Are Buff Orpingtons Prone to Certain Genetic Disorders?

[TolkienChick]

Thank you for your advice!

The chick (which we now believe to be a cockerel) is doing well! It must have been a deficiency, since another also had the same symptoms.

Both can stand on their legs, and their feet look straight. They've been getting vitamins and nutrients in their water, and being outside sometimes helps.

They're just about recovered, and thanks to everyone who gave advice!

 

[chooks4life]

Good to hear and thanks for the update. Always beneficial for people to know what the cure was.

 

[TolkienChick]

The cockerel and the Wyandotte who also showed signs of deficiency were put into another box. We gave them first (in the water) the appropriate amounts of vitamins and electrolytes, comfrey tea, and vitamin B12, then we bought Nutri-drench and used the appropriate amounts of that (along with the B12 and the comfrey but NOT the electrolyte-vitamin supplement) in the water. We also fed herbs, which I learned about from another website. Food, grit...

In case anyone has this problem! I learned an important lesson about vitamin deficiency in chicks. I did hear from someone, though, that overdoses on vitamins, etc. can lead to dehydration.

 

[chooks4life]

The cockerel and the Wyandotte who also showed signs of deficiency were put into another box. We gave them first (in the water) the appropriate amounts of vitamins and electrolytes, comfrey tea, and vitamin B12, then we bought Nutri-drench and used the appropriate amounts of that (along with the B12 and the comfrey but NOT the electrolyte-vitamin supplement) in the water. We also fed herbs, which I learned about from another website. Food, grit...

In case anyone has this problem! I learned an important lesson about vitamin deficiency in chicks. I did hear from someone, though, that overdoses on vitamins, etc. can lead to dehydration.

About comfrey, there are multiple types and some do virtually nothing medicinal and may even be harmful. Extensive breeding experiments were carried out on that species and now there are many cultivars. If your animals like it, then it should be ok. Most animals won't touch the wrong comfreys but there's always those odd ones out who go and eat the wrong thing.

It's quite bizarre how many people post on this forum about deficiency diseases in babies. You're all feeding them the recommended feeds, why are they falling critically short? Should not be happening. I don't offhand think about deficiency diseases in babies because it's just not something that happens when they're on a balanced diet --- which supposedly the commercial premixed feeds and pellets are.

Maybe it's about time the manufacturers were contacted with some reports of the feed failing to fulfill one of the main claims the average commercial manufacturer makes --- that it's a 'complete feed'. Can you name the brand you were using, for future benchmarking and reference for others in your situation?

Best wishes.