9 splay legged chicks!Different ages!uncoordinated!Video!Another died!

[horsejody]

I would definitely consider the possibility of a nutritional deficiency.

 

[tulie13]

You mentioned they were eating Layer feed - it is my understanding that young chicks shouldn't eat that because of the high levels of calcium. Could cause kidney damage...??? Just repeating something I've seen on this forum somewhere.

Perhaps kidney damage/stress and the resulting toxicity caused this (or contributed to their general difficulties).

It also makes sense that after being switched back to chick starter, the excess calcium was able to be processed and at least some of the chicks have recovered.

Based on your other comments, I would not rule out Marek's though.

 

[California Ducken]

Ok I watched the video, and my opinion is that the chicks legs need to be taped for splay leg or spraddle legs. I do not see paralysis. The hegs seem to work. What happens is...when the legs and muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments are not in their anatomically aligned position they will cease to function or work properly. The muscle will atrophy. (Stop developing or lose muscle and tone).
Example is when someones leg is in a cast and they are unable to use it or bear any weight on it for a long period, you will lose muscle and tone and will have to rebuild it when the cast comes off.
Here is info that Glenda L Heywood gave to me it might help you.


ORTHOPEDICS FOR POULTRY MADE EASY FOR BEGINNERS
By D.C. Townsend

These treatments have been tested and proven effective. I developed them for peafowl but they
may be used for any poultry. The key to success is to begin treatment promptly. In some cases delay
will kill or cripple the chick.

CHICK SHOE
Not Actual Size
HALF SHOE
Not Actual Size
In the 1995 hatch, I had a number of peachicks with a kink in the outer toe of one or both feet.
They were well past a week old when I decided that I must do something about it. I made HALF SHOES of black pipe cleaner. I tore off a quarter inch-wide stripe of duck tape several inches long and secured
the HALF SHOE to the middle and the outer toe. Several days of treatment were needed. Some of the
HALF SHOES came off and had to be taped on again, but all treated peachicks had straight toes at the
end of the treatment. There is a young peacock that I missed treating. Now it is too late and he will
always have a kink in his outer toe


HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.

STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.


Ah yes, I agree with threehorses about the chickies being under someone elses watch..........what really happened will never be known. So on that note you can just deal with what is happening now.
Unless there is something I am missing or skipped in reading......All the info. on vitamins along with splinting and some "time" should help a lot.

Good Luck and keep us updated.
Smiles & Clucks,
Keccia


UPDATE oh I guess I should have read that your chicks are doing fine now. So disregard the above. Sorry.

 

[SeramaLife]

A death!!!!! HHHHHEEEELLLPPPPP!!!!!! All the chicks were doing better this morning. They were peeping from being cold, so I gave them a hot water bottle. Came back this evening to find one flattened and dead in the center of the cage. It had been peeping more than some of the others and more than it normally does this morning. I thought it was from cold. I will include a picture of the corpse. I have been feeding tums powder, chick starter, Vit b-complex, and bird vits. I putthe corpse in the fridge.

 

[California Ducken]

What temp do you have the brooder?

 

[SeramaLife]

Quote:
Uummmmmmm I don'tknow there is no light or thermometer. They aren'tthat young, and are used to living in 60 with their moms. Tough little chicks. 70 maybe?

 

[threehorses]

They're too cold! PLEASE put a brooder lamp in there. You yourself said they're peeping because of cold. If they do that, then they get sick and or just die.

And by the way, your shavings are in your waterer. Raise it on something (2 bricks) so they can drink.

I'm sorry that you think chicks that are not fully feathered can live at 60 but they cannot on their own.

95 degrees first week
5 less degrees every week thereafter to 70 degrees OR until they're FULLY feathered - that means all that fluff you're seeing is gone and is feathers.
Constant temperature. Not just a water bottle.

I'm really sad to say I'm not surprised the baby died. The others are huddling meaning they're cold. They will get sick not eat and die.

If you can't do this, please at least find them a home that can do.

 

[California Ducken]

What was in the container before chicks? It looks like it has stuff on the side of the container.
You might want to scrub out the brooder and sanitize. If another died the bacteria might be in the container.
You also said the chicks were cold. Chicks peep loudly and insistently when they get to cold. You might want to warm up one end of the brooder with a heat lamp.
Some of the chicks look young...the black ones and the little copper one.

 

[nnbreeder]

Another thing to do would be to eliminate the shavins in the brooder and use the rough shelf liner that can be purchased at retail outlets. It's washable so it can be used over and over. Paper towels work good too. The shavings over the plastic surface is also slick and slick surfaces such as newspaper or plastic can cause splayed legs.

 

[SeramaLife]

Quote:
I will try to raise the temperature. We live off grid, so I can not be running another heat lamp all the time. Hand warmers work well. I actually said the temperature was at 70, not 60. This is the first time that they have peeped from cold that I know of (my caretaker was handling them for a week).
Yes, I know their are shavings in the water. I tried a plate (bricks have always scared me 4 chicks) under, but they slipped on it. Normally I clean the shavings out often, but I was gone all day.
I would LOVE to find a home for them, this is way too stressful but who would want to take on a bunch of sick chicks?
Thank you so much for your help and for pointing out what was wrong with my setup. It was helpful.