My rooster has an odd walk

[Ch1ckens321]

I have some 4 month old chickens that I’ve raised from chicks and pretty much all of them have been happy and healthy. Recently I’ve noticed kind of a funky walk in my cockerel and it’s beginning to bother me. He’s an Australorp Bantam rooster and all of my other bantams hens and normal hens walk fine. He seems to jut out his wings when he runs quickly and often stumbles sideways while doing so. His wings usually rest at his sides and go down to the beginning of his legs but unlike the hens when he runs he doesn’t put them up and the just stay down at his sides and that causes him to stumble.

 

[azygous]

A video would be a big help. Post it to YouTube, copy the URL and paste it here. It will embed and be ready to watch.

 

[Ch1ckens321]

A video would be a big help. Post it to YouTube, copy the URL and paste it here. It will embed and be ready to watch.

notice how his wings are down and he trips veers off to the side

 

[azygous]

He looks like a wind up toy speeding around the yard. He seems to be doing well generally getting around.

I couldn't see the balance issue. It may be in its beginning phase so keep an eye on him. If it's organic, you might be able to restore his balance with vitamin E 400iu therapy. Include other vitamins in case he has more than one deficiency.

If a chicken gets into a toxic substance such as pesticides and petroleum distillates, or a poison plant, that can affect balance and it may get worse until lameness sets in or he can no longer stand without falling over. If he gets worse quickly, I'd suspect poisoning and give him activated charcoal and milk of magnesia.

 

[Ch1ckens321]

He looks like a wind up toy speeding around the yard. He seems to be doing well generally getting around.

I couldn't see the balance issue. It may be in its beginning phase so keep an eye on him. If it's organic, you might be able to restore his balance with vitamin E 400iu therapy. Include other vitamins in case he has more than one deficiency.

If a chicken gets into a toxic substance such as pesticides and petroleum distillates, or a poison plant, that can affect balance and it may get worse until lameness sets in or he can no longer stand without falling over. If he gets worse quickly, I'd suspect poisoning and give him activated charcoal and milk of magnesia.

Ok thanks

 

[roosterhavoc]

I have some 4 month old chickens that I’ve raised from chicks and pretty much all of them have been happy and healthy. Recently I’ve noticed kind of a funky walk in my cockerel and it’s beginning to bother me. He’s an Australorp Bantam rooster and all of my other bantams hens and normal hens walk fine. He seems to jut out his wings when he runs quickly and often stumbles sideways while doing so. His wings usually rest at his sides and go down to the beginning of his legs but unlike the hens when he runs he doesn’t put them up and the just stay down at his sides and that causes him to stumble.

That rooster is running from you because you’re about to step on him.

 

[Ch1ckens321]

That rooster is running from you because you’re about to step on him.

Haha it did seem like that though, I was attempting to get him to run so I could see the balance issue

 

[Ch1ckens321]

He looks like a wind up toy speeding around the yard. He seems to be doing well generally getting around.

I couldn't see the balance issue. It may be in its beginning phase so keep an eye on him. If it's organic, you might be able to restore his balance with vitamin E 400iu therapy. Include other vitamins in case he has more than one deficiency.

If a chicken gets into a toxic substance such as pesticides and petroleum distillates, or a poison plant, that can affect balance and it may get worse until lameness sets in or he can no longer stand without falling over. If he gets worse quickly, I'd suspect poisoning and give him activated charcoal and milk of magnesia.

He looks like a wind up toy speeding around the yard. He seems to be doing well generally getting around.

I couldn't see the balance issue. It may be in its beginning phase so keep an eye on him. If it's organic, you might be able to restore his balance with vitamin E 400iu therapy. Include other vitamins in case he has more than one deficiency.

If a chicken gets into a toxic substance such as pesticides and petroleum distillates, or a poison plant, that can affect balance and it may get worse until lameness sets in or he can no longer stand without falling over. If he gets worse quickly, I'd suspect poisoning and give him activated charcoal and milk of magnesia.

I don’t think he’s gotten into anything toxic and he seems to be normal other than just the occasional stumble. Other than that I would think he’s fine but if he did have something and since he’s still so young do you think he’d survive?

 

[azygous]

If he did get into something toxic, he's already survived it. I've had my share of chickens that were exposed to toxic substances, and they did not survive.

 

[Fishkeeper]

He's adorable. Are you sure this is a new thing, and not just how he walks? Maybe his balance is just bad.

If it is new, it's probably neurological, and not contagious. It's possible he might be suffering earlier from toxins than the rest because he's smaller, so it may be worth taking a look around for something they could have gotten into.