Anyone have any idea what this is? Chick having trouble walking.

[PamB]

Hi All! I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I have a silkie chick that is about 7 weeks old. At about two weeks old, she started losing her balance and using her wings for support. She got better for a few days, but then it started again. I assumed she reinjured it, so I chose to separate her from the other chicks.

For the past five weeks, she has been separated, on newspaper (to make it easier for her to walk on a flater surface), and giving vitamins (vita-pro-b from First State Vet Supply). She eats and drinks. She can stand for a decent amount of time, but it appears that when she walks, her legs are shaky (I believe it is the left leg giving her the problem). She can bend it and move it around and, looking at it, I see nothing obviously wrong with her leg. The only thing I notice is that she keeps her legs very close together, so that many times I notice her toes are overlapping her toes on the other foot.

None of the other chicks (which she is still close by...they can see eachother) have any symptoms at all. Just her.

Anyone have any ideas

 

[PamB]

So, I guess everyone is as stumped as I am.

 

[cuntryuppiechick]

I had a walking issue, not the same, and I found it hard to get good info off the internet since there are so many little diseases they could get that cause it. From memory there is nothing I can think of that it would be that is easily treatable other than with antibiotics. I would try to save this one as long as she's holding out and look for a good book on disease. I would not breed her unless you know what it was in case it can be passed down. I keep nursing my sickies that the hardcore chicken people say to cull. Hope your baby gets better!

Too much or too little vitamins can cause walking problems.

 

[PamB]

Thanks for the response. I did stop giving her vitamins to see if that would help her. I don't plan to breed her...she will go in with my PQ silkies if she makes it.