Severe balance problems in 8 week cockerel

[Jesse Lee Turner]

I’m real sorry you’re walking through this. Sounds like that young cockerel’s spinning sideways, and it’s heartbreaking to watch when you raised them from a hatch.
Let me walk with you a minute. Let’s steady him up.

What This Sounds Like

If he’s falling over, can still move his legs, but can’t balance—that’s neurological.

And it ain’t Marek’s just yet. It’s very likely a deficiency, like you suspected.

When you say the parent flock was on medicated pullet grower, well, that's like asking a truck to run without oil. That feed blocks thiamine (vitamin B1), and baby chicks are especially vulnerable to it. Especially in the brain. And signs? Spinning, twitching, wry neck, can't walk properly.

What We’re Likely Dealin’ With

1. Thiamine (B1) Deficiency – throws off balance, coordination, and vision.
2. Start with thiamine. But also Vitamin E & Selenium Deficiency possible just less likely – affects brain, nerves, and muscle control.
3. Residual Wry Neck Damage – maybe weak from early days, now flarin’ up.

What To Do For Right Now (Jesse’s Triage Kit)

Here’s how we help that lil boy:

1. Neurological Support Mix (Give by Mouth, 1x/day minimum):

You can DIY this (I will put selenium for reference, but don't use it just yet, keep it for if thiamine doesn't do it):

*Vitamin E – 400 IU capsule (human softgel is fine)
*Thiamine (B1) – 25–50 mg

(If after 2 days no major improvement, add Selenium – 25 mcg (or give small dab of wheat germ, sunflower seeds, or Brazil nut powder)

**Poly-Vi-Sol (NO iron, baby drops) – 3–5 drops for general B/C support

Crack the capsule, mix with some mashed yolk or soft food he likes, and hand-feed. Or just drip it on his beak till he swallows.

Do this daily for 5–7 days, minimum.

2. Comfort & Safety Setup

*Quiet box, warm spot (around 80°F), deep bedding so he don’t hurt himself fallin’ over

***Keep water and feed right next to him

*Watch crop—make sure he’s still digestin’

3. Watch For These Signs​

*Improving balance after 48–72 hours: good sign.
****Worsening or twisting: may need to up B1 or rule out Marek’s.
*Poop changes: can tell you if he's dehydrated or not digesting well.

You did right catching it this early. A lot of folks would’ve written him off. But these little guys? They fight hard. You give him the nutrients his brain’s been starving for, and he’ll surprise you.

If he starts to right himself, bit by bit, you’ll know it was deficiency. And that means he can come back.

~Jesse

Note on Selenium: I do not recommend anyone jumping to selenium. Safe dose
here is given, according to Merck's Vet Manual and other trusted sources. Selenium is necessary for health. Just like humans, we need it, and selenium makes the thyroid work. But too much and nothing will work right. Same for chickens.

This here has some good information about Se. :
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/selenium-deficiency
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/myopathies/nutritional-myopathy-in-poultry

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ll ask them what the poop is like
They are treating it for wry neck, vitamin E, b and selenium, because the brother of the chick also had wry neck as a day old chick

Do you know if they are using a B complex tablet, that contains all B vitamins including riboflavin (B2?) B 12 for instance only contains B 12, and no riboflavin. Riboflavin is very important in leg health in chickens. Dosage of B complex is 1/4-1/2 tablet daily.

This. This is what he needs.

Keep us posted.

 

[Cheekychook12]

If they were doing fine under your care, then take turns for the worse under their care, I'd definitely question what they're getting to eat.

I, too, would be doing the above advice with B-complex (no more than half of an adult dose) and E with a little bit of scrambled eggs.

They are trusted, they foster many animals, and I told them also to feed only non medicated grower

 

[Cheekychook12]

I’m real sorry you’re walking through this. Sounds like that young cockerel’s spinning sideways, and it’s heartbreaking to watch when you raised them from a hatch.
Let me walk with you a minute. Let’s steady him up.

What This Sounds Like

If he’s falling over, can still move his legs, but can’t balance—that’s neurological.

And it ain’t Marek’s just yet. It’s very likely a deficiency, like you suspected.

