Rooster walking backwards Please Help!

[Bronx girls]

Hello BYC! I have a frizzle rooster 10 months old that has started crouching, walking backwards and in circles as if he is dizzy he has no other symptoms eats and drinks, we love the little guy and dont want to lose him and the vet wont be available until Tuesday any idea what this might be help?.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They generally do that when something is bothering them, especially around the head. So check for things like mites, injuries or if you are where it's colder frostbite, or even a broken feather. They walk backwards to try to get away from the sensation.

 

[Bronx girls]

They generally do that when something is bothering them, especially around the head. So check for things like mites, injuries or if you are where it's colder frostbite, or even a broken feather. They walk backwards to try to get away from the sensation.

Thank you so much for the response we brought him inside because its been so cold and noticed he was walking this way eats and drinks well we have never had a rooster this is our first frizzle rooster he is my only frizzle, no frostbite but will check for all you said Thank you.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can't always see frostbite right away. Watch for the comb points to darken if you have had colder weather.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

Hello BYC! I have a frizzle rooster 10 months old that has started crouching, walking backwards and in circles as if he is dizzy he has no other symptoms eats and drinks, we love the little guy and dont want to lose him and the vet wont be available until Tuesday any idea what this might be help?.

could you post a video of the behavior?

 

[Bronx girls]

You can't always see frostbite right away. Watch for the comb points to darken if you have had colder weather.

He's been inside since yesterday I just rechecked his comb I dont see any of his comb is dark, no mites or injury

could you post a video of the behavior?

yes I can try and post a video.

 

[Bronx girls]

You can't always see frostbite right away. Watch for the comb points to darken if you have had colder weather.

He's been inside since yesterday I just rechecked his comb I dont see any of his comb is dark, no mites or injury

 

[2ndTink]

This could be a few different things, my top thoughts are vitamin deficiency, head injury, or disease.

Treating for a vitamin deficiency is a good place to start no matter what. Give him a vitamin E pill and part of a b complex pill daily and see if there is an improvement over the next few days. There is a lot of info on BYC regarding vitamin deficiencies, dosages etc to treat with.

A head injury would also be possible if he hit his head or got pecked hard by another chicken. There may be some swelling pushing on a nerve or causing some dizziness. If it's an injury, supportive care is best which would include vitamins and rest.

Disease would be the toughest to diagnose and treat. There are many viruses that could cause inflammation or tumors that could put pressure on nerves causing these symptoms.

Also, check his ears, maybe he has an ear infection or something bothering an ear causing equilibrium issues.

 

[Bronx girls]

This could be a few different things, my top thoughts are vitamin deficiency, head injury, or disease.

Treating for a vitamin deficiency is a good place to start no matter what. Give him a vitamin E pill and part of a b complex pill daily and see if there is an improvement over the next few days. There is a lot of info on BYC regarding vitamin deficiencies, dosages etc to treat with.

A head injury would also be possible if he hit his head or got pecked hard by another chicken. There may be some swelling pushing on a nerve or causing some dizziness. If it's an injury, supportive care is best which would include vitamins and rest.

Disease would be the toughest to diagnose and treat. There are many viruses that could cause inflammation or tumors that could put pressure on nerves causing these symptoms.

Also, check his ears, maybe he has an ear infection or something bothering an ear causing equilibrium issues.

I am really hoping it is a vitamin deficiency, so do I just give him a regular Vitamin E and B complex? he is so little. Thank you so much for all your advice I have him with me away from the big girls I do know they peck him will check his ears Thank you so much!!.

 

[2ndTink]

I am really hoping it is a vitamin deficiency, so do I just give him a regular Vitamin E and B complex? he is so little. Thank you so much for all your advice I have him with me away from the big girls I do know they peck him will check his ears Thank you so much!!.

How little are you talking? Is he a silkie?

Use a 400 IU vitamin E softgel once a day and then a vitamin B complex 1/4 to 1/2 a tablet daily. For wry neck I've done the vitamins twice daily for a few days and then cut back to once a day when they started improving.

If he has wattles will make it easier, if he doesn't it may take a bit more work to get the pills down him. Hold him under your left arm like a football, use your left hand to grab his wattles, pull down gently to open his beak and use your right hand to pop a pill into the back of his mouth, let him swallow that and repeat on the next one.

If he is eating well, you may be able to pop the vitamin E pill and put it on some mash for him (a little of his regular feed with some water added to make it soft) if he's able to eat it all by himself this will work, otherwise stick to the pill down the gullet method.