Update #1, July 6, 2017:
I contacted our State Veterinarian's office to report this issue and am expecting to hear back from our regional inspector some time today or tomorrow to further discuss and determine whether/when they will come out and assess and see what recommendations they may have.
We contacted the breeder that we got him (and his siblings) from to see if they were aware or had seen any similar issues in their flocks over the years, and they reported that this was new to them as well. They also forwarded my description of the problem on to their State Ag Office, and actually received a reply pretty quickly, which while caveated that they could not diagnose via email, stated that the condition sounded like an acute metabolic and/or neurological disorder and may be related to a condition known as "flip over" in broilers. I've started looking into that and symptoms and descriptions sound extremely similar (though I cannot find a video), though unlike broilers who succumb to the spasms, etc., our cockerel is still alive and functional.
He had at least one brief episode after dark last night, but was otherwise continuing to eat, drink, poop, chase bugs, chat, and meander around his enclosure. He still keeps his head and tail cocked at odd angles, but is slightly more surefooted more often when walking around.
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This issue regards a 3 month old RO cockerel (1 of 11 straight run RO chicks we got this spring). This past Monday, during our flock's into-the-coop to roost for the night routine, our BR burst into a persistent alarm call, which we immediately investigated.
What we found was this cockerel in the coop on his back and just flailing (the rest of the flock was either already roosted in the coop or outside trying to figure out what was going on). We pulled him out and took him away from the others to figure out what was going on, and when we put him down he would immediately fall back on his rear end, legs straight out in front of him and his neck coiled down on his back and then start kicking and flapping (ineffectually) and writhing his neck against his back. Picking him up and holding him calmed him and he stopped, but putting him down again without holding onto him resulted in him falling back down and starting it all over.
In the event it was a Vit E deficiency, we dosed him with ~100mg of Vit E supplement by syringe and made sure he was hydrated. In ~45 minutes, he'd calmed and was able to stand on his own and walk, slightly unsteadily. He kept his tail turned to the left and his head tilted right and slightly back, but was stable. He even ate and drank on his own, so we isolated him in a large crate with flock raiser feed and vitamin-laced water.
He continues to hold his tail and head askew, though he is fully alert, watchful, and chatty and continues to eat, drink, and poop just fine (and in normal/expected quantities) on his own. However, yesterday we saw him randomly fall back and have one of the flailing fits 3 times in between just sitting/standing around the crate. He walks, but there was and remains a touch of unsteadiness about it.
This morning, he had two more fits before 6AM. The rest of the flock, which includes 10 of his siblings, two 6yo hens, and 3 4yo hens remain perfectly normal. I'm thinking it's not a vitamin issue. I don't know if it's injury-related (we found no evidence of such and he never appears to be in pain or react as if anything hurts him), or if it's genetics. I am pessimistic about his full recovery at this point, and unfortunately, think I will have to cull later this evening if there is no marked improvement very soon. However, I was very curious as to whether any of you have experienced anything like this or may have more insight as to possible causes/prevention/cures.
Thank you!
I contacted our State Veterinarian's office to report this issue and am expecting to hear back from our regional inspector some time today or tomorrow to further discuss and determine whether/when they will come out and assess and see what recommendations they may have.
We contacted the breeder that we got him (and his siblings) from to see if they were aware or had seen any similar issues in their flocks over the years, and they reported that this was new to them as well. They also forwarded my description of the problem on to their State Ag Office, and actually received a reply pretty quickly, which while caveated that they could not diagnose via email, stated that the condition sounded like an acute metabolic and/or neurological disorder and may be related to a condition known as "flip over" in broilers. I've started looking into that and symptoms and descriptions sound extremely similar (though I cannot find a video), though unlike broilers who succumb to the spasms, etc., our cockerel is still alive and functional.
He had at least one brief episode after dark last night, but was otherwise continuing to eat, drink, poop, chase bugs, chat, and meander around his enclosure. He still keeps his head and tail cocked at odd angles, but is slightly more surefooted more often when walking around.
***********************
This issue regards a 3 month old RO cockerel (1 of 11 straight run RO chicks we got this spring). This past Monday, during our flock's into-the-coop to roost for the night routine, our BR burst into a persistent alarm call, which we immediately investigated.
What we found was this cockerel in the coop on his back and just flailing (the rest of the flock was either already roosted in the coop or outside trying to figure out what was going on). We pulled him out and took him away from the others to figure out what was going on, and when we put him down he would immediately fall back on his rear end, legs straight out in front of him and his neck coiled down on his back and then start kicking and flapping (ineffectually) and writhing his neck against his back. Picking him up and holding him calmed him and he stopped, but putting him down again without holding onto him resulted in him falling back down and starting it all over.
In the event it was a Vit E deficiency, we dosed him with ~100mg of Vit E supplement by syringe and made sure he was hydrated. In ~45 minutes, he'd calmed and was able to stand on his own and walk, slightly unsteadily. He kept his tail turned to the left and his head tilted right and slightly back, but was stable. He even ate and drank on his own, so we isolated him in a large crate with flock raiser feed and vitamin-laced water.
He continues to hold his tail and head askew, though he is fully alert, watchful, and chatty and continues to eat, drink, and poop just fine (and in normal/expected quantities) on his own. However, yesterday we saw him randomly fall back and have one of the flailing fits 3 times in between just sitting/standing around the crate. He walks, but there was and remains a touch of unsteadiness about it.
This morning, he had two more fits before 6AM. The rest of the flock, which includes 10 of his siblings, two 6yo hens, and 3 4yo hens remain perfectly normal. I'm thinking it's not a vitamin issue. I don't know if it's injury-related (we found no evidence of such and he never appears to be in pain or react as if anything hurts him), or if it's genetics. I am pessimistic about his full recovery at this point, and unfortunately, think I will have to cull later this evening if there is no marked improvement very soon. However, I was very curious as to whether any of you have experienced anything like this or may have more insight as to possible causes/prevention/cures.
Thank you!
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Have you looked into Marek's or other disease issues? Did you hatch these chicks yourself from your own stock? Do you feed treats or supplements?
