Baby chick can’t Walk All of a Sudden

[Gawilliams]

This evening my husband found one of our chicks, not quite one week old chick unable to stand or walk. It walked and ran around normally. When I hold it, it will kick its legs, but when you put it down it tries to walk but just falls on it back or tips over. It’s like it can’t hold its weight.

 

[azygous]

A few things to try:

First, put some sugar in its water. Dip its beak and get it started drinking. A chick can sometimes develop low glucose and the effect is leg weakness.

It can also be a form of wry neck. Wry neck is a vitamin E deficiency and doesn't always affect the neck. It's neurological and can affect the nerves along the spinal column. Open an E capsule and squeeze the oil over some soft boiled egg. Do this each day trying to get all the oil from the capsule into the chick.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

This evening my husband found one of our chicks, not quite one week old chick unable to stand or walk. It walked and ran around normally. When I hold it, it will kick its legs, but when you put it down it tries to walk but just falls on it back or tips over. It’s like it can’t hold its weight.

Has it been eating and drinking?

Check and make sure butt is clear and not pasted.

 

[Gawilliams]

Has it been eating and drinking?

Check and make sure butt is clear and not pasted.

When we first found it, it did have poop pasted around its butt. I let her soak in some warm water and cleared it off. She is not wanting to eat or drink now. We separated her from the rest and she just lays there and sleeps. Im guessing because she can’t move.
As of 5 this morning, no change. She does seem to be weak on her left side as that is where she tends to fall. I have moved her into a container to where she can get a little support from the wall. If she moves it’s from her flopping around. I have offered her food and water but will not take. She is still pooping. I added some electrolytes to her water as this is all I have on hand at the moment.
I don’t know what else to do

 

[azygous]

You might want to read post number two if you think there's nothing you can do.

I'll add a third thing. Coconut oil in case the chick is constipated from the pasty butt. Give small bits of coconut oil slightly chilled directly into the beak.

I gave you three things to try. Now go do it.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I don’t know what else to do

Poulty nutri drench administered straight to the beak. dripped directly below the nostrils the chick will swallow when it rolls around into the mouth.. does not need to be absorbed via digestion in order to work.

Noting I think azygous is spot on with the wry neck and eneregy.. consideration.. perhaps the chick is not connecting with the food (obviously right now) and therefor now suffering multiple symptoms of failure.. with no way to get energy/fluid on board to recover..

The pasty butt slows down the crop and everything else, causing organ failure.. not eating and also not having any more egg yolk on board after day 3 ish.. means nutrient deficiency may be kicking in now.. Dehydration will also surely be taking it's toll.

How is the chicks crop at this point? Is it squishy, hard, or flat?

If it's flat then you might try offering a little raw egg yolk as emergency boost. This means holding it and maybe dipping it's beak.

For me.. the chick is starving to death right now.. that don't happen on my watch.. so if there's no hope of connecting with food and/or improvement.. I would cull. Some folks will tube feed.. IF crop appears to be functioning.

If you can't get the nutri drench.. administer the electrolyte water in the same manner described.. hold the chick in the bend of the hand with beak facing the bend in your forefinger and place small drop just below the nostrils.. using your bent forefinger to help direct the drop and the beak together.

 

[Gawilliams]

When we first found it, it did have poop pasted around its butt. I let her soak in some warm water and cleared it off. She is not wanting to eat or drink now. We separated her from the rest and she just lays there and sleeps. Im guessing because she can’t move.
As of 5 this morning, no change. She does seem to be weak on her left side as that is where she tends to fall. I have moved her into a container to where she can get a little support from the wall. If she moves it’s from her flopping around. I have offered her food and water but will not take. She is still pooping. I added some electrolytes to her water as this is all I have on hand at the moment.
I don’t know what else to do

**** UPDATE***.
I think y chick has wry neck. I’ve started with vitamin E but the chick does not want to eat or drink….. any suggestions

 

[azygous]

Take a E capsule, cut it open, and pry the beak open and squeeze the oil into the right side of the beak. Do the same with the sugar water, only place drops on the right side of the beak and she will suck the water drops in.

Sugar water is the most important because it will make the chick stronger so it can eat and drink on its own. Right now, it's too weak to eat or drink and will die unless you force the suage water into it.

 

[Gawilliams]

Take a E capsule, cut it open, and pry the beak open and squeeze the oil into the right side of the beak. Do the same with the sugar water, only place drops on the right side of the beak and she will suck the water drops in.

Sugar water is the most important because it will make the chick stronger so it can eat and drink on its own. Right now, it's too weak to eat or drink and will die unless you force the suage water into it.

How much sugar to water

 

[azygous]

One teaspoon to one cup of tepid, not cold, water.