Something strange is happening with my hen… Updates with video’s attached. Any help and suggestions needed!

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

I’m here in the chicken yard at 9am sitting with the chickens staring at Percy (the hens name) relax . So far she doesn’t do anything out of the ordinary when she’s relaxing and closing her eyes. However, I did notice when she goes to scratch her ear, she does a subtle back and forth tilt for a few seconds after like she’s trying to focus again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

However, I did notice when she goes to scratch her ear, she does a subtle back and forth tilt for a few seconds after like she’s trying to focus again.

It will be interesting to see the video.
Not sure what's happening with her.

One thing to easily rule out - look in her ears for any infection or mites, since you mention she goes to scratch it and does a bit of a tilt.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

It will be interesting to see the video.
Not sure what's happening with her.

One thing to easily rule out - look in her ears for any infection or mites, since you mention she goes to scratch it and does a bit of a tilt.

I caught her scratching and doing the head tilt on camera. This time it wasn’t so subtle. Not sure if it has anything to do with her falling off of the roost or not?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

That is interesting.
I'd still look inside her ears and in the beak to make sure there's no infection, canker or mites. Process of elimination really.

Vitamin therapy probably wouldn't hurt and may offer some support if the issue is neurological. Vitamin E (400IU) and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily along with a bit of egg for the uptake of E.

Hormonal? Could be. I don't know what do to about that though.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

That is interesting.
I'd still look inside her ears and in the beak to make sure there's no infection, canker or mites. Process of elimination really.

Vitamin therapy probably wouldn't hurt and may offer some support if the issue is neurological. Vitamin E (400IU) and 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily along with a bit of egg for the uptake of E.

Hormonal? Could be. I don't know what do to about that though.

No signs of ear infection. Mouth is perfectly clear, and no lice or mites. I’ll try and get some vitamins when I go to the store on Wednesday, like you said it wouldn’t hurt to try!

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

Placing the camera into the coop tonight to see what’s up and how she acts moments before falling off of the roost.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

UPDATE: I caught it on camera last night… it’s the strangest thing and I have never ever seen her do this during the day. What’s odd too is while she was sleeping on the floor she didn’t do it the rest of the night? The whole thing seems to last around 40 seconds before she gets up again… I really don’t know what could be causing a seizure type thing like this at night but I definitely need any help I can get. So far the only symptoms are a head tilt when she scratches sometimes and these weird seizures at night.

 

[Perris]

there may be some literature on this; so far I've found this
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a108078
to which I don't have access, but you can see the first page for free. It's from the 1970s and talking about epileptic-like seizures in poultry.

 

[CaliforniaMountainChicks]

UPDATE 2:
I was wrong about her not doing it again at night while laying down. I started going through the footage again and saw her do it again a couple hours later. I missed it before because it lasts a lot less time while she’s laying down and she doesn’t flap madly. I’m going through the footage to see how many times she did it throughout the night. Her head tilts back in a stargazing position. Maybe some type of vitamin deficiency linked to this?

 

[Perris]

do the other symptoms here fit?
"

Thiamine (vitamin b1) Deficiency​

Polyneuritis in birds represents the later stages of a thiamin deficiency, probably caused by buildup of the intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism. Because the brain’s immediate source of energy results from the degradation of glucose, it depends on biochemical reactions involving thiamin. In the initial stages of deficiency, lethargy and head tremors may be noted. A marked decrease in appetite is seen in birds fed a thiamin-deficient diet. Poultry are also susceptible to neuromuscular problems, resulting in impaired digestion, general weakness, stargazing, and frequent convulsions.
Polyneuritis may be seen in mature birds ~3 weeks after they are fed a thiamine-deficient diet. As the deficiency progresses, birds may sit on flexed legs and draw back their heads in a star-gazing position. Retraction of the head is due to paralysis of the anterior neck muscles. Soon after this stage, chickens lose the ability to stand or sit upright and topple to the floor, where they may lie with heads still retracted. Thiamin deficiency may also lead to a decrease in body temperature and respiratory rate. Testicular degeneration may be noted, and the heart may show slight atrophy. Birds consuming a thiamin-deficient diet soon show severe anorexia. They lose all interest in feed and will not resume eating unless given thiamin. If a severe deficiency has developed, thiamin must be force-fed or injected to induce the chickens to resume eating.
Thiamin deficiency is most common when poorly processed fish meals are used, because they contain the enzyme thiaminase, which breaks down thiamin. In such situations, adding extra thiamin may be ineffective. There is no good evidence suggesting that, unlike in some mammalian species, certain Fusarium mycotoxins can increase the need for supplemental thiamin. In otherwise adequate diets, deficiency is prevented by supplements of thiamin up to 4 mg/kg." https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...ement-poultry/vitamin-deficiencies-in-poultry