“Drunk” 2 week old Meat Bird

[xXStringbeanXx]

I have fourteen just over two week old chicks. Five of which are a Red Ranger meat bird breed. They, obviously, are growing much faster than the other birds but until yesterday seemed to be thriving. I noticed one last night that has been sitting a lot, to the point of starting to develop a fluff-less spot on his butt. He sort of kicks his feet out in front of him. He is eating, drinking, and moves around, but when he walks, he stumbles and frequently falls back on his bum, where he seems to rest a bit. He honestly looks drunk, but when I support him, it does seem his legs are working adequately. I have withheld food the past 12 hours to get him to empty his crop and have been giving him liquid vitamins last night and this morning. He did slightly more stable this morning but still same symptoms. Any advice? I know to expect possibly deaths with meat birds due to their fast development.

 

[azygous]

It could be this one individual has surpassed the ability of his skeletal system to support him. Sadly, this happens frequently with fast growing meat birds. All you can do is ration feed to slow his growth to keep pace with the growth of his skeletal system.

There's another possibility. This chick may be infected with Marek's, although the disease doesn't usually show up this early.

 

[xXStringbeanXx]

It could be this one individual has surpassed the ability of his skeletal system to support him. Sadly, this happens frequently with fast growing meat birds. All you can do is ration feed to slow his growth to keep pace with the growth of his skeletal system.

There's another possibility. This chick may be infected with Marek's, although the disease doesn't usually show up this early.

That’s kind of the feeling I’m getting. Is Mareks a possibility even though he was vaccinated?

 

[Kiki]

That’s kind of the feeling I’m getting. Is Mareks a possibility even though he was vaccinated?

Yes, it does not prevent the disease.
http://www.caes.ucdavis.edu/news/articles/2016/11/how-vaccines-ward-off-chicken-disease

"The vaccines are prepared from related, weakened strains of the Marek’s disease virus. Although they don’t prevent infection, they do interfere with tumor formation and so prevent death in infected chickens."

eta...I do not think you are dealing with Marek's at this point.
I believe this is just a growing too fast problem with the meat bird.

 

[Ahavati]

Hmm, we have 15 rangers and about 60 cornish. Ours are around 7 weeks old. They all get bare spots on their bottoms and feather kind of funny. But they don't stumble. They do kind of walk funny though with the extra weight.

That said, I don't think that they have Merecks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would really give the chick vitamins a try. Poultry Cell is very good, but just make sure they contain riboflavin (NutriDrench does not.) Sometimes too, they may get coccidiosis when they are a few weeks old. If he seems puffed up or hunched, lethargic, not eating, and having runny poops(especially if they are orange or bloody,) then start treatment with Corid (amprollium) from the feed store, cattle medicines.

 

[Kiki]

Corid Powder

• Kiki
• Apr 16, 2018

Corid Liquid

• Kiki
• Apr 16, 2018

 

[xXStringbeanXx]

He eats, poops, drinks, and runs from me just fine (with a few stumble falls) so I think he feels okay other than being fat and unstable.

I just felt better asking than ignoring. Ill keep up the extra vitamins and Ill limit their food until the snow melts and they can start getting more exercise outside. Thank you!