Unsecure chicken perches

[Forge Cottage]

Since about the same time she started moulting recently, Gertie seems to have an involuntary twitch that cuts in every few minutes when she is browsing about:

 

Her head suddenly ducks down low to the ground and she starts marching directly backwards like a robot, her head bobbing, until she hits something. Then she snaps out of it, looks around as if to say 'Hey, how did I get here?' and carries on normally for a while...

 

We thought maybe she had something stuck in her ear, or some kind of labarynthitis balance problem. But it seems involuntary, so maybe she just has a short circuit in her brain?? Chicken neurology is not my realm of expertise!

 

It would be quite amusing to watch, except she lives in an electrified pen In truth I haven't seen her hit the fence when it is on yet, but it is on all day while we are at work. Sometimes she walks backwards off the edge of things too... We just want them to feel and be safe

 

She has always been sensitive and our special needs chicken. She has sometimes had a head twitch habit and occasionally a milder walking backwards thing, but not for some time now.

 

Has anyone experienced similar and any ideas what this could be about?

[Patricia W]

It sounds as though it might be worth asking the vet to have a look.

[coco]

One of my ex batts Lily did this last year when she was moulting, she would bob her head and walk backwards at an angle, she has just started moulting again today and i noticed her take a couple of steps backwards. She also does it when she doesn't like something usually anti peck spray, it must be the smell. She is well in herself and eating and drinking normally so I've put it down to one of her quirks. If you are worried do see a vet though.

[Forge Cottage]

Thanks...

 

I don't think it is anything too worrying so we will just keep an eye on her for now. More of a concern is that the other girls think her new feather stubs are food... Ouch!

 

Meanwhile we are keeping her indoors overnight while she is semi-clothed in this cold. She just walked backwards across the kitchen and knocked over a load of empty bottles. Strike!

[Plum]

There was a thread about this a while ago and the things causing the problem seemed to be either ears, neurological caused by vitamin (probably B) deficiency or respiratory infection.

 

This thread has some links that might help

http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=103800&p=1

[Forge Cottage]

Thanks Plum. Will check it out...

[Charlottechicken]

Maisie, my young Sussex bantam, did this regularly until just recently. She has almost grown out of it now but it seems to kick in occasionally at times of stress or great excitement