Cathy A Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hi I have a ~10 month old Poland (in a mixed group of 5 various breeds) who in the last couple of days has started to tilt her neck and body and then walk backwards or sideways. The most accurate way to describe it is that she is moonwalking. It looks very odd and she looks bewildered but then she will be normal for a few moments - preening or eating- and then starts again. I was already pretty worried about her with the oncoming cold weather as she has very few feathers but otherwise she's always been perfect - if not a bit mad. Has anyone any experience or any idea what this could be? Thanks Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 My little frizzle was doing a very similar thing and she was really bald I felt the behaviour was linked to her moulting I increased the protein and minerals in her diet she has now re feathered and I have not seen her weird walk since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I had the same with a very poorly chook. I sent samples off for testing fortunately before she had showed really ill!!! She had the course of antibiotics prescribed by Retfords and after 2 days off them was still ill, and my vet thought likely picked up something else whilst taking antibiotics. So prescribed further 2 weeks baytrill. After day 2 day 3 and she was better... went from strength to strength and fully recovered Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy A Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hi Thanks for the responses. Can I ask a couple of questions though. Keyhole Kate how did you increase her protein and minerals? Delores is on organic layers with poultry spice and a few mealworms and corn of an evening. Sandy could you please advise what samples you sent off? Where they faecal? Thanks again Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 yesvery simple send first class ring for result four days later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm not clear on how a faecal sample is going to help with what sounds like a neurological problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Can be dietery deficiency. Can't remember which vit causes neuro symptoms so tonic helps and guess the infection was coincidental or contributing to malnutrition maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm not clear on how a faecal sample is going to help with what sounds like a neurological problem. Nor me, just give her a good poultry tonic and she ought to be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I thought it was dietry or mineral related I put her on lifeguard in her water meal worms cat food with some poultry spice as well as mealworms I also changed my layers pellets from heygates to farmgates as she had also had to have surgery for a prolapsed vent that my vet thought could have been caused by her low weight and weak muscles due to her moulting but still laying she was in effect using more energy than she was taking in. She is now well fully feathered and a picture of health Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 mine was clearly ill ... I am sure there is a thread about another chicken doing similar things... I have seen VERY similar weird walking during a severe moult.. mine also make baby cheeping noises whilst in this state! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy A Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Thanks for the reponses. I've upped the poultry spice and mealworms so we'll just have to wait and see. She's still moonwalking as I type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 It may well be neurological. Are you sure that she can see properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy A Posted October 19, 2011 Author Share Posted October 19, 2011 Hi She seems to be able to spot her mealworms ok! We've already trimmed back her crest feathers as she had quite restricted vision, even though it never seemed to bother. Will just have to wait and see I suppose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 What are all her poos like caecal as well as others Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy A Posted October 20, 2011 Author Share Posted October 20, 2011 With ref to poos I honestly don't know. All those in the droppings tray are normal and I've spotted some caecal poos in the run but couldn't say who they've come from. I'll ring my husband who's at home to look out. What would be the significance of absence of caecal poos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 All chooks will do caecal poos Cathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 My reason for inquiring is that iffy poo can be the first sign of a cooking infection, and some only show up in the cacael poo. Mine sometimes have seemed fine apart from the odd non normal poo, but have actually been decidedly ill by the time I have got the results. It is VERY hard for any one to suggest what might be wrong without actually seeing, the chicken. A Vet would be best for a firm diagnosis. I THINK think think it MIGHT be vit K deficiency that causes some neurological problems ?????? ANd I think (think think) that an injection or course of is needed. If any one has access to the ex bat forum someone on there had what I am am thinking of...I half recall a whole lot from the one farm had this defiency . ( but I am not sure???) Doesn't anyone else remember the other thread about a weird walking chicken? I am sure it was on here??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I thought it was dietry or mineral related I put her on lifeguard in her water meal worms cat food with some poultry spice as well as mealworms I also changed my layers pellets from heygates to farmgates as she had also had to have surgery for a prolapsed vent that my vet thought could have been caused by her low weight and weak muscles due to her moulting but still laying she was in effect using more energy than she was taking in. She is now well fully feathered and a picture of health Hi everyone, I've got a chicken displaying exactly the same symptoms - LOL at the moonwalking description, I hadn't thought of that! Mine have had layers pellets, mealworm, mixed seed (wild bird mix), poultry spice and ACV - should I up the dose of spice / ACV - or is there another supplement you would all recommend? They are all in moult to a greater or lesser degree. Kate - interested you mention cat food? is that a good thing to give them to perk up? Thanks all Jules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathy A Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Hi Just a quick update on Delores. She has gradually improved over the past week or so; she is still doing the odd moonwalk but overall she's moving normally. This has coincided with a massive amount of new feathers coming through, so as nothing else has changed I'm assuming that it was indeed linked to some deficiency caused by the moult. Very relieved....thanks to all who provided advice. Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Glad she's almost back to normal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Could be a lack of Biotin (a B vitamin) they need lots of Biotin to produce feathers, a lack of Biotin (and B vits in general) has been known to produce neurological symptoms (as CM has said). Cooked egg whites are a good source of Biotin, as are some of the better poultry tonics (Life-Guard contains a B vitamin complex according to the label). I understand (I may be wrong though) that it's also present in the Nettex moulting rescue product. I'd reinforce their diet with either/any of the above and add a squirt of cod liver oil to their pellets as it's good for general condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepops148 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Cathy, glad to know Dolores has improved. I saw some signs in mine of improvement but today she seems worse again. I'll try the egg whites and the moulting stuff for a couple of weeks and see what happens. Thanks Dogmother Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
