Quote: Yeah, that was me trying to help when your little boy was being plucked months ago. Shame it hasn't worked out better.
I personally would either separate or cull all the hens, rehome him, or separate him with a girl or two who won't hurt him. Silkies perhaps, who can't see his hairdo for their own? Or Polish hens? Being the type he is, he will probably always be attacked by more normal chickens, Polish type chooks seem to get it badly. Even non-Polish chooks I bred who randomly got that type of hairdo got a less than kind treatment from the others. While mine didn't bully, they certainly didn't include those chooks. It is a defect it seems, at least in most bird's eyes.
Lol, thanks, I did get some sleep, but that won't stop me mentally singing the chorus of the cull song to myself whenever I see someone saying certain things... Habit.
I'd watch my birds every time I was in the yard or cages with them and from infancy onwards, birds were either buying their way onto the cull or keep list with their behavior. I originally tried mercy and retraining and so forth but culling was by far the best, most effective way to deal with most issues. I sound too merciless to some but chances are you'll end up a bit like this after a while...
Quote: If he's panting, paler, or appears temporarily withdrawn after the 'episodes', you can assume he is suffering. If he never shows even a moment's serious thought about it, if you know what I mean, it may be a harmless if somewhat distressing or inconvenient spasming fit. Some semi-epileptic episodes or spasms do not hurt or cause stress but some do. Thinking of myotonic goats right now, but some of those are most definitely distressed, no matter what breed enthusiasts claim.
I would experiment with his diet. What's it about the cold that makes him shake more? There are various things you can add to help him.
Black pepper is one thing that used to be used to stop epileptic fits in ducks, and MS sufferers of the human sort use it to stop muscle spasms. Since my chooks loved it so much I always gave them some every week, just shook the grinder over their food tub as I made up the mix. There are various herbs and foods proven to assist against spasms. If you're keeping a spasming animal, he may breed, and if it breeds on you may be able to eliminate it or at least ameliorate the effects or severity of it.
Quote: That reminds me. You know what I think of when I hear someone has an animal that is confused about what species it is? The chorus goes like.... Haha, I'm only joking, I know you're only using it figuratively.
Best wishes to all.
