Rooster walking backwards Please Help!

[Bronx girls]

How little are you talking? Is he a silkie?

Use a 400 IU vitamin E softgel once a day and then a vitamin B complex 1/4 to 1/2 a tablet daily. For wry neck I've done the vitamins twice daily for a few days and then cut back to once a day when they started improving.

If he has wattles will make it easier, if he doesn't it may take a bit more work to get the pills down him. Hold him under your left arm like a football, use your left hand to grab his wattles, pull down gently to open his beak and use your right hand to pop a pill into the back of his mouth, let him swallow that and repeat on the next one.

If he is eating well, you may be able to pop the vitamin E pill and put it on some mash for him (a little of his regular feed with some water added to make it soft) if he's able to eat it all by himself this will work, otherwise stick to the pill down the gullet method.

He is a Frizzle he's about 3lbs the smallest in my flock, yes he has wattles I have never had any type of chicken or rooster this tiny. So CVS/walgreens type Vitamins? Thank you so much!

 

[2ndTink]

He is a Frizzle he's about 3lbs the smallest in my flock, yes he has wattles I have never had any type of chicken or rooster this tiny. So CVS/walgreens type Vitamins? Thank you so much!

Yep, those are the ones! I haven't ready anything about methylated vs non-methylated B vitamins for poultry, I always use the methyl-B's for myself so that's what the chickens get too.

 

[Bronx girls]

Yep, those are the ones! I haven't ready anything about methylated vs non-methylated B vitamins for poultry, I always use the methyl-B's for myself so that's what the chickens get too.

I don't know the difference in the B vitamins but I will ask the pharmacist or does the label specify it and I just pop it in his mouth along with the E softgel?

 

[2ndTink]

I don't know the difference in the B vitamins but I will ask the pharmacist or does the label specify it and I just pop it in his mouth along with the E softgel?

The label will say, but I'm sure the pharmacist can help you find good quality vitamins with good bioavailability very quickly!

 

[Bronx girls]

The label will say, but I'm sure the pharmacist can help you find good quality vitamins with good bioavailability very quickly!

Thank you so much I am going to go pick some up. Thank you so much!!!

 

[Bronx girls]

The label will say, but I'm sure the pharmacist can help you find good quality vitamins with good bioavailability very quickly!

Hi so I have been giving him the vitamins going on 3 days and still no change do you have any idea when should I expect to see any results? Its so sad to see him like this.

 

[2ndTink]

Hi so I have been giving him the vitamins going on 3 days and still no change do you have any idea when should I expect to see any results? Its so sad to see him like this.

Well, I've always read and been told "it can take awhile", I had a chick get better in 2 days and I had one that took a few weeks then had a repeat at about 16 weeks old and I never could get him back 100%, he managed just fine but his head tipped a bit to the side.

Is he still eating well? Any worse?

I'd keep going with the vitamins, but there is a chance it isn't a deficiency, but if it isn't I'm not sure what else to try.

@TwoCrows @Debbie292d any other ideas here?

 

[TwoCrows]

Excellent advice above! Definitely follow the advice from @2ndTink on giving Vitamins, Vitamins never hurt and deficiencies can definitely cause weakness, wry neck and ambulatory issues. The B Vitamins, especially B1 along with E and Selenium are very important for muscle coordination. It can take weeks for the body to respond to added vitamins if there is a deficiency.

I've never a chicken walk backwards however I have had quail do this after a head injury from flying into ceilings, walls, ect... If this is the case it can take a while for swelling in the neck and brain to go down. I would definitely keep him inside somewhere warm (he will heal faster) and keep him in a small space until he recovers, he shouldn't be allowed to back into things and injure himself. One baby aspirin once a day will help with inflammation. (No matter what the cause, Id keep him inside, warm and confined anyway.)

Toxins in grains can cause walking issues as well as can an inner ear or encephalitis (brain swelling) infection. If after you have ruled out all other advice, you might consider toxins or bacterial infection. These are less likely but are always a possibility.

 

[Debbie292d]

Well, I've always read and been told "it can take awhile", I had a chick get better in 2 days and I had one that took a few weeks then had a repeat at about 16 weeks old and I never could get him back 100%, he managed just fine but his head tipped a bit to the side.

Is he still eating well? Any worse?

I'd keep going with the vitamins, but there is a chance it isn't a deficiency, but if it isn't I'm not sure what else to try.

@TwoCrows @Debbie292d any other ideas here?

Excellent advice by @2ndTink

I'd keep doing as she suggested, and it could take a couple of weeks before you start seeing some change. Then, keep going with it. I did this for two months on one with similar symptoms. It never completely cured her, but big improvements, so she lives a normal life now.

Regardless if this was a vitamin deficiency or injury, he should start improving. If he never does, it could mean it's something else, but none of this harms him in any way.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have seen this behavior here in a few birds. It's always some irritation on the head. They eventually stop as it gets resolved. They are trying to get away from the pain so they back up and spin, and usually shake their head. Give it time and it should resolve, as long as it's minor. I've seen it most often during a molt, and after frostbite. I've also seen weird behavior if their sight is limited.