Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Luvachicken]

I have checked all of my previous posts but cannot find what I am looking for.

 

Gemma, every now and then, walks backwards

I'm hoping that it is because she has something up her beak that she is trying to get rid of.

She goes backwards, slightly crouched, with a kind of chicken frown

Then she goes back to normal.

She doesn't do it every day.

 

I'm just a bit worried

[Cat tails]

Leentje does that too occasionally. Like she trying to back out of a tunnel.

[Luvachicken]

Leentje does that too occasionally. Like she trying to back out of a tunnel.

 

Yes, just like that.

I wonder what it is ?

[Cat tails]

Really don't have the faintest.

[Beantree]

Can't remember ever seeing any of ours walk backwards Luvachicken, but what springs to mind is a solid crop causing frontal discomfort, hence the walking back to get away from it. We have some that eat too much before drinking and they then start wriggling their crop and take one step back each time. Once they have drunk the crop eases and they are fine again. Possible explanation perhaps? Have you any additives in the water that may be discouraging drinking?

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Beantree

That does sound like it could be the answer

 

They have had antibiotics in the water because of Chloe (sadly she died) which they had for 2 weeks.

I've given them normal water since Monday this week and will then make them the water with the probiotic stuff in it tomorrow.

 

Think I will check all their crops tomorrow too.

[Lewis]

Could be a few things, some are absolutely normal behaviour and others a little odd.

 

We had a broody a few years ago who would do it and a week later I realised she had an ear infection.

I wouldn't panic just yet but you're right to keep a close eye on her.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Lewis

I checked her crop yesterday and again today and it feels fine.

I will be keeping a much closer eye on them than normal what with poor Chloe being so ill recently and the bird flu stuff at the moment.

[DaisyAndBobby]

Walking backwards indicates a neurological problem. It is in most cases nutritional. Get some multivitamin drops for their water.

[Luvachicken]

Thanks Daisyandbobby, they have that already

[Valkyrie]

Have you been playing Spike Milligan songs to her Luvachicken? I know one of them was called "I'm walking backwards for Christmas"! That was one of my dad's Goons 78s!!! Sorry - couldn't resist that xxxx

 

Hope she's sorted herself out now. Squirt always had a fat crop since babyhood and sometimes she doesn't see so shuffles backwards to see what she's missing. I blame her mother for excessive feeding instructions when they hatched.

[Luvachicken]

Have you been playing Spike Milligan songs to her Luvachicken? I know one of them was called "I'm walking backwards for Christmas"! That was one of my dad's Goons 78s!!! Sorry - couldn't resist that xxxx

 

 

Well I was going to see if I could teach them that Muppet Chicken - Joy to the World - that DM put on

Haven't heard that Spike Milligan song for years

[Charlottechicken]

Have you been playing Spike Milligan songs to her Luvachicken? I know one of them was called "I'm walking backwards for Christmas"! That was one of my dad's Goons 78s!!! Sorry - couldn't resist that xxxx

 

I'm singing that to myself now!

 

Maisie used to do the occasional backward walk, bum up in the air and head lower and moving side to side. I lost her at the end of October after almost 6 and a half years and she definitely had mental issues. She was a right gobble guts though and ate the same as the others so I'm not sure it was down to nutrition? She was a lone hatch and spent a lot of time with me in the kitchen where I would gently slide her backwards along the kitchen floor and she would gallop back for me to do it again, she loved it, so I wondered if I caused it until I read of similar things on here.

[Luvachicken]

Thinking about it, she looks more like she is reversing from a burp

[Eggshell]

My bottom chicken does this when she's being particularly humble.