Stiff legged walking...2 months old...WORRIED

[remme]

Just added my 2 month old splash jersey giant to the outdoor coop and the big flock. I started noticing him walking almost like a marching style. He extends his leg straight out, opened toed without bending at the knee joint. Imagine as if your chicken was trying to step on something. That's how he walks. As if he's expecting to step on something. Eats and drinks fine. Normal poop. Normal eyes. No sort of cough, wheeze or distcharge. I checked for obvious signs of injury to his legs and see none. Bird was hatched in house and received no vaccinations. It's like a rooster strut but he does it continually...stepping on the other chickens in the process if they meander underneath him. I separated him and started him on a tetracycline cycle along with a nutri-drench just in case. Anyone know what this could be or has dealt with this before!?

 

[Eggcessive]

I have seen video before of chickens doing this sort of gait. I'm not sure if Mareks could be a possibility, but I would continue the vitamins, since there are many vitamin deficiencies with strange symptoms. Does the chick sit on it's hocks or have any other symptoms?

 

[remme]

He acts like a normal chicken for the most part. He roosts sometimes but most of the time he lies on the ground w the rest of his hatch mates who are all about the same age and introduced to the flock at the same time. He does feel skinny but he has a full gizzard (I think thats what its called)

 

[Eggcessive]

That would be a full crop. Check i the mornings when it should be mostly empty. The gizzard is farther down the GI tract.

 

[remme]

Crop yes thank you. I always forget the term "comb" too. Ha.