Baby chick problems

[srd5757]

Hi, we just brought home 3 baby chicks last week... it's already been a heck of a ride! Had pasty butt in the first couple days. Thankfully it was easily cleared up.
On Saturday we noticed one not walking right, and realized his toes were curled together. After internet research we put his feet on little peices of cardboard with tape. This seemed to make everything worse, not better as suggested online. After watching him a while longer realize he also has diarhea and started doing more research. Came across someone else with this issue and saying it is a vitamin deficency and to give poly-vi-sol. We've started doing that but cannot find anywhere how much to give for a deficency, or how long it will take for him to get better. Or if there will be lasting effects from the deficency.
He seems a little bit stronger, but is still falling over quite a bit. And we started the poly-vi-sol on Sunday around noon. I've been giving him a drop about 4 times a day.
Any one have any experience with this type of thing? Any ideas?
Also wondering if I can bathe him, as he is falling and using his wings to help get back up and now has poop on his wings (he's falling in his own diarhea) Sorry if TMI.
Would greatly appreciate any help. This is my first experience owning chicks.
Shania

 

[chicmom]

What does the runny poo look like? If it's a rusty brown color, and stinky, then it's totally normal. Sounds like you're giving him quite alot of vitamins......

If his toes are severely curled under, and he has trouble getting around, it might be a good idea to put him down. (And I am so sorry to say that.)

 

[srd5757]

Well, yes it is rusty brown, but the other two chick who are perfectly fine are not having what I would call diarhea, this is definitly different.
I don't know if this is severely curled under or not. All his symtoms see in line with what I read about vitamin deficiency so that's what I'm trying to treat. I was looking for someone else with some experience with this because I don't know how much I should give to a chick that is vitamin deficent. One place I read said one-two drops a day for a healthy chick...
I am trying to treat him. He does seem to have improved slightly since we started the viatamins. I know that if we can't get him over this we may have to put him down, but I'm looking for suggestions so that that is not the outcome. And I definitly want to give him enough time to get better, that is the last option if nothing else works.

 

[srd5757]

Anyone have any ideas? Still having the problem. Chick seems a little stronger, but still falling over. Sometimes he gets his feet uncurled and sometimes he doesn't. Just not sure what else I can do or how long I should wait for him to get better.

 

[BeccaSmith]

Hi! I'm reading up on Poly Vi Sol and came across this thread, just wondering how your little roo is doing?

 

[123ChickieLou]

Every chick I've ever brought home goes through poo stages. Some are very watery and runny for a little while, somoe have the rust colored stuff, some are normal. They've all been just fine. Chickens' poo changes all the time and there are many things that are considered normal.

Try not to worry about it too much. You don't want to overstress them by fussing with them too much

 

[Teepov]

You said it's been a week? How old were they when you bought them?
It's encouraging that the chick is moving it's toes, so we know they're not paralyzed. Honestly, I would just wait. Some babies just need extra time before they're ready to get up and go. As long as it's not getting picked on by the others and isn't in danger of becoming bullied (you'd know if that were the case...), there's no rush. If you really think it needs some extra help with it's feet, I recommend trying the splints again. They will make the chick move/walk awkwardly and give it some difficulty, but they're not meant to make it walk well while they are on. They're meant to correct the problem so that the bird can walk properly once you've taken them off (think back-brace and restrictive those are to people's movements...)
There are lots of different splints you can try, so if the one you tried before didn't work, try another. Here's a couple: http://www.chickenchatter.org/view_topic.php?id=2586&forum_id=30

I don't think it's quite time to euthanize this one

 

[Teepov]

As an aside, you may want to think about getting your chicks from another place next time if you've had so many problems... Don't let this experience turn you off from having chickens!

 

[srd5757]

Thanks for all the replies! I didn't even see you all had posted or I would have responded.
Unfortunately, the lil guy passed away. It was very sad. They were only a couple days old when we got them and he was fine for several days before the problem started. He seemed a bit better after i started the poly-vi-sol, but then stayed the same for quit some time. He wouldn't hardly even get up and the other two would sometimes step on the poor little guy.
He's in a better place now.
I don't know that it was the place we got them from's fault. One had pasty butt, but from what I read that can just be from stress and I would imagine it's stressful when someone takes you to a new place. The other two are perfectly healthy and we did go and get two more! We got 2 production reds, which wouldn't have been my breed of choice but they were the oldest there (about 3 wks) which is close to what our other 2 are and I didn't want to get day old ones that might be picked on.
Anyways. Even though we lost one we are really enjoying having them!