When you say the parent flock was on medicated pullet grower, well, that's like asking a truck to run without oil. That feed blocks thiamine (vitamin B1), and baby chicks are especially vulnerable to it. Especially in the brain. And signs? Spinning, twitching, wry neck, can't walk properly.

What We’re Likely Dealin’ With

1. Thiamine (B1) Deficiency – throws off balance, coordination, and vision.
2. Start with thiamine. But also Vitamin E & Selenium Deficiency possible just less likely – affects brain, nerves, and muscle control.
3. Residual Wry Neck Damage – maybe weak from early days, now flarin’ up.

What To Do For Right Now (Jesse’s Triage Kit)

Here’s how we help that lil boy:

1. Neurological Support Mix (Give by Mouth, 1x/day minimum):

You can DIY this (I will put selenium for reference, but don't use it just yet, keep it for if thiamine doesn't do it):

*Vitamin E – 400 IU capsule (human softgel is fine)
*Thiamine (B1) – 25–50 mg

(If after 2 days no major improvement, add Selenium – 25 mcg (or give small dab of wheat germ, sunflower seeds, or Brazil nut powder)

**Poly-Vi-Sol (NO iron, baby drops) – 3–5 drops for general B/C support

Crack the capsule, mix with some mashed yolk or soft food he likes, and hand-feed. Or just drip it on his beak till he swallows.

Do this daily for 5–7 days, minimum.

2. Comfort & Safety Setup

*Quiet box, warm spot (around 80°F), deep bedding so he don’t hurt himself fallin’ over

***Keep water and feed right next to him

*Watch crop—make sure he’s still digestin’

3. Watch For These Signs​

*Improving balance after 48–72 hours: good sign.
****Worsening or twisting: may need to up B1 or rule out Marek’s.
*Poop changes: can tell you if he's dehydrated or not digesting well.

You did right catching it this early. A lot of folks would’ve written him off. But these little guys? They fight hard. You give him the nutrients his brain’s been starving for, and he’ll surprise you.

If he starts to right himself, bit by bit, you’ll know it was deficiency. And that means he can come back.

~Jesse

Note on Selenium: I do not recommend anyone jumping to selenium. Safe dose
here is given, according to Merck's Vet Manual and other trusted sources. Selenium is necessary for health. Just like humans, we need it, and selenium makes the thyroid work. But too much and nothing will work right. Same for chickens.

This here has some good information about Se. :
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/selenium-deficiency
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/myopathies/nutritional-myopathy-in-poultry

Thank you so much for the in depth reply! I greatly appreciate it
The brother of this cockerel had bad wry neck as a day old chick that took 5 days to be resolved with vitamins, fought so hard to stay alive, had to be force fed every 20min but he’s better, and now the healthy brother is going through something similar sounds like
What can I give the parent flock to make sure to avoid this in future chicks?

 

[Cheekychook12]

Do you know if they are using a B complex tablet, that contains all B vitamins including riboflavin (B2?) B 12 for instance only contains B 12, and no riboflavin. Riboflavin is very important in leg health in chickens. Dosage of B complex is 1/4-1/2 tablet daily.

I Believe it is b complex

 

[Jesse Lee Turner]

Thank you so much for the in depth reply! I greatly appreciate it
The brother of this cockerel had bad wry neck as a day old chick that took 5 days to be resolved with vitamins, fought so hard to stay alive, had to be force fed every 20min but he’s better, and now the healthy brother is going through something similar sounds like
What can I give the parent flock to make sure to avoid this in future chicks?

You're more than welcome! Wish I could do more!

I LOVE this line "had to be force fed every 20min but he’s better,"

You know, he did not just absoirb good nutrition. I am convinced, they know love (and give it back) - he gone and absorbed love too! right?

If I may tell you something, gentle friend, and it is what I learned most recently, with loss of my true love, our hen over here, always keep in mind the very first thing.

When you said "that took 5 days to be resolved with vitamins"

WHAM says me. Vitamins? >> oh, so neuro! >> First port of call?? B1, get thiamine on board!

