I've got a huge brooder/barn full of chicks and only one is showing these very odd symptoms. Her new name is 'wobbles'.
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Speckled Sussex, 6 weeks old.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Chick was noticed walking backwards and sitting a lot,kinda walking backwards and thumping on her back. Head was up, but not stargazing. Also appears 'itchy' for lack of a better term. NO other symptoms - no sneezing, no eye problems, no problems eating or drinking. Poop appears 100% normal. Examined the vent and other feathers and did not see any signs of lice or mites. Vent not blocked, all clean. legs appear normal.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
About three days. She seems a bit better now - walking forwards most of the time, still eating, drinking, peeping, etc. Still abruptly sits down and walks backwards and appears to be a bit twitchy and itchy. Poop still normal.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Nope, I have 30 other babies and none appear to have any problems.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Nope. Nothing. She's on pine shavings and in a brooder in our barn, which is very clean.
I've been giving her polyvisol (yes, no iron), she's on Start and Grow and seems to be having no problems eating or drinking. If I had to guess, I'd think this was neurological. I may dust her this evening just in case it's mites that I haven't found, but I see no evidence of mites or worms - they have not yet been in contact with the ground. Nor have they had contact with other chickens.
She's improved slightly, but any thoughts? Maybe she hit her head flying around? They are practicing flying, but they are in a space about 12 feet by 12 feet.
She appears in no distress and is peeping/chirruping happy noises, not a distress peep. She is currently separated in a large cage in the house, just in case. but whatever it was doesn't seem to be affecting any others.
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Speckled Sussex, 6 weeks old.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Chick was noticed walking backwards and sitting a lot,kinda walking backwards and thumping on her back. Head was up, but not stargazing. Also appears 'itchy' for lack of a better term. NO other symptoms - no sneezing, no eye problems, no problems eating or drinking. Poop appears 100% normal. Examined the vent and other feathers and did not see any signs of lice or mites. Vent not blocked, all clean. legs appear normal.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
About three days. She seems a bit better now - walking forwards most of the time, still eating, drinking, peeping, etc. Still abruptly sits down and walks backwards and appears to be a bit twitchy and itchy. Poop still normal.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Nope, I have 30 other babies and none appear to have any problems.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
Nope. Nothing. She's on pine shavings and in a brooder in our barn, which is very clean.
I've been giving her polyvisol (yes, no iron), she's on Start and Grow and seems to be having no problems eating or drinking. If I had to guess, I'd think this was neurological. I may dust her this evening just in case it's mites that I haven't found, but I see no evidence of mites or worms - they have not yet been in contact with the ground. Nor have they had contact with other chickens.
She's improved slightly, but any thoughts? Maybe she hit her head flying around? They are practicing flying, but they are in a space about 12 feet by 12 feet.
She appears in no distress and is peeping/chirruping happy noises, not a distress peep. She is currently separated in a large cage in the house, just in case. but whatever it was doesn't seem to be affecting any others.
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