4 week old chick cant lift head

[whitster290]

My 3 chicks are acting lethagric and are wobbly and head heavy when walking. One cannot lift her head on her own. Whats wrong?

 

[chickenstar]

Very hard to say could be a number of things usually I whould just start treating them with an antibiotic because without taking them to a vet to do some testing you can only guess I whould start trteatment with a good antibiotic like tylan or penecillin g and at the same time I whould treat with corid or amprolium to cover all posibilities.give this a shot and if its working you will see some improvement in 48 hours keep me posted

 

[Eggcessive]

Coccidiosis may be a problem if they have lethargy, poor appetite, are puffing up or huddling, having diarrhea with or without blood, andruffled feathers on the back of the neck. CORID or amprollium would be the treatment for 5 days. Dosage is 2 tsp of liquid or 1.5 tsp powder per gallon of water. after treatment is completed give a few days of vitamins and probiotics. Other illness to consider would be botulism iftheyh are venturing off into areas where they could eat decaying vegetation or animal carcasses.

 

[whitster290]

Where can I find these medications? Could it be wry neck? Their necks are not turned to the side though. They are all weak and wobbly but one cannot lift it's beak off the ground. I gave them some polyvinyl sol drops and vitamin e tonight. Was that a mistake?

 

[whitster290]

I gave them some carrots and celery a few days ago... Could that have got them sick if it sat out too long before they ate it?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Are the little one's eyelids droopy as well? Can she open her eyes?

 

[chickenstar]

No I don't think this is wry neck,as for the polivisol is it the one with iorn don't give then that kind give them the kind without iorn as iorn is toxic and birds quickly get toxic from it as for the antibiotics you can get them at a good quality feed store, farmers farmacy or online maybey from a vet. Try to get them as fast as possible let me know how things are going

 

[chickenstar]

And no the carrots and celery unless they smelled bad to you and sat out for days whould not do anything to them don't worry about that. Its more likely an infection of some kind

 

[whitster290]

We have 3 other , different breed, birds that seem just fine...she can open her eyes but keeps them closed most of the time. I'll try to get antibiotics tomorrow from tractor supply. I don't know how it can only be affecting these three(of the same breed) and not the other 3. My heart is just aching, I feels so bed and they're so pathetic looking...

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes I would try the Corid- I agree with the others on that. This is because of their age. I have had success with Corid before when the only symptom was lethargy- I see improvement in 24 hours. The problem is that if it is coccidiosis it can kill within 24 hours and so people are quick to recommend Corid in chicks, as it could save their lives if that is the problem.

Botulism can cause the neck to go flat on the ground like that as Eggcessive said. The veg you described would have had to be moldy in order to be bad for them. Moldy food can kill chickens.