10 week old chick injured

[Patty724]

1 of my 4 newest additions suddenly became the target of my other 3 BO hens and we rescued it as the hens were pecking it. Prior to this, everyone was getting along fine. Any ideas on why the sudden change in temperament? I’ve separated newbies from older hens and doctoring the injuried one. There are no open wounds, but the chick staggers when trying to walk. I’ve found no leg or wing injury other than a couple missing feathers. Why is it so unstable? It’s eating and drinking with no problem. Thanks for the advice

 

[Eggcessive]

It is always hard to add one new chicken to a whole group that has an established flock. The chicken could have sustained a head or other type of injury. I would separate her in a dog crate with her own food and water, but keep her with the other chickens whether they are outside roaming or inside the coop. When she is better, start letting her out for supervised visits until you feel comfortable with them being together.

 

[Patty724]

I’m sorry, my post wasn’t clear. I introduced 4 at one time. And for a couple weeks everybody gone along great. Until the fateful day.
Do you give your chickens vitamins? Do you think it’d help in the healing process?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry, after rereading, you were clear, I just read wrong. They will establish a pecking order, but she might be ill with some sort of illness. Hopefully, it is not Mareks disease. Reproductive, crop, or something like coccidiosis could be possible things to rule out. How old is she? Does she lay eggs now? Is she thin or heavy, and is her lower belly enlarged? Feel of her crop to see if it is empty, full, hard, soft, or puffy.

Chickens with Mareks disease may be imbalanced, have weakness in one leg or wing, use wings to help get around. Other illness can cause those as sell. Vitamins can be helpful if there is a leg problem. Make sure they contain ribiflavin (B2.) Poultry NutriDrench does not, but Poultry Cell does. Vitamin B complex tablets 1/2 tablet crushed oer food daily is good as well.

 

[rebrascora]

Unfortunately it is highly likely the bird has Marek's Disease. At 10 weeks old, it is at a vulnerable age for it and the stress of integration is often a trigger. The chances are the older birds set upon it because it was sick rather than the staggering being caused by their attack. Marek's birds are usually bright eyed and eager to eat and drink in the early stages and look very healthy apart from an inability to coordinate their bodies. Some strains of the disease are milder than others and I've had birds recover from quite severe disability almost as quickly as they developed symptoms. Others take weeks or even months of supportive care and sadly some die. More aggressive strains tend to be fatal in most cases. Those that recover will always have the disease and will be prone to other attacks in weeks or months or even years but can be perfectly normal and healthy in between whilst the virus is in it's dormant stage. If it is Marek's you need to be aware that your whole flock has been exposed and will now be carrying the disease.
Where did you get the chicks from?
If this one dies, it would be a good idea to send it off to your state diagnostics lab for a necropsy, so that you get a positive diagnosis and know for sure what you are dealing with. That way, you can make plans to manage it. There is a lot of scary information out there about Marek's but my experience has not been nearly so bad as most of what you read, so try not to panic.

A good vitamin supplement like Nutri Drench or Poultry Cell is often beneficial and keeping the bird happy and well fed. I don't personally isolate Marek's birds unless they are being picked on because I take the view that the other birds have already been exposed.... there is usually a minimum 3 week dormant phase after infection, before an outbreak of symptoms, so this chick was most likely infected with the disease at least 3 weeks ago..... if it is Marek's. You should be aware though that Marek's birds are actively shedding the virus whilst they are symptomatic, in the same way that people with cold sores can infect other people whilst they are having an outbreak but not at other times when it is dormant....both cold sores and Marek's are Herpes viruses. There is no risk of people getting sick from your chicken though, just other chickens are at risk.

It is a very complex disease with many different possible symptoms and it is remarkably common and widespread but because many of the symptoms look like other diseases or ailments, it is often misdiagnosed.

We are here to support you in dealing with this, whatever it turns out to be

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good link to read about Mareks that has compliled a lot of info from many sources:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/