Serama Rooster afraid of thunderstorms

[Snuggie]

Evening everyone.

Does anyone have chickens, ducks, turkeys, etc that are afraid of thunderstorms?
I have a 6 month old indoor Serama Rooster who is deathly afraid of thunderstorms. He shakes, bashes himself into his pen, flaps wildly, and SCREAMS! The only thing that calms his butt down is me holding him. He just lays down on my chest and shakes. After the storms pass, he is right back to his normal self.

I’ve tried covering him. That did nothing. Tried turning up the tv. Nothing. Tried letting him walk around the house. That made things worse. Tried to ignore him but his screaming. My. God. Even my dog was concerned for him.

He did have baby chicken friends here in a brooder for the last four weeks. I thought being with them would help calm him, NOPE. He LOVES the baby chicks so they wasn’t the issue. He played with them a lot so I really thought they could help soothe him but as soon as that thunder claps…we wants mommy.

He kinda has crap balance already…so leaving him alone is not on the table. If there is a chance of storms, I take him to work with me.

Any suggestions??? I had no clue that this could be a “thing” with chickens.

Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

Have you tried vitamin therapy for his balance? What's his diet?

 

[Snuggie]

Have you tried vitamin therapy for his balance? What's his diet?

He eats flock raiser by Purina, grit, and gets meal worms as treats. I bought this powder (it’s in the freezer) that had a bunch of vitamins in it. I can’t remember the name of it. I sprinkle it on his food. He came to me with balance issues. He’s a lot better now but still has some issues. I personally think the breeder kept him in his brooder box wayyyy to long. He was still in one at 4 months old. And it didn’t look like there was any roosts in the box. Just shavings.