It was really hard to get a picture of, but I have a chick (I call her Peep) who is doing some very distinct goose-stepping on tippytoe when she walks. Her walk is very wobbly and she falls down every few steps. When she stops and sits, she rests on one knee, but it seems to alternate (it's not just one leg). She is obviously in some discomfort. I've done a search and can't find anything like this...isn't she too old for spraddle leg? I apologize for the long post, but here are the details:
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Peep is a silkie x barred rock chick, about 10 weeks old. Not sure about gender.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
This chick is having a lot of trouble walking. Its legs seem to work for only a few steps and then give out. When the chick does walk, it's on tiptoes with legs straight, like a goose-stepping Nazi. Then she wobbles and falls down
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
We picked up Peep and checked her carefully, feeling her legs and feet gently on all sides. Nothing feels broken, the joints seem to work OK, and she didn't squawk when any particular part was touched. There are no cuts or apparent injuries, and her toes and the bottoms of her feet look fine.
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No idea. There was a lot of squawking in the coop this morning right before we let them out, so it's possible she was attacked by a 12-week old BR cockerel or (less likely) a tiny sebright cockerel. But if so, there's no apparent damage.
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Not sure - she's in an outdoor coop and large run with food and water available, but I can't watch her all day to see what she eats. Food available is either Start & Grow or Layena, plus normal outdoor stuff like bugs and grass. I brought her some treats this afternoon and she ate them with enthusiasm, so I think her appetite is OK.
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Definitely runny poop.
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing yet, no idea what to do. We've kicked the cockerels out of that pen, so it's just Peep and Mellow in there now.
8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat this myself, don't really have the resources to take a chick to the vet.
9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Pics follow...
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
This chick is in a small 4'x4' outdoor coop with her mama (a Silkie named Mellow) and a little 6-month-old sebright cockerel. They are closed into the coop at night and let out in a large run in the morning. We did have a 12-week old barred rock cockerel in the coop this morning too. There are pine shavings on the floor, a roost across the back, and a nest box with hay in it - I found Peep and Mellow in the nest box this morning.
Here are the pics - not the best because it was raining:
1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Peep is a silkie x barred rock chick, about 10 weeks old. Not sure about gender.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
This chick is having a lot of trouble walking. Its legs seem to work for only a few steps and then give out. When the chick does walk, it's on tiptoes with legs straight, like a goose-stepping Nazi. Then she wobbles and falls down
3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
We picked up Peep and checked her carefully, feeling her legs and feet gently on all sides. Nothing feels broken, the joints seem to work OK, and she didn't squawk when any particular part was touched. There are no cuts or apparent injuries, and her toes and the bottoms of her feet look fine.
4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
No idea. There was a lot of squawking in the coop this morning right before we let them out, so it's possible she was attacked by a 12-week old BR cockerel or (less likely) a tiny sebright cockerel. But if so, there's no apparent damage.
5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Not sure - she's in an outdoor coop and large run with food and water available, but I can't watch her all day to see what she eats. Food available is either Start & Grow or Layena, plus normal outdoor stuff like bugs and grass. I brought her some treats this afternoon and she ate them with enthusiasm, so I think her appetite is OK.
6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Definitely runny poop.
7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Nothing yet, no idea what to do. We've kicked the cockerels out of that pen, so it's just Peep and Mellow in there now.
8 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat this myself, don't really have the resources to take a chick to the vet.
9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
Pics follow...
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
This chick is in a small 4'x4' outdoor coop with her mama (a Silkie named Mellow) and a little 6-month-old sebright cockerel. They are closed into the coop at night and let out in a large run in the morning. We did have a 12-week old barred rock cockerel in the coop this morning too. There are pine shavings on the floor, a roost across the back, and a nest box with hay in it - I found Peep and Mellow in the nest box this morning.
Here are the pics - not the best because it was raining:
Last edited:
