Walking crooked

[The Welch Chickens]

This hen (who is going through a hard molt but otherwise healthy) seems to be walking crooked (not horribly…just looks a bit drunk). Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

Looks okay to me . Maybe she sobered up?

 

[coach723]

If she continues to look 'drunk' then I would try giving her a B complex or super B complex tablet or capsule once a day. Any brand, human ones, any pharmacy or box store should have it. Sometimes when they molt they don't eat well and it can result in deficiencies. The B's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I often do this for birds in molt if they are walking like drunk, or wobbly or unbalanced. Sometimes one or two doses will make a big difference. It won't hurt anything and may have her looking better in a short time. Just put it in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it no problem.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

Looks okay to me . Maybe she sobered up?

If she continues to look 'drunk' then I would try giving her a B complex or super B complex tablet or capsule once a day. Any brand, human ones, any pharmacy or box store should have it. Sometimes when they molt they don't eat well and it can result in deficiencies. The B's are very safe, extra will be excreted. I often do this for birds in molt if they are walking like drunk, or wobbly or unbalanced. Sometimes one or two doses will make a big difference. It won't hurt anything and may have her looking better in a short time. Just put it in her beak and push it back, she will swallow it no problem.

They went to roost right after taking that video, so I don't know how she is now...I will have to update tomorrow. I will try to get ahold of a B complex tablet. Thank you both for replying!

 

[Eggcessive]

It can be common to see unusual behavior during a hard molt. B complex is inexpensive at Walmart in Equate, Spring Valley, or generic brands.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

This hen (who is going through a hard molt but otherwise healthy) seems to be walking crooked (not horribly…just looks a bit drunk). Any ideas?

Probably feels prickly.

I agree, giving extra vitamins during molt won't hurt a thing.

 

[Perris]

It may be a little alkaloid poisoning from something she foraged to excess (some plants' / their symbionts' self-defence from being consumed) in her search for extra protein. If so, it will clear up on its own unless she eats a lot more of it; try offering more protein while she's moulting and see if it recurs.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

She was still wobbly today and seemed to be stressed because of the cold wind. I brought her indoors and gave her a B complex tablet. She is resting now.

 

[coach723]

Let us know how she does.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

I've had her in the cage since Saturday and she's doing very well. The daily B complex seems to have helped, but I won't know until she walks around.
She looks well enough to be put back with the flock, but it's 46*F and windy, so I'm nervous to put her outside...it's comfortably toasty in her cage and I don't want her to be thrust into shocking cold. What do you all think I should do?