Leghorn gone wacko.

[Jcincotjo]

She’s 4 1/2 yrs old. Only molted once. Now molting hard, almost no feathers and very skittish. Walks backwards a lot. Bumps into things. Shakes her head a lot. Squats in the middke if no where, gets up and walks backward some more. Eats fine. Drinks fine. Thoughts?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I hope that the ER experts can help @Wyorp Rock ?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Pictures, or video of the strange behavior?

Sounds like she's trying to get something off of her.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

I moved your thread to our Emergency forums for more help. I hope she is ok!

 

[DobieLover]

This poor girl is having a hard molt. I had a hen behave much the same way last fall during her hard molt.
She is exceedingly uncomfortable. Do everything you can not to handle her or touch her.
Offer her some high protein treats like canned cat food or tuna.

 

[Jcincotjo]

This poor girl is having a hard molt. I had a hen behave much the same way last fall during her hard molt.
She is exceedingly uncomfortable. Do everything you can not to handle her or touch her.
Offer her some high protein treats like canned cat food or tuna.

Tuna...good idea. I’ve given her hard boiled eggs. She loves those. I’ll try tuna tomorrow. Thank you.

 

[dawg53]

She’s 4 1/2 yrs old. Only molted once. Now molting hard, almost no feathers and very skittish. Walks backwards a lot. Bumps into things. Shakes her head a lot. Squats in the middke if no where, gets up and walks backward some more. Eats fine. Drinks fine. Thoughts?

I've owned White Leghorns and they ARE skittish and can fly high too. I've had to clip their wing feathers often.
They are several possibilities with her behavior other than acting like a skittish Leghorn.
It could be a genetic issue, a vitamin deficiency, an early injury as a chick (such as a peck on the head or neck), maybe even the onset of crook neck.
I would start treating her for a vitamin deficiency. Avian Super Pack would be best. Dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 days once a month.
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/avian-super-pack-4oz

 

[LaFleche]

She’s 4 1/2 yrs old. Only molted once. Now molting hard, almost no feathers and very skittish. Walks backwards a lot. Bumps into things. Shakes her head a lot. Squats in the middke if no where, gets up and walks backward some more. Eats fine. Drinks fine. Thoughts?

Often this behaviour is seen during hard molt when the pinfeathers are long enough to pinch them with every move they make and the chicken will try to evade it.
Provide vitamin additive in the water and various feeders with high protein feed and it will be overcome soon.

 

[natalie327]

My mother hen has gone through two spells of the very same squatting and walking backward/ head twitching behavior! She did it the most during the times she was approaching broodiness and throughout the incubation time. It was difficult to treat during this time as well, as she ate very minimally and I had to pick her up off her eggs (which she hated) to allow her to stretch her legs and get food and water. Sometimes she’d avoid the snack and run straight back to her nest! Luckily she recovered both times (2 batches of chicks), but it wasn’t until she started pickup up the calorie content of her meals again. Good tip about the canned tuna, I will try that if needed again. Also I recommend Rooster Booster vitamins and electrolyte powder. I do a little sprinkle on their food each day (more efficient than placing in their water, due to frequent water changes). Good luck!!