2 week old chick - can't stand - seems to have leg trouble

[suzc]

I came home today to find 1 of my 2 week old chicks who was fine this morning cannot stand properly, his toes are folding to the side and he is moving around on his knees which look a bit swollen and rough - what is wrong with him he was fine this morning

 

[suzc]

I have made him some little cardboard shoes to keep his toes straight and separated him from the others - I have cleaned and disinfected the brooder that the others are in and thrown out any uneaten food and water Nd replaced it.

The sick click now has the disinfected brooder and the other 3 will manage with a blanket.

I fed the sick chick with some egg yolk and put some cider vinegar and vitamin drops in his water.

Hope this isn't mareks - I have read ome awful things about it - his legs don't seem paralysed he just seems not to be able to hold his weight up on them

If anybody can offer any help I would be most grateful

 

[suzc]

Maybe it is a problem with his growth rate - he is a Cobb so has grown quickly through the past 2 weeks - is it possible he has just become lame ?:/

 

[suzc]

Could this be TD ?? Would hat make his toes curl to the side when he weight bares ? Anybody got any thoughts ?

 

[angel8035]

Maybe vitamin deficiency? I doubt it would be a disease this early unless they were around other chickens.

 

[Eggcessive]

He's too young for Marek's. It could be a vitamin deficiency. There is Save-A-Chick vitamin/electrolyte packets at the feed store you can put in the water, or PolyViSol baby vitamins that you can give a drop or two every day. I would leave him with his friends too unless he is being trampled or pecked, then just separate through a little screen so he can be with others. What is TD?

 

[suzc]

Thanks for the reply - I'll pop him back in with his mates - TD is tibial dyschondroplasia which from what I read is a problem with birds that grow quickly - can be genetic

I am feeding him organic chick crumb and I have given him vitamin drops today so lets see how he goes

 

[Eggcessive]

I didn't recognize the abbreviation. Sounds like you have it covered. I have used duct tape before on toes--it stays on pretty well. Good luck!

 

[suzc]

It became evident that he was suffering - legs got worse and he was hurting his wings flapping about - I decided to cull him this morning I had never done this before so tried the baking soda and vinegar in a plastic container method - when I checked after a minute he wasn't dead !! Just gasping which was not what I had intended at all - I grabbed the scissors and quickly snipped his head off - please tell me I did OK - I feel really bad about it

 

[LulaLane]

You did good. I am sorry for your loss.

Had to do the same thing the other day...my husband and I lost two, week old chicks. Our first attempt at culling was unsuccessful also. I cried, I felt so horrible. In the end though, we knew it was the best we could do for her. I hope you feel better soon.