1 week old chicks having seizures

[AnnieKayak]

Hi,
I have 8 day old hatchery chicks that are having seizures. Not all of them, but 1 or 2 a day. They just flop over and spasm theen lay stll for a while then start over. The ones start out like they are sleepy, just lay there then start the seizures. Ive lost 5 in the last 3 days. At first I thought maybe2 or 3 had been injured in transport. I started an infirmary box for the ones that seemed not as perky and after they picked back up they went in with the others. Its not those ones that are seizuring and dying. They all recieved the vaccinations before shipment. Any one have any ideas on what this maybe and how can I help them. They are under lamps in my living room ( all of them)all are eating and drinking and pooping nice splats.
Thank You

 

[Kelpie]

Have you given them any vitamins? are they tucking their heads down?

 

[KellyHM]

What are you feeding them? Any way they got into some type of toxin? Or it got into their food or water?

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

well if the siesure ones are vaccinated for mareks your okay
if not they sound like it may be on the way

the most important thing is to tend to their nervous system

like getting each chick and giving the Vit E 1-1000 mg twice a day
by cuttng the end off the tip of the capsule and puttinh the capsule in the beak and squeezing it

do this twice a day and see if it helps

what are they living in in your dinning room?
what do you feed them?
what do you water them with?
at this point the 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to gallon of water is necessary

email for any questions you have

 

[AnnieKayak]

The chicks are in my living room in super size plastic totes. They are eating chick starter 18% . Drinking tap water. All are using chick feeder trough 24 inches and 32 oz chick waterer. All of their stuff was washed in hot water and dish soap then a little bleach and rinsed and rinsed. I have 3 elderly outside hens and these chicks havent been out yet ( still chilly in Ohio) They have lots of space to come and go under there lamp so not hot or cold. They chirp a little but not loud or frantic just to each other. They are bright eyed no sticky or drippy butts? It comes on fast...

 

[Kelpie]

I would get enfamil polyvisol infant vitamins from your pharmacist and administer 2-4 drops to each chick a day. This will help ensure their nervous systems have the vitamins they need to develop. I have also heard of people getting prednisone from a vet but have no experience with that personally.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Make sure the bottom of your totes have a few ventilation holes. Depending on how many chicks you have in the totes they may be suffering from lack of oxygen. Their own CO2 will collect on the bottom, deprivation will make them sleepy and lethargic and seizures and then death. If they get clean air they will recover over time if not to much brain damage. I use a 55 gallon tank for a inside brooder and started experiencing the same thing. I now have a ventilation system on it, and the problem went away. All you need is a few small holes all the way around the bottom so CO2 can flow out and fresh air will drop down from the top.

 

[AnnieKayak]

??? This is my first time with hatchery chicks??? It is a mixed group of fancy layers. All seem happy until just 1 lays down, then it lays its head down then tucks under wing then the spasms and seizures. Ive tryng to hold their heads up to keep them up right and drinking , just kind of using my pinky under beak but they seem in pain to touch them.
Not aware of any toxins in the house, they havent been with out food or water and no lid on the plastic totes so no plastic fumes( totes were cleaned and well aired out before these babes arrived. Havent found a chick yet in my area. The vet for the horses and other live stock just looks at me, she specializes in horses...

 

[AnnieKayak]

Ok I can put in somes holes . I dont want to lose these cuties

 

[KellyHM]

Ok, according to my "Disease of Poultry" book, the most likely differentials I've come up with are:

Vitamin B6 deficiency - very violent seizures that usually end in death
Potassium deficiency - also usually ends in death, can be exacerbated by stress
Arboviruses - transmitted by arthropods
Mycotoxins - comes from feed that is not stored properly

I would give some vitamins and change the feed...buy a new bag of a different brand just in case.