12 day old chick won't walk suddenly! Help

[obed2010]

I hatched my first chicks 12 days ago. They have been fine and growing until yesterday. I noticed that one was not running around as much as the the others. She was eating and drinking normally though. Today she is just laying there with her head down. If I try to pick her up, she will hold herself up on her wings and try to struggle away. The two larger chicks are standing over her and stepping on her now. I don't know what is wrong. Possibly Marek's?! They have not had medicated chick food and only have plain water. I don't want her to die. She was my first to hatch!!! Please help. Thanks.

Matt

 

[Backyard Hencam]

Ohhhhhh. I wish I could be of help. All I know is that you should isolate her. Keep her warm and comfortable. Someone will see this post who is an expert and give you sound advice.

Good luck!

 

[obed2010]

Thank you. I hope someone can offer some advice. I just noticed she is holding her toes curled up on her left foot and twitching a little. She is a little buff silkie and she is still singing quietly too the others.

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I can't believe no one has helped you yet. Where are all the "chick whisperers"? I am going to post a plea to help you. I would be frantic if one of my chicks were sick!

 

[Backyard Hencam]

New Egg Obed2010 has a chick that suddenly has lost the use of her legs. Can someone please give him advice?

I am not an expert on chick diseases but feel bad that no one has responded.
You can read his post at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2311844#p2311844

Hope this gets you some help, Matt. A lot of people work during the day. You should get a response soon. Good luck!

 

[NotTheMomma]

Hi Matt!

Sorry to hear you're dealing with a sick chick.

What you are seeing isn't uncommon with the Silkies. Someone could have pecked her, or it could be that she's not getting all the vitamins she needs. Some are just 'weaker' I guess and can't absorb all they need from the feed.

You can try giving her some Poly Vi Sol vitamins. It's children liquid vitamins sold where vitamins are in most drug stores, Walmart, Kmart, Walgreens, etc. You want the one without Iron.

Give the chick a few drops up to a half of a dropper full onto the beak twice a day for a week. Then once a day for another week. Hopefully by that point, she'll be fine.

Sometimes adding Vitamin D and E helps as well. Those are either in liquid form, or capsules that you need to pierce, and squeeze the drops onto the beak.

You can also give it a wet crumble. Use about a tablespoon of feed, and a tablespoon of whatever type of milk you have. Even buttermilk, or soured milk are fine. That gives the chick an additional boost of probiotics to help digest the feed.

Even with that, sometimes you just lose them I'm sad to say.

My best wishes to you, and prayers for a speedy recovery!

 

[NotTheMomma]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=193757

This thread is about the same thing with a Silkie. Maybe there will be more information there to help you.

 

[obed2010]

Thank you everyone for the help!!! I just gave her the PolyViSol drops. That was easier to get down her than I expected. I also picked up some Pedilyte. I'll replace their drinking water for a couple of days. I have tried giving them chick feed mixed with kefir, but they act like I am trying to kill them and stay on the other side of the brooder until I take it out.

I'll keep giving it to them though. How do these little guys get into your heart so fast?

I'll keep updating her progress. Thanks again.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

here is the vit E and vit B complex with selinium
guess I would give the chicken some
wet mash with vitamin E,Bcomplex, and selinium

you can feed it to all the chicks just add the amt of vitamins for eah bird fed
MULTIPLY THE RECIPE TIMES CHICKS FED


wet mash probiotics with vitamins FOR EACH CHICK
2 tsp of dry crumbles
4 tsp qt of milk any kind
1 tsp of yoguart
and for each chick in flock put in one 1000 mg of vit E cut end off and add to mix
1 vit B complex for each chick fed crushed and put in the wet mix
also a tablet crushed of selinium mix good and
last add 1 tbsp of apple sauceon top
to get them eating the wet mash probiotic

feed this for several days twice a day
then once a week for life of chicken to restore gut flora in the medicated birds gut
also put 2 tbsp of ACV in gallon of water and do this for several weeks when not putting medication in the waterers

email me with any questions

THESE VITAMINS E,B COMPLEX, SELINIUM ARE FOR THE NERVOUS SYSTEM which the trama

Using this wet mash for a couple of weeks will help the chicks insides be treated for maybe E.Coli and good gut flora
WHICH THESE VITAMINS WILL HEAL
HOPEFULLY THE BIRD GETS BETTER

 

[PlumTuckered]

I'm no expert but does this sound like cocci to anyone else? The not wanting to walk, hunched back with wings hanging low and toes curled up?

Matt, have you noticed what their/her poop looks like?

Michelle