Wobbly 6 week old Brahma--

[ChickenBiffer]

My chickens are six weeks old and seem to be doing great. They are all different breeds, though, so when one seems slightly different from the others I don't know whether to chalk it up to breed difference or something 'off.'

My biggest chicken by far is my Brahma and she's definitely a bit slower and more calm than the others. What I'm not sure about is why she seems kind of clumsy, even falls over sometimes like her leg just got tired and gave out from under her. It's not constant, but if I am in the coop for 20 minutes just watching the chickens, I will definitely see her fall over once or maybe twice. I haven't noticed the other chickens do this. Is this normal for a big bird?

 

[newmarch2014]

I have 2- 12 week old Brahmas, the pullet is not very big compared to the EE's that are her age and she is just a tad slower but definitely not clumsy. My cockerel though is 2x as big and he is definitely slower and less agile, he is unable to get up to the roost as the other 3 are and he avoids acrobats that the others enjoy like getting up on top of the compost pile and flying down but while he is slow and plodding he is certainly not clumsy either. I think maybe you have a chick with some issue like a neurological problem or a problem with her feet? It is hard with their feathered feet to see how their feet have developed.

 

[ChickenBiffer]

So I searched these forums some more and just spent more time with Bertha (the brahma)... I think the biggest oddity about her is that her toes are really weak, she can't perch on me like the others. I can hold her, but as soon as I try to get her to stand on me she can't handle it. She definitely can't curl her toes around my thumb to perch like the others, but she couldn't get stable on my arm or my knee, either. It's the flat floor or nothing. This morning, my husband added vitamins to the water (we had only added that for the first couple weeks, hadn't since). Bertha's leg giving out from under her is not as concerning to me as the toe thing. Is it typical of Brahmas that they aren't as good at perching? She cannot curl her toes around for balance at ALL, it's very different from the other chickens.

 

[rides2far]

I have a 13 week old light brahma pullet & she is not slow or clumsy. She also can fly up to a perch that is about 4' high. I agree with the previous poster that something isn't quite right. If that seems to be the only problem & doesn't progress, then you can make her her own little perch & nesting area close to the ground. Good luck with your girl.

 

[kmartinez]

Brahamas a very stable big birds. they roost well. they are my fastest bird running they beat my wyandottes and australorp to the runs door when they see me with treats. They are also pretty accurate on landing on roosts and getting on their swing even if it is swaying in the wind. I have 5 of them and none are clumsy or fall. My roosting bars are 2x4's thought because the feet get huge. But they have a chicken swing and the brahamas own it so to speak one is always on it and the bar is smaller and they can grab and hold on to it while they swing. So i agree with the others there is something wrong.

 

[fire370]

As said above, my Brahma's are solid birds and pretty fast. By no means clumsy or slow. I think I've got somewhere in the ballpark of 33 Brahma's mixed in the flock and have always had some variation of them.

In fact right now, out of all the birds, I've got a light Brahma that is my favorite hen. She can't get enough of me. Wish my wife would take lessons. LOL