4 week old chick walking funny

[Iluvmychickens]

Hello Everyone,

I have a 4 week old chick that has been doing great. When I got home from work today I noticed it was off balance when it walked and when it did walk it moved a few steps then sat down.

I picked it up, no signs of a cut or injury, no broken bones, it does not scream when I moved its legs around. I decided to bring it inside and put in what we call out Hospital cage.

I have been watching it for over an hour now and when it stands up it keels over like a drunkard. It is also not standing on its feer but on its knee's.

Any idea what is wrong?

Thank You All,
DeeDee

 

[brooster]

are its feet swelled? Scales raised? Get better chickie!

 

[sammi]

is the chick with other chicks?


are you giving vitamins in the water?
if not..please try that asap.
make sure chick is eating and drinking.
you might try Polyvisol baby vitamins..1 teeny drop on beak..
but do try and get come poultry/chick vitamins.

this could be Slipped Tendon..
sometimes a nutritional deficiency causes it.(riboflavin=vitB12)
note..Vit B's usually work better together.

good luck for the chick.

others might have other suggestions.

 

[raindrop]

Vitamins are a good idea.
Could be Marek's disease, ataxia (off balance) can be one of the clinical signs. If that is the case she may recover in a few days, or it is fatal sometimes too.
Hope she gets better soon!

 

[Iluvmychickens]

Hi everyone,

I took my Lil Chick to the Avian Vet this morning and she ruled out Merak's Disease as well as splayed Leg. Apparently one of the Hens or the Roo must have pecked her on the back really hard and caused a spinal injury. The skin was not broken which I was surprised by that. There was nothing she could do to save my Lil Chick.

So......This morning at 10:50 my sweet Lil Chick was put to sleep. I could not stay in the room so my DH stayed and held it during the procedure.

This is the 1st loss for us and I hope it never happens again.

DeeDee

 

[coloradochick]

So sorry


Cara

 

[raindrop]

I'm sorry to hear about your little chick.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Darn. I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

So very very sorry! It is so hard losing them so young. My sincere condolences.

 

[Iluvmychickens]

Thank You All for the kind words

DeeDee