6 week old chick stopped using legs

[kyotto]

She sits on the floor, uses her wings to limp between feeder and water. Eats OK, and does not show any other signs of distress. Just sits quietly in the corner and does not use her legs. This has been going for maybe 4-5 days now and she does not seem to recover. I've inspected her feet and there is nothing abnormal on them.

We got her from a store and they give Marek shots to all chicks, so I think she is good. I gave vitamins few days ago, but honestly, not counting on them to make any difference.

Any ideas what might it be and how can I help her? Waiting out does not seem to help...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get photos or a video of her?

For video, upload to youtube and provide a link.

I'd start her on 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily.

Hard to know what's going on. Any swelling of the joints?

 

[kyotto]

I will upload, but there is literally nothing other than her just sitting on the floor. No swelling, no resistance when I touch or move her legs. But also legs are limp and she is not resisting with them. Only with her wings.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's eating chick starter?
Have you ever lost a bird to Marek's?

 

[kyotto]

Yes, she is eating starter feed. I don't know if I ever lost any chicks to Marek. Don't think so. I had an occasional unexplained death, but I don't think it was Marek. Working on posting pictures. Stay tuned. Almost there.

 

[kyotto]

And the video link is here:

BTW, this is a Chocolate Star breed and she is 8 weeks old, not 6. Not that it matters...

On the first two pictures I am holing her in my hand, so that you can see her legs are just limp and helpless.

Will try to get vitamin B as was suggested above by Wyorp Rock. To be honest, not optimistic, but definitely worth trying. Fingers crossed that it will help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is the poop under her, hers?

Have you treated for Coccidiosis? I'd use Endocox to treat her if you can get it, otherwise, use Corid, but then with Corid you'd want to eliminate the extra b vitamins until treatment is finished.

Poor dear is unthrifty, isn't she?

 

[RoyalChick]

Vitamin B2 deficiency is a real cause of paralysis in chickens and it is safe to treat so even if it is not the cause, you won’t do any harm.
Get some B2 or B complex from the pharmacy.
In my experience it takes about a week of pretty heavy dosing to make a difference and then it is like a miracle.

 

[kyotto]

Thanks!!!
Wyorp Rock, it might be Coccidiosis, since she got exposed to older chickens in the backyard and might have picked up something from them. However, there is no bloody stool and mobility loss seems beyond what I see coccidiosis does. I gave her Corid last night but it seems I need to give Corid for 5 days.

Between the two, I am leaning towards Vitamin B treatment given that so many folks suggest it.

Are you sure I cannot combine Vitamin B and Corid? If I could - that would eliminate the guessing on my part.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Corid is a Thiamine analog which blocks the Thiamine receptor of Eimeria species (Coccidia), this helps to starve them out and reduce numbers. So, yes, giving extra B1(Thiamine) which is found in B-Complex, could reduce or reverse the anticoccidial activity of Corid. It's best not to give any Extra B1 (Thiamine) during the course of treatment of Corid.

If you lean more toward vitamin deficiency, then I'd focus on that. For Leg Health, you do want B2(Riboflavin) but the easiest way is to give B-Complex which usually contains 8 different B vitamins which would include B1 and B2.

The contraindication between B1 and Corid was the main reason I suggested Endocox (Toltrazuril) which would treat Coccidiosis, but you could still give the B1 as well.

Hope that clears it up