You will gain that instinct too. hey - I know it's already in you, can tell all ready <3

Dismiss nothing, write it on down some place, I keep a journal and a database of my own. Sometimes we as humans forget stuff. Life and times are busy. So you see your chicken with twitch or wry neck, you can then punch those terms into database "wry" - what comes up? "Brother looked like wry neck. Vitamin deficient." Holy Lord be praised, says you! VITAMINS? Not such a bad deal! Can buy them can improvise human ones if can't right off get chicken ones! What vitamins? "B1 worked well, small dose B6." Sayds your database.WHAM! you do that and guess what? You just solved what vets and what people selling you chickens did not care to stop and ponder.

and you know something? you got me, you got good people here, we will always try and help you. Something don't add up? You ask, and so many people here as I have seen will riddle their brains to save you heart ache. Me too... I'm still coming out of the mess, and I love chickens. My promise to you, ll square: I wil help you, research for you, I will do all I can to help. No strings. Just strong chickens. The world is full of people who would rather pretend people aint got any problems. It's not true. A few of us remember. We will help you. so please never feel alone. I will always try and lots of people here will <3

If I'm ever late to answer, its only because I'm knocking mud off my boots before sitting down to reply. I won't miss it, I'll be here ASAP ------------------

But to try and prevent maybe a gene issue in later generations, genes say one thing, environment says another. Genes play on environment, but environment (including nutrients/vitamins you can give them) can satisfy the raging of genes (if that is why some things neurological are happening).

OK SO HERE WE GO:
Make sure they're getting enough B vitamins - especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B12 (but not too much here).

*These support nerve development and muscle strength in embryos.
**A good quality poultry breeder feed should cover this, BUT they are very difficult to find....... or you can give a mild B-complex supplement once or twice a week during the build-up to laying, as a short-fall. you can also consider blending your own, as I have done.

1. Make sure their B1 (thiamine) is solid. So once in a while supplement is ideal and make sure their feed has got it right, go maybe even 5 to 10 % above what is needed is known neuro signs exist.

Have B1 on stand-by if things get grody. 100mg max a day, can rescue a chicken with 20mg - 50mg as one off, then "taper" meaning maybe 4 or 5 doses of much lower dose B1 in a day.
2. Check calcium-to-phosphorus balance.

* Its hard to do, but in rare cases people shoot the moon in Calcium and let Phosphorus trail bad. I have used a calciumhosphorus mix of 3.5:1. it is rare to have high calcium versus low P, But too much calcium without enough phosphorus can interfere with vitamin uptake and even embryo health.

Protecting future generations? So often starts in being active in doing right by the generation before:

LET'S DO THIS BY ESTABLISHING GOOD B1 AN NEURO FUNCTION IN ADULT BIRDS WHO MAY BREED AND HAVE YOUNG:

Preventing Neurological Defects in Chicks - treat the parents:​

Parent flock supplementation plan (focused on vitamin B1 and critical cofactors). Straight from the Jesse files, so hoping formatting is ok here too.

1. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) — KEY player

• What it does: Essential for embryonic nerve development. Deficiency = wry neck, stargazing, trembling.
• What to give:
  • Human-grade thiamine HCl powder or tablets (no additives, no B-complex blends)
  • Dosage:
    • 5–10 mg per adult bird daily, mixed into wet feed or small mash (split between AM/PM is ideal)
    • Or dissolve 50 mg into 1 liter water and use as sole drinking water for 24 hours once weekly

2. Vitamin E — Nerve protection​

• Why: E works alongside B1; deficiency worsens neurological symptoms and recovery.
• Dosage:
  • 20–25 IU per bird daily
  • Use human d-alpha-tocopherol softgels (400 IU) — one capsule can dose ~15–20 birds in wet mash.

3. Selenium (as sodium selenite) — E transport, but be EXTREMELY CAREFUL, not much play between too little and too much: ​

• Why: Without selenium, Vitamin E is nearly useless in the body.
• Dosage:
  • 0.02–0.04 mg per bird per day
  • Microdose only. Use a tiny pinch of yeast-based selenium or safe trace mineral poultry mix.

