sweet_lfa Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 We have three hens who are about 2 years old. They have always been very healthy and lay well. A few weeks ago, they started to moult and have stopped laying. During this time they have not been eating a great deal and are spending more time in their Eglu than normal. One of the chickens, a Light Sussex has recently started displaying strange behaviour and is walking backwards. I have tried to research what this could be and so far I have come up with possible head injury and defiency in B vitamins. Their normal routine is as follows: Let them into their run in the morning where they have ad lib layers pellets and water with "Poultry Drink". In the afternoon, they are then allowed to free range across several acres of land and in the late afternoon I give them a treat of a handful of barley mixed with "Poultry Spice". Surely, this diet and lifestyle would enable them to get all the vitamins and minerals they need? Can anyone suggest any reason why this hen could be doign this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Surfnirvana Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 Hi there When my Miss Pepperpot - Doris - was going through her last moult (she was 2 years old then), she put on some very strange walking behaviour. Lots of head weaving and side stepping. I though she'd had a stroke and it was rather distressing to see. Not sure what causes it, but it last just over a week and as soon as her feather started to grow back, she was back to her normal feisty self again. Hopefully that is what your chook is going through at the moment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_lfa Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Thanks for your reply Well, she seems to be full of beans and when I let them all out they flap and bounce around in good spirits. Hopefully it is just something to do with the moult and it will stop soon. She only seem to do it when in the run, but when free ranging she is fine again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 One of my ex batts used to walk backwards and sideways when she was moulting, she would also hang her head and walk round in circles. She was fine when her feathers regrew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweet_lfa Posted November 29, 2011 Author Share Posted November 29, 2011 One of my ex batts used to walk backwards and sideways when she was moulting, she would also hang her head and walk round in circles. She was fine when her feathers regrew. Bizarre, but reassuring to know! Lets hope its just to do with moulting then and not something more serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Yep I had the same problem with my frizzle when she went through a very heavy moult some extra protein such as cat food, mealworms, tuna and lifeguard tonic in the water made a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
