-chick vitamins. The only other health concern I've noticed is that each day he sometimes relaxes his wings slightly[never below his leg feathers] and also extends them out some times when temperature is high 80's...but usually follows by flapping them in a proud manner. It breaks my heart when he falls over because he acts as if he's embarrassed and seems to peck at the ground to tell the girls, "I did't just fall over in a clumsy manner, I'm just getting some goodies on the ground." I mentioned it to vet during my dogs well check and he told me to take video and he would show avian vet. I was hoping to get one showing his eyes closed. Maybe this video is good enough to send to him. Any thoughts on what could be causing this? This is my first time owning a rooster and he is so wonderful in my eyes. My girls love him. To get him to partake goodies I have to separate him because he always lets the girls have all the treats. He looks forward to his 3min separation snack break now The other day I let him out of fenced area to give him some worms and when I added a broken up grape he attempted carry it in his mouth and pass it through the fence wire to give to one of the hens.

 

[Shadrach]

This is Hansel my precious stray rooster I took in about 6mos ago when he showed up in our neighbor's yard. At that time he looked as if he had been in a fight with another rooster since his wattle was injured and he was missing quite a few feathers.Thinking he is a little over a year old. Before I videoed incident he was previously dust bathing in another area for about 15mins then took ten steps and dropped when I started recording. Each time when he has these episodes it appears to be after he takes a dust bath. Sometimes his eyes will close. I have witnessed a total of about 5 now. This was the first time I was able to record incident since in past by the time I'd fetch phone he's fine. The first time it happened I thought maybe his legs were asleep or weak since when he attempted to stand he just fell over. After reading up on seizures in poultry I suspected Vit deficiency but have not seen any changes since giving my flock poly vi sol, Rooster Booster, and Save-a-chick vitamins. The only other health concern I've noticed is that each day he sometimes relaxes his wings slightly[never below his leg feathers] and also extends them out some times when temperature is high 80's...but usually follows by flapping them in a proud manner. It breaks my heart when he falls over because he acts as if he's embarrassed and seems to peck at the ground to tell the girls, "I did't just fall over in a clumsy manner, I'm just getting some goodies on the ground." I mentioned it to vet during my dogs well check and he told me to take video and he would show avian vet. I was hoping to get one showing his eyes closed. Maybe this video is good enough to send to him. Any thoughts on what could be causing this? This is my first time owning a rooster and he is so wonderful in my eyes. My girls love him. To get him to partake goodies I have to separate him because he always lets the girls have all the treats. He looks forward to his 3min separation snack break now The other day I let him out of fenced area to give him some worms and when a added a broken up grape he attempted carry it in his mouth and pass it through the fence wire to give to one of the hens.

Have you seen him mate any of your hens?

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Have you seen him mate any of your hens?

Yes, I free range them while supervising 1-2 hours per day and during that time he will mate approx 2-5times with success each day.

 

[noregerts]

That's wild! I don't have a clue what's happening but since it always happens after a dust bath I wonder if maybe he has a spinal cord injury that acts up when he's rolling around in the dust, and then when he stands up he's got weak legs or something from that. he's a pretty bird and your description of his behavior is awesome. Good luck.

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, I free range them while supervising 1-2 hours per day and during that time he will mate approx 2-5times with success each day.

The lowering of his rear end and the subsequent wiggle is mating behaviour; not normal dust bathing. Also, the hens come over and one goes to peck the other. If a junior hen mates with the senior rooster a senior hen will often to this to prevent the junior hens genes from going forward. It's a bit like the senior rooster chasing off a junior if he catches him trying to mate one of his hens.
I think possibly your rooster has metal health issues rather than physical issues.
I'm not saying I'm right and I'm not suggesting you stop pursuing all and any avenues regarding his physical health.
If however after the vet and whatever course of treatment prescribed no improvement is seen then I would consider the above.
Strangely, chickens suffer mental health issues much like any other creature.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

That's wild! I don't have a clue what's happening but since it always happens after a dust bath I wonder if maybe he has a spinal cord injury that acts up when he's rolling around in the dust, and then when he stands up he's got weak legs or something from that. he's a pretty bird and your description of his behavior is awesome. Good luck.

Thank you. A spinal cord injury would explain it. Hoping it's not a brain tumorAfter it happens he always shakes it off and acts like nothing has happened.

 

[Eggcessive]

He does seem to be having some neurological symptoms. I would give him some vitamin E in a poultry vitamin for awhile to see if it helps. A bit of chopped egg or tuna would supply some selenium as well.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

The lowering of his rear end and the subsequent wiggle is mating behaviour; not normal dust bathing. Also, the hens come over and one goes to peck the other. If a junior hen mates with the senior rooster a senior hen will often to this to prevent the junior hens genes from going forward. It's a bit like the senior rooster chasing off a junior if he catches him trying to mate one of his hens.
I think possibly your rooster has metal health issues rather than physical issues.
I'm not saying I'm right and I'm not suggesting you stop pursuing all and any avenues regarding his physical health.
If however after the vet and whatever course of treatment prescribed no improvement is seen then I would consider the above.
Strangely, chickens suffer mental health issues much like any other creature.

Shadrach, The video was taken soon after his dust bath that was in another location not shown. Afterwards he took about 10 steps and dropped then I started recording. After he falls down and tries to stand up his tail will fall first before he goes to the ground.During the seizure like episodes his tail and head twitch some. I wish I had a better video. In this video you see my 6year old hen Harriett come over. She does not allow him to mate with her and he has since given up trying...not sure if it's because she had not laid an egg since she was about 14mos old [diagnosed with fatty liver]. My older 2 hens are bad to bully and chase my two younger hens any time they are near. I understand an outsider looking may see things differently. Hansel appears normal in every other way so if he does have mental issues I feel it must be caused by some kind of neurological problem.

 

[Shadrach]

Shadrach, The video was taken soon after his dust bath that was in another location not shown. Afterwards he took about 10 steps and dropped then I started recording. After he falls down and tries to stand up his tail will fall first before he goes to the ground.During the seizure like episodes his tail and head twitch some. I wish I had a better video. In this video you see my 6year old hen Harriett come over. My older 2 hens are bad to bully and chase my two younger hens any time they are near. I understand an outsider looking may see things differently. Hansel appears normal in every other way so if he does have mental issues I feel it must be caused by some kind of neurological problem.

Obviously I'm just guessing from what little I see on the video. I wasn't being insulting or dismissive but I think you know that. He's a lovely looking chap though.
I hope you do find out what's wrong with him and also find out it's fixable.

 

[Stockpilejoy]

Obviously I'm just guessing from what little I see on the video. I wasn't being insulting or dismissive but I think you know that. He's a lovely looking chap though.
I hope you do find out what's wrong with him and also find out it's fixable.

I did not take it as an insult at all...and hope I did not seem too defensive. He is such a charming rooster with a great personality and I felt a need to explain so you would not think he had mental issues. I could see where you where coming from but was hoping to change your opinion. If and when it happens again I will post a better video. This episode was not the ideal one to video.