Youn roo looks dizzy

[Lia87]

My roo is 12 weeks and since 4 weeks has had a wobbly head on and off (not all the time). Almost like if you were to go on a ride that spins around and around and you get off and just your head is dizzy, doesnt fall over or anything. Hes heating normally and crowing (quite happy with himself). Have given antibiotics, vitamins in water etc esp vitamin E and nothing has fixed it. no one else in the flock has the issue and I cant seem to find anything on the web about this? Can anyone shed some light? I think it may be neurological but the non-contageous kind.

 

[azygous]

Of course we can't diagnose your cockerel. We can suggest treatments that might effect an improvement in the condition, but that's about it.

Dizziness and an unsteady gait and balance issues are, as you've already considered, neurological. Starvation, dehydration, hypothermia and hyperthermia, and injury can all produce these symptoms. But so can avian viruses.

To effectively treat neurological symptoms, you first need to elevate glucose levels by putting a little sugar in the drinking water or syringing it into his beak. This can immediately feed the brain and quiet some symptoms. This can tell you he may not be getting enough to eat and to address that.

The other important treatment is vitamin E. It needs to be in highly concentrated form - E 400iu oil from ordinary capsules found in the vitamin aisle for humans. Pop on directly into his beak and do this once a day for several days. If there's a deficiency, this may correct it. Symptoms should disappear in just a few days.

If symptoms persist with these treatments, then you might then conclude there's a virus involved that is attacking the nerves and brain and perhaps other organs.

 

[coach723]

Just wanted to add, I have a roo that has a similar neurological tick, started when he was about 6 months old. He never was obviously ill or injured. It comes and goes randomly. Nothing has made it better, nothing has made it worse. He's now 6 1/2 years old, seems to happen less frequently as he's gotten older. He's been able to live normally, still pretty much a normal chicken except for the random head shakes. It's never spread to another bird or passed to an offspring. So I would do all the suggested treatments, see if you get improvement. But sometimes things have no obvious explanation. If he can eat and drink well, and mostly be normal, he may do fine, depending on what it is.