5 week old chick started walking funny

[Karen612]

I have a 5 week old RIR who today I just noticed is walking hunched down. The feet and most of the leg to the joints is touching the ground. He can walk around but isn’t moving like the others and isnt has hyper/playful. I checked for any external injury and can’t see anything. Seems to still be eating and drinking fine and growing at the same rate as the others.
any thoughts?
sorry for no pictures, it’s already night here.

 

[50-45-1]

sorry your chick is unwell.
First tell us what you are feeding your chicks. Vitamin deficiincy may be the cause.
I would separate the chick from the others in case its something catchy.
Once separated let us know what the stool is like. Sometimes this will give us a clue.

 

[Karen612]

Feeding them chick starter from my breeder. They are a fenced in run in my yard so they can scratch and peck. They get mealworms once a week and just gave them some sprouts this week for the first time. I will separate it tomorrow.

 

[coach723]

Hock sitting, walking on hocks while using wings for balance, or curled toes are often from a riboflavin deficiency. I would get a human B complex tablet (regular not time release) and grind it up and mix 1/4 to 1/2 a tablet in some feed mixed with a bit of water and give that daily to see if you get some improvement. Some birds are more prone to it due to the health status of the parent stock, but it can be reversed and the bird can live a normal life after if that's what it is, and treated soon enough.

 

[Karen612]

Hock sitting, walking on hocks while using wings for balance, or curled toes are often from a riboflavin deficiency. I would get a human B complex tablet (regular not time release) and grind it up and mix 1/4 to 1/2 a tablet in some feed mixed with a bit of water and give that daily to see if you get some improvement. Some birds are more prone to it due to the health status of the parent stock, but it can be reversed and the bird can live a normal life after if that's what it is, and treated soon enough.

What about brewers yeast?

 

[coach723]

Brewers yeast is a good source for many of the B's, but I don't know if it's enough, or how much you would need to give, to reverse a deficiency. When there is a deficiency you often have to give a pretty high dose to reverse it. Once it's reversed then normal daily intake should keep it at normal levels.

 

[Karen612]

So went out this morning to give vitamins, and he was walking around pretty normally. Still noticeably slower but not on his hocks
still gave him the b vitamins and added brewers yeast to the feed.