[chrismm662]

I have a one year old Buff Orpington Cockeral, over the last few months he's started to behave in a strange way, he seems incapable of walking normally, he's started strutting in an exagerated manner or bouncing along and occasionally he acts like he's drunk, staggering and almost falling over. His other sympton is that his feathers have gone extremely fluffy, so much so its hard distinguish individual feathers.
Ive had chickens for many years and never seen anything like this, my wife thinks he's had a stroke ?

Any other ideas ?

[Stereo]

Has he been on muddy ground a lot? The weather has been so awful it's been really difficult to keep birds on dry grass. A few of mine have started doing this, presumably to get their feet out of the mud, especially my orpingtons strangely enough. Cockerels only to. Putting up a poly tunnel for next winter, can't put them through another winter like the last one. 50 acres and not a dry bit of land anywhere.

[chrismm662]

Well it has been muddy of course but isnt that the same every year ?
The only other thing I could think of is arthritis, my previous Buff Cockeral definitely had this in his later years but this one is only 1 year old.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

I just read on google that a staggering hen can be attributed to botulism or an injury. I would speak to the vet about it, because if it does have something catching it might be worth knowing sooner rather than later. Did you see him at all twisting his head around closing his eyes as he did so before he was like this?

[Dave C]

Has one of his wings dropped down, could be Mareks disease !

Google it there's loads of info on Internet.

Fingers crossed its not !!

[Eve]

Doesn't sound like Marek's at all.


If it looks like it's a balance problem, is he friendly enough that you can pick him up and check his ears? Just to check them out before you take him to the vet. Or does he lift his legs up high before taking each step?


Hope he gets better soon 

[Marches Farmer]

Not Marek's.  I'd consider culling him as whatever is causing it his behaviour is not normal and this means he's vulnerable to whatever poultry diseases come your way and could therefore act as a source of infection for the rest of the flock.