Star gazing chicken

[Chantal]

Rocky, is a two month old cockerel has a neurological disorder called star gazing. He was badly beaten up by either the girls or his siblings when he was four weeks old and has been living in the house, own run, garden and allotment with me ever since. A couple of weeks ago he started twisting his neck around to the left and then looking up at the sky. He does this when anyone so much as looks at him; otherwise he potters around like any other bird. When I pick him up his head hangs down (twisted round)with his eyes closed like he's dead When he's tired he drops down, twists his neck right round and then reverses in circles. At night he sleeps on the floor, on his side with his head on the floor, or on a "pillow". He likes being in small confined spaces at night and is happiest in the cat basket. I've been told that this can be caused by trauma (his bashing) and it's unlikely he'll grow out of it. Does anyone have any experience of this?

[Chantal]

I'll take that as a no then...

[Diane]

I've been trying to find out for you - I have the idea it's to do with a vitamin B deficiency but I didn't want to say for sure until I was certain. It wouldn't hurt to give half a crushed Brewers Yeast tablet anyway - that's what mine get sprinkled over their food now and again anyway. Try posting the question on the www.practicalpoultry.co.uk website and also on www.pekinbantams.com
I'm sure you'll get an informed answer there.

Meanwhile, back to the chicken bibles for more research

[Chantal]

Thank you, I will. Someone on my allotment swears that it's caused by a parasitic worm so I took him to the vet last night. After 15 minutes of searching for an answer in reference books, internet and asking each other, no one had a clue. However, we've given him some worm stuff and I may be hallucinating but he does seem more upright today. I can only hope so.

We have another theory that he's possibly blind in his left eye, which is where he was pecked, and because of this is twisting his head over to see in front of him properly. Also, when approached and when sleeping, he rolls over to his side to protect where he was injured, in which case there's nothing to be done. However, I have some yeast tablets and nothing to lose so I'll add it to his diet.

One thing is for sure, Rocky may have some strange habits but he's living la dolce vita this summer with a cosy bed in the house at night, the garden every day and a roam around my allotment for several hours almost daily. He's also spoilt rotten by everyone who meets him as he's so loveable.

I don't know if it'll help you find anything, it didn't help me, but when he's picked up he just hangs his head (the wrong way up, shuts his eyes and plays dead. When I took him to the vet he played dead for the whole time we were there; people kept offering me their sympathy. When I got him home, I put him down and he scampered off as usual! He also drinks upside down now.

Thanks very much.

[John]

Hello Chantal
I agree with Diane. It is a known condition in young birds that a deficiency of vitamin B in the chick stage can cause paralysis of neck muscles later with the result that the bird appears to twist its neck and be 'star-gazing'. Its worth trying a dose of yeast tablets for extra vitamin B but I'm sorry to say that the damage may already be done. As a matter interest how did you feed him when he was young? If you gave him chick crumbs its difficult to see how he could become short of a vitamin as these feeds are specially balanced for chicks' nutrient requirements.

I once had a chicken that was blind in one eye and she was scarcely bothered by it. Only when scratching and feeding would you notice that she was using her good eye. Its easy to test for blindness. Pick the bird up and move your hand towards the eye. If sight is good the bird will blink and close its eye, if not it will do nothing and keep its eye open.

John

[Chantal]

Hi John

He was fed on chick crumbs until he was 6 weeks old and is now on layers' pellets. He and his 8 siblings all had the same diet and they're just fine. He's just had half a yeast tablet squashed into his sultanas for breakfast so we'll see what happens. How often should I give him this? At least he'll have glossy feathers!

His neck is not paralyzed in any way at all and is in fact very mobile. He can stretch right up, turn his head to the right to groom himself and revolve his head right round in either direction. He just chooses to list to the left most of the time and twists his head round when anyone or thing goes near him. When he's running around the allotment you'd never think there was anything wrong with him.

As for checking his eye, that's easier said than done as when he's picked up he just hangs his head down with his eyes shut and if I go near him he sticks his dodgy eye on the ground in a defensive position. I've tried doing as you suggested but he's quite adept at seeing me with his other eye as it's always looking in all directions.

There is something else he does which is also odd but may shed some light on this. When he's eating alone he just gets in a pecks at the stuff, albeit sometimes upside down. If there's anyone around, he grabs a bit of food and then puts his head on one side, drags the food backwards a couple of feet and then eats it.

Thanks for all your help.

Chantal

[Southmead]

Hello Chantal

I have a chick exactly the same, she has been like this since she was born. She seems happy and contented, but twists her head about when stressed by others. She eats ok, but drinks in a funny way, but she is not in any pain and is not picked upon, even though she is different.

I do not know why she is like it, she was fed the same chick crumbs as everyone else, but is the only chick like it.

The children adore her because she is different and she gets lots of treats and attention which she enjoys.

It would be interesting to know why she is like she is. I have had her since she was a few days old, and she is now 13 weeks old. Long may she continue as she is a real character.

Tracy

[Chantal]

Hi Southmead, am I glad we're not alone in this!

Rocky was fine when he was born and indeed was OK until he was 6 weeks old but as this was after he was beaten up I don't know if it would have happened anyway.

I have the problem that Anna, the one I suspect of the initial bashing, absolutely hates him. She's a Nankin and is now smaller than him, but the second he sees her he goes into submission mode and she piles into him. I don't know how I'll ever integrate him into the run.

[Tigger]

I think I can guess what you're going to say to this, but why don't you BBQ the basher Anna?

[Chantal]

Well for one thing she's a Nankin (rare breed) and cost me £25 when she was only 12 weeks old, so at her age (14 months) I could sell her for around £45.

For the other, she's my niece Anna's "adopted" chicken (Anna named Anna in honour of herself, modest child). I'd never be forgiven for roasting her.

And finally, I could no more eat my Rosie cat than I could one of my girls, whatever they may have done!

[MrsL]

Can't offer any advice I'm sorry, but a really interesting thread. I've never come across anything like this in all my 19 years of chicken keeping! One of my cockerels (now no longer with us) lost an eye fighting with another cockerel, but was quite happy with just the one.
From what you've written, I think most, if not all, of his behaviour stems from the attack. I wouldn't even think about trying to re-integrate him into the run; could you give him a couple of hens of his own? He sounds lovely to me. I have a Rocky too, a white Silkie bantam cock, now 9 years old.

[Chantal]

Hi Mrs L, you're right, he is lovely and I'm going to have to sort something out for him soon. At present he sleeps in his basket in the bedroom at night, because it is chokingly hot downstairs with no ventilation. Upstairs all the windows are open and I can also give him a drink in the night when I go to the loo. I can't leave a water bowl in his box as he sleeps in the water! Obviously he's not crowing; yet.

He's seemed a little better this week and a bit more sure of himself so who knows, maybe one day he will get better, but I doubt it. I'd love to give him his own run with some suitable women but I don't have much space left. The current chicken run is huge and unless I sacrifice my small lawn I don't know where else he can go. I have gravel, a sunken garden, greenhouses etc but nothing suitable for a chicken run. I may have to split the current run, it's big enough, and put another shed in, that may be the answer. I'll think of something; I'm not giving up on him now.

[MrsL]

Keep us posted.

[Chantal]

Rocky is now 10 weeks old and turning into a beautiful cockerel. His tail feathers are starting to grow and his voice has started to break; cheep cheep one minute and clucks the next.

His neck twisting is really starting to improve; he only does it now if he's VERY stressed or tired. Whereas he used to fall at my feet with his head upside down if I went any where near him, he now runs around playing hard to get unless he thinks there's food involved. He used to play dead when I picked him up and now he holds his head like a real chicken.

I've also been told that if I put "spectacles" on Anna (the one who attacks him) that she'll lose the impulse to beat him up. I know someone who not only has some of these specs but will also fit them to her beak for me. I'm going to let Rocky get a bit bigger and give it a go as he does get lonely.

Because he's lonely he's following me around like a puppy (he's sitting at my feet in the kitchen right now) and chases after me in the garden/allotment as if he's frightened to let me out of his sight. When I'm at home he trots around the kitchen after me (thank heaven I have laminate floors!) much to the disgust of Rosie cat who has now dictated no less than fifteen letters of complaint to Tim.

He has his own fan club at the allotment; his biggest fan is Seedling who is clearly besotted with him (admit it girl) and people are always coming to see how he's doing.

There is one thing I find very curious (and Seedling will bear me out on this) and that is that his comb changes colour so much. My girls have a red comb when they are well and in lay and go paler when they are broody or not well but Rocky has a bright red comb when he's running around and you can visibly see it go very pale when he sits down or is asleep. We can only assume it's a circulation thing. Does anyone know?

When I finally work out how to post photos I'll put some on here.

[oldherbaceous]

Dear Chantal, so glad Rocky seems to be on the road to recovery, must be a real relief as it horrible seeing something wrong with an animal.
Glad he's got his own fan club, hope you don't start getting jealous.
As for his red comb thing, i think thats just a man thing.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.