1 week old chick suddenly ill

[Zhurf]

Hello friends, I have a zombie chick that was hatched about a week ago and everything was going great, very lively active eating and drinking fine jumping around and even squaring up with my hand when I would reach into the brooder, feisty little fella. However seemingly overnight something has gone wrong, came in and noticed him breathing a bit odd, opening and closing mouth, though it was a heat related so I moved the brooder up a bit to relive him while slanting it down so they could warm themselves up if needed.

After about an hour of moving things around he didn’t seem to improve so I decided to give him a little boost of sugar water and some egg yolk as a nutrient boost.

Now he is laying on his side limp unable to stand and walk on his own with his feet stretched out and acting almost like he’s been crippled. Try to sit him upright and he falls over and throws his wings and legs around in a panic. Been giving him electrolyte water and egg yolk since he won’t eat and drink on his own now and he’s also struggling to poo. No pasty butt just won’t poo at all.

Any idea what’s wrong and what I can do to help him?

It’s always the favorite ones that get it the worst

 

[sean_wonder]

Does he have any discharge from his nose or mouth? Is his abdomen hard? Any other neurological symptoms?

 

[Zhurf]

Does he have any discharge from his nose or mouth? Is his abdomen hard? Any other neurological symptoms?

No, he’s currently laying on his side still opening and closing mouth and occasionally straining neck when doing it. Every now and then he’ll try to move and will kick his legs and move his wings. Usually resulting in him tumbling over but I’ll reposition him on his side. If I try to play him on his belly he always kicks his legs out and winds up on his side anyway.

He takes food and water from a syringe just fine, been giving him water and egg yolk.

Doesn’t feel hard anywhere, no discharge

 

[sean_wonder]

Sounds neurologic... bumping because not sure. Way too early for it to be Marek's I think. Hope he's doing OK.

 

[Zhurf]

Thank you, he’s still taking food and water fine


https://www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/s/5dqMKUYsKA

I posted this video of him on Reddit as well

 

[sean_wonder]

Is he vaccinated for Marek’s? Poor guy still trying to preen a bit. Looks like curly-toe paralysis (riboflavin deficiency), but not sure about the gasping part. What was he eating before/what’re you feeding him now? Very good that he still eats and drinks.

 

[Zhurf]

I just found out that he’s not, granted he’s not eating or drinking on his own I have to feed him everything, he came with 3 others and none of them are showing signs, all are thriving.

At first they were all eating a chick feed that I get from my local hatchery that I’ve used for all my other birds who are all healthy. Now he gets raw yolk, plain water and poultry cell all in their own syringes that we force feed him

 

[sean_wonder]

Yeah, I mean he’s only a week old and iirc Marek’s starts at like 3 weeks. I still wanna say B2 deficiency bc of the paralysis…

 

[Zhurf]

Yeah, I mean he’s only a week old and iirc Marek’s starts at like 3 weeks. I still wanna say B2 deficiency bc of the paralysis

Yeah I’m just gonna keep doing what we’re doing and hope for the best. He is still growing and his feathers are coming in but he’s not gaining weight

 

[sean_wonder]

Good luck :,( <3