Barnevelder chick down HELP please!

[MH37125]

She's only 6 days old and has been down for 2 days. She has always been a bit smaller than the others. 2 days ago she laid under the heat plate all day. I removed her a few times and noticed she was weak and walking wobbly. Her mobility has decreased dramatically. She is now HALF the size of all the others.
I have her separated in her own brooder and have been giving her water by hand and moving her to her food. She still eats on her own. Her stool looks normal. No pasty butt ever. All other chicks (14) are healthy.
When she does walk, she is low to the ground. I don't believe she has spraddle leg both feet are under body, toes out and feet pointed straight. She sorta falls side to side and uses her wings to walk. When she eats she stands a little taller off her hocks. Hocks look and feel ok but I have no experience with chickens until now.
She peeps continuously. She is alone in her brooder I have tried several different chicks to buddy with her but they all peck or run her over.
They all had a drop of Poultry Nutri Drench when they arrