2 month old chick has on and off symptoms...

[Azulegg]

One of our half silkie chicks (other half is rumpless tufted araucana as Azul got to my silkie hen one day lol) has an unusual problem. It became weak to the point where it could hardly walk and it carries one of it's feet in a fist. So, I put it on GQF vitamins plus. It regained it's strength in a weeks time and was walking normally. So after 2 weeks I quit putting the GQF in the water.

2 weeks after stopping the GQF, he/she went right back to those symptoms. So again I started him/her back on the GQF and after a few days he became strong again. Looks like I will be keeping him on it for a while, but I don't know how long. He is still walking on his/her one foot balled up still.

It must be some sort of vitamin deficiency syndrome in this chick. Anyone else know what this is called?

 

[dlhunicorn]

I do not know what GQF vitamins are... but deficiencies (even borderline) can produce some quite notable symptoms and even kill. I recommend aviacharge 2000 as it is a complete formulation (poultry specific) incl micronutrients (and in chelated form) and the formulation is for daily use (and it is approved for organic certified)... you can only purchase it online from McMurry or Strombergs.
...concerning the symptoms of the curled foot itself you can give (in addition to the general vitamin supplement) POLYVISOL Enfamil (no extra iron) three drops in beak once a day for a week then taper off the next. This a childrens liquid A-B-D vitamin and it is one of the B vitamins (Riboflavin) that causes the curled foot... see here;
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206930.htm

As malabsorption may be present for any number of reasons (this means the bird is (temporarily) unable to absorb suficiently the nutrients from the feed it is eating) is the reason I am advising the polyvisol and the AviaCharge.
What are you feeding (incl "treats" if any) and how old is this bird?

 

[Azulegg]

It was hatched sometime end of May so it would be about 2 months old now.

The GQF vitamins plus has pro-biotics in it. Here is a list of ingredients:



Salt
potassium
magnesium
vit A
vit d
vit e
menadione
niacin
d-patothenic acid
pyridoxine
folic acid
biotin
lactobacillus acidophilus
enterococcus faecium

I will get some avia charge 2000 but will use this in the mean time.

 

[Azulegg]

bumping for dlh to see.

I forgot to add I feed boss, layer crumbles and treats such as watermelon, bread, corn on the cob, and greens. I also have been adding some kelp powder to the feed and mixing it with olive oil to help the kelp stick to the crumbles and scratch.

I have mixed up a stronger batch of the vitamin/probiotics I have and feeding it to the chick w/dropper.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Please do not exceed the recommnded dosage of that product for poultry... I looked that product up and it is an electrolyte/vit mix and you should never exceed the dosage for an electrolyte mix.
Electrolytes should not be used as a vitamin supplement but given when an electrolyte imbalance is suspected (heat stress/shock / dehydration)
. If you wish to up the vitamins then give a vitamin supplement such as AviaCharge 2000 or go to your pet store and get baby parrot/bird formula (this is a powder you mix with water) and make that to a porridge consistency and add to her feed.
Offer a good quality live culture yogurt f(plain/nonflavored > Danone has a good quality live culture yogurt)

Cut out giving greens if lettuce and such as this will cause the bird to have watery droppings (not a good idea when heatstress/dehydration issues are suspected).
Just stick to her age appropriate feed (concentrate the nutritional quality with the baby bird/parrot formula) > yogurt etc. > you can scoop out the watermelon a bit in the middle creating a "bowl" for the feed ... add a dollop of yogurt on the top > this way the feed is moist and she can peck at a bit of everything.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

A 2 month old bird should not be on layer rations. They need an age appropriate food (starter or grower at two months).

 

[SunshineSilkies]

I was going to say the same thing Sonoran said...