4. Choline (for egg-laying hens)​

• Why: Crucial for chick brain development and liver health. Supports proper yolk formation.
• Sources:
  • Lecithin granules (non-GMO soy or sunflower based)
  • 1/4 tsp per hen daily in mash

Summary for Weekly Maintenance (per adult hen):​

Nutrient	Dosage	Frequency
B1	5–10 mg	Daily or 1–2x/wk
Vitamin E	20–25 IU	Daily
Selenium	0.02–0.04 mg	Daily
Choline	250–500 mg (via lecithin)	Daily

CAUTION: Layer feed can be too high in calcium for roosters - consider using an all-flock or breeder feed if you have roosters and hens together, and just offer extra calcium (like oyster shell) on the side.

Side notes: Make sure A and D are good. Too much A is toxic, they store in liver. But it is a master transporter expecially of calcium. D doens't need to be excessive. If severly deficient I have found for Reba (one of my girls) even 3000iu D brings her right back online. 1000iu can do it too, all depending.

I always give vitamins not straight up but crushed and added to olive oil or coconut oil (other oils are high in PUFAs and they stop absorption).

PRO TIP:

Avoid these B1 blockers:​

****Moldy feed or old grains - check feeds/grains, and discard moldy feeds, molds can produce thiaminase, which destroys B1.

**Raw fish or excess bracken fern (some foragers). some people think thei'r doing their flocks good with RAW fish. Tell me when you last saw in the wild a chicken fishing for tuna, and I will agree with you too. Raw fish also contains thiaminase = kills off thiamine.

Any questions, I will always try to help! I hope I hit all the targets here!

This might also help, it will give you a strong idea about how much of the which and the what:

https://poultrydvm.com/views/feedtable.php

 

[Cheekychook12]

You're more than welcome! Wish I could do more!

I LOVE this line "had to be force fed every 20min but he’s better,"

You know, he did not just absoirb good nutrition. I am convinced, they know love (and give it back) - he gone and absorbed love too! right?

If I may tell you something, gentle friend, and it is what I learned most recently, with loss of my true love, our hen over here, always keep in mind the very first thing.

When you said "that took 5 days to be resolved with vitamins"

WHAM says me. Vitamins? >> oh, so neuro! >> First port of call?? B1, get thiamine on board!

You will gain that instinct too. hey - I know it's already in you, can tell all ready <3

Dismiss nothing, write it on down some place, I keep a journal and a database of my own. Sometimes we as humans forget stuff. Life and times are busy. So you see your chicken with twitch or wry neck, you can then punch those terms into database "wry" - what comes up? "Brother looked like wry neck. Vitamin deficient." Holy Lord be praised, says you! VITAMINS? Not such a bad deal! Can buy them can improvise human ones if can't right off get chicken ones! What vitamins? "B1 worked well, small dose B6." Sayds your database.WHAM! you do that and guess what? You just solved what vets and what people selling you chickens did not care to stop and ponder.

and you know something? you got me, you got good people here, we will always try and help you. Something don't add up? You ask, and so many people here as I have seen will riddle their brains to save you heart ache. Me too... I'm still coming out of the mess, and I love chickens. My promise to you, ll square: I wil help you, research for you, I will do all I can to help. No strings. Just strong chickens. The world is full of people who would rather pretend people aint got any problems. It's not true. A few of us remember. We will help you. so please never feel alone. I will always try and lots of people here will <3

If I'm ever late to answer, its only because I'm knocking mud off my boots before sitting down to reply. I won't miss it, I'll be here ASAP ------------------

But to try and prevent maybe a gene issue in later generations, genes say one thing, environment says another. Genes play on environment, but environment (including nutrients/vitamins you can give them) can satisfy the raging of genes (if that is why some things neurological are happening).

OK SO HERE WE GO:
Make sure they're getting enough B vitamins - especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B12 (but not too much here).

*These support nerve development and muscle strength in embryos.
**A good quality poultry breeder feed should cover this, BUT they are very difficult to find....... or you can give a mild B-complex supplement once or twice a week during the build-up to laying, as a short-fall. you can also consider blending your own, as I have done.

1. Make sure their B1 (thiamine) is solid. So once in a while supplement is ideal and make sure their feed has got it right, go maybe even 5 to 10 % above what is needed is known neuro signs exist.

Have B1 on stand-by if things get grody. 100mg max a day, can rescue a chicken with 20mg - 50mg as one off, then "taper" meaning maybe 4 or 5 doses of much lower dose B1 in a day.
2. Check calcium-to-phosphorus balance.

* Its hard to do, but in rare cases people shoot the moon in Calcium and let Phosphorus trail bad. I have used a calciumhosphorus mix of 3.5:1. it is rare to have high calcium versus low P, But too much calcium without enough phosphorus can interfere with vitamin uptake and even embryo health.

Protecting future generations? So often starts in being active in doing right by the generation before:

LET'S DO THIS BY ESTABLISHING GOOD B1 AN NEURO FUNCTION IN ADULT BIRDS WHO MAY BREED AND HAVE YOUNG:

Preventing Neurological Defects in Chicks - treat the parents:​

Parent flock supplementation plan (focused on vitamin B1 and critical cofactors). Straight from the Jesse files, so hoping formatting is ok here too.

1. Thiamine (Vitamin B1) — KEY player

• What it does: Essential for embryonic nerve development. Deficiency = wry neck, stargazing, trembling.
• What to give:
  • Human-grade thiamine HCl powder or tablets (no additives, no B-complex blends)
  • Dosage:
    • 5–10 mg per adult bird daily, mixed into wet feed or small mash (split between AM/PM is ideal)
    • Or dissolve 50 mg into 1 liter water and use as sole drinking water for 24 hours once weekly

2. Vitamin E — Nerve protection​

• Why: E works alongside B1; deficiency worsens neurological symptoms and recovery.
• Dosage:
  • 20–25 IU per bird daily
  • Use human d-alpha-tocopherol softgels (400 IU) — one capsule can dose ~15–20 birds in wet mash.

3. Selenium (as sodium selenite) — E transport, but be EXTREMELY CAREFUL, not much play between too little and too much: ​

• Why: Without selenium, Vitamin E is nearly useless in the body.
• Dosage:
  • 0.02–0.04 mg per bird per day
  • Microdose only. Use a tiny pinch of yeast-based selenium or safe trace mineral poultry mix.

4. Choline (for egg-laying hens)​

• Why: Crucial for chick brain development and liver health. Supports proper yolk formation.
• Sources:
  • Lecithin granules (non-GMO soy or sunflower based)
  • 1/4 tsp per hen daily in mash

Summary for Weekly Maintenance (per adult hen):​

Nutrient	Dosage	Frequency
B1	5–10 mg	Daily or 1–2x/wk
Vitamin E	20–25 IU	Daily
Selenium	0.02–0.04 mg	Daily
Choline	250–500 mg (via lecithin)	Daily

CAUTION: Layer feed can be too high in calcium for roosters - consider using an all-flock or breeder feed if you have roosters and hens together, and just offer extra calcium (like oyster shell) on the side.

Side notes: Make sure A and D are good. Too much A is toxic, they store in liver. But it is a master transporter expecially of calcium. D doens't need to be excessive. If severly deficient I have found for Reba (one of my girls) even 3000iu D brings her right back online. 1000iu can do it too, all depending.

I always give vitamins not straight up but crushed and added to olive oil or coconut oil (other oils are high in PUFAs and they stop absorption).

PRO TIP:

Avoid these B1 blockers:​

****Moldy feed or old grains - check feeds/grains, and discard moldy feeds, molds can produce thiaminase, which destroys B1.

**Raw fish or excess bracken fern (some foragers). some people think thei'r doing their flocks good with RAW fish. Tell me when you last saw in the wild a chicken fishing for tuna, and I will agree with you too. Raw fish also contains thiaminase = kills off thiamine.

Any questions, I will always try to help! I hope I hit all the targets here!

This might also help, it will give you a strong idea about how much of the which and the what:

https://poultrydvm.com/views/feedtable.php

I always consider worth helping an animal, especially when I think it’s something fixable
I’m considering becoming a doctor so I learned to recall symptoms and find solutions pretty well
The vets here know nothing about chickens so I really really appreciate help for my lil guys
That all sounds good for what to feed the flock, only problem is I can’t find any chicken feed other than scratch and chick starter that isn’t full of calcium so any advice there would help… wondering if it would be better to feed them all pullet grower supplemented with oyster shells for the ladies
The sling I made for the little wry neck chick
And bonus cute chicken pictures for your effort and kindness