4 Week Old Chick Suddenly Can't Stand Up? Others Fine? HELP, Please"

[Couchmo]

I have 22 - 4 week old chicks. All of a sudden yesterday, one of them couldn't stand up. All the others are fine. I have removed her from the brooder coop and am keeping her in a box in the house. She is eating, drinking and pooping. She has plenty of strength in her wings but as soon as she tries to stand up, she falls back on her butt. If I hold her she can kick her legs but she doesn't seem to have feeling in her feet, perhaps? All the chicks have gotten "Quick Chick" since the day they arrived at 3 days old. They get a mixture of 22% Meaty Bird pellets & 17% Layer Mash free choice. They also get Calcium & Grit free choice and we're put outside about a week and a half with the brooder in a run. I've introduced them to apple and orange pieces and they've had the soil/dirt from the coop area in their brooder box from the get girl. If any of you have any ideas as to what I can do for her and/or what the problem might be, PLEASE help! TIA

 

[Kiki]

I have 3 chicks about 4 weeks old similar situation. I only feed them Manna pro starter the medidated one. I woke up to check and one was on her back and can’t backup. I gave her nutri-drench, took her outdoors and tour around the backyard while trying not to cry so loud.

I moved her to a separate medium box for now and she’s eating and drinking like normal except she can’t stand up no more. it’s odd and really sad because last night she seems to be fine walking.

I put fluffs of pine shaves to support her and be comfortable. I hope and pray she survives.

Are you feeding them treats?
If so what kind.

Can you take a short clear video of this chick real quick and upload it to Youtube?

 

[JayQ]

Are you feeding them treats?
If so what kind.

Can you take a short clear video of this chick real quick and upload it to Youtube?

I don’t give them treats, I tried watermelon and apples in small pieces also basil but they just ignored it.

 

[JayQ]

Can you take a few clear pictures of their cage and fresh poop?

Her poop is normal, no blood, although she keeps on standing up

Can you take a few clear pictures of their cage and fresh poop?

Hi Kiki, I’m sorry for the delay. I will take picture later and share.

She eats and poop normal, no blood and not watery.

She eats a lot in fact. I put vet wrap in her legs she moves them but can’t stand on them. I made her sling sort of bed from soft towel and still give her some breaks though I catch her most times just laying on her side and sleeping comfortably in it.

I massage her legs and feet every morning and before bedtime.

I will make her therapy chair this weekend. I also got her Rooster booster B-12 and nutri drench still helping her. Boy she eats and poop a lot and she purrs when I pet her. I love her so and will do everything I can to help her be comfortable.

 

[JayQ]

Her poop is normal, no blood, although she keeps on standing up

Hi Kiki, I’m sorry for the delay. I will take picture later and share.

She eats and poop normal, no blood and not watery.

She eats a lot in fact. I put vet wrap in her legs she moves them but can’t stand on them. I made her sling sort of bed from soft towel and still give her some breaks though I catch her most times just laying on her side and sleeping comfortably in it.

I massage her legs and feet every morning and before bedtime.

I will make her therapy chair this weekend. I also got her Rooster booster B-12 and nutri drench still helping her. Boy she eats and poop a lot and she purrs when I pet her. I love her so and will do everything I can to help her be comfortable.

Hi @Kiki here’s a picture of her poop, do they look normal to you? She eats and drink all the time

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

4 week old chicks shouldn't be getting layer nor oyster shells yet, all that doesn't get fed until they begin laying. I would check it over for signs of injury. The best you can do is let it rest, and get all that extra calcium out of the diet and perhaps lowering the protein to a grower at 18%, it's possibly from a dietary imbalance.

 

[Pork Pie]

4 week old chicks shouldn't be getting layer nor oyster shells yet, all that doesn't get fed until they begin laying. I would check it over for signs of injury. The best you can do is let it rest, and get all that extra calcium out of the diet and perhaps lowering the protein to a grower at 18%, it's possibly from a dietary imbalance.

Agreed, maybe adding vitamin supplements / electrolytes to the drinking water may help things along the way.

CT

 

[realsis]

I know that calcium to that extent can harm a growing chicks organs also that feed won't give the chick the balance of nutrients they need. I would guess what's happening to her is a deficiency. switch feed to chick feed, remove the oyster she'll and give her a good balanced poultry vitamin. first state vet supply online has some very good poultry vitamins. I would try to include a E, and B vitamin amount others. Defiency can take up to a month to heal.Hopefully once you get the nutrients she needs and extra vitamins she will be able to walk again. Be consistent with her treatment and have patients. hopefully she will come around soon. I really hope this helps a little. best wishes. please keep us posted on her condition. you likely will have to help her eat and drink during treatment until her legs are working better. hope she recovers soon!

 

[Jensownzoo]

The calcium/phosphorus ratio is terribly unbalanced for a growing chick. I wouldn't be surprised if the chick has hypophosphatemic rickets, which does eventually cause them to become lame. Get all the chicks on chick starter feed ASAP. If it is rickets, I am unsure if the associated growth deformities can be "fixed" or "reversed".

 

[Couchmo]

WOW, thanks for all the help & info. My local farm supply store only carries Chick Starter in 5 lb bags so I got the "Meaty Bird" starter for them but figured I'd add the Layer mash to lower the protein level from 22% to closer to the recommended 18% for layer birds

. Will remove the calcium immediately from the chicks coop and make some calls to see if I can get a decent Starter feed in larger quantity. The "Quick Start" that I add to their water has Vitamins A, D3, E, Riboflavin, d Pantothenic Acid, Menedione Biosulfite complex, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Potassium and Sodium as Chloride Salts. Should I add something more or different? I will continue her treatment for as long as it takes as I can't bear to see her die. I've already lost a couple to suffocation by other chicks and one to a large piece of plywood blowing over and smashing the poor thing

(board has been removed to another location outside the coop/run!). Can you tell I'm a first time chic mama? Thanks again for your help. Please pray for my babies and me