Severe balance problems in 8 week cockerel

[Cheekychook12]

Recently my neighbours adopted two of my young cockerels, one previously had wry neck, now resolved, now the other one has developed severe balance issues over the past week, the bird keels over in one direction, can still walk and stand
Legs are visibly uninjured, seems to be neurological
His legs aren’t paralysed he just can’t balance
I hatched them, none of my birds I’ve raised (12) have ever gotten or had any similar symptoms
I suspect vitamin deficiency as the parent flock was fed medicated pullet grower for a while
Advice and help please asap

 

[Cheekychook12]

@Wyorp Rock
@Eggcessive
@azygous
Please help

 

[azygous]

What's your location and weather? Has it been suddenly hot? Imbalance is a classic symptom of heat stress.

Wry neck isn't limited to the neck. It covers all symptoms of movement. Stumbling, walking backward, even a slight problem with finding food can be symptoms of wry neck.

Treatments can be given for both even if you don't know for certain of the right diagnosis. For heat stress, give one cup water with one teaspoon sugar stirred in plus a pinch of salt and baking soda to supply the stabilizing minerals.

For wry neck, get people vitamin E and give one gel cap directly into the beak once a day until symptoms clear up. Give with a scant sliver of selenium or cooked egg for better absorption.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Recently my neighbours adopted two of my young cockerels, one previously had wry neck, now resolved, now the other one has developed severe balance issues over the past week, the bird keels over in one direction, can still walk and stand
Legs are visibly uninjured, seems to be neurological
His legs aren’t paralysed he just can’t balance
I hatched them, none of my birds I’ve raised (12) have ever gotten or had any similar symptoms
I suspect vitamin deficiency as the parent flock was fed medicated pullet grower for a while
Advice and help please asap

What's the poop like?

Being in a new location on new ground, I wonder if Coccidiosis may be a problem.

But I agree, giving Vitamin E to see if that helps would be a good idea.

 

[Cheekychook12]

What's the poop like?

Being in a new location on new ground, I wonder if Coccidiosis may be a problem.

But I agree, giving Vitamin E to see if that helps would be a good idea.

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

 

[Cheekychook12]

What's your location and weather? Has it been suddenly hot? Imbalance is a classic symptom of heat stress.

Wry neck isn't limited to the neck. It covers all symptoms of movement. Stumbling, walking backward, even a slight problem with finding food can be symptoms of wry neck.

Treatments can be given for both even if you don't know for certain of the right diagnosis. For heat stress, give one cup water with one teaspoon sugar stirred in plus a pinch of salt and baking soda to supply the stabilizing minerals.

For wry neck, get people vitamin E and give one gel cap directly into the beak once a day until symptoms clear up. Give with a scant sliver of selenium or cooked egg for better absorption.

It’s winter so definitely not heat stress
Is cold stress a thing?
Thank you for your reply
Could it also be an ear infection?

 

[azygous]

Cold stress is a "thing" but chickens are able to deal far better with cold weather than they do hot. But hypothermia will produce similar symptoms to hyperthermia.

Very young chickens without full protection of insulating feathers are more susceptible to cold issues, therefore I'd suggest treating if you see symptoms to avoid possible organ failure.

 

[Cheekychook12]

Cold stress is a "thing" but chickens are able to deal far better with cold weather than they do hot. But hypothermia will produce similar symptoms to hyperthermia.

Very young chickens without full protection of insulating feathers are more susceptible to cold issues, therefore I'd suggest treating if you see symptoms to avoid possible organ failure.

I doubt it’s hypothermia, they are being kept inside in a heated house overnight, and the temps don’t get cold enough to even snow here over winter
They are fully feathered also
I went to visit him today to have a closer look at the symptoms
He’s not lethargic, normal poops, still eating can stand and walk to some degree
Only symptom is struggling to balance
It seems like his leg muscles aren’t strong enough to support him
Legs are in the right place not splayed, head in normal position
He’s the one on the left near waterer

 

[Eggcessive]

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.

 

[Debbie292d]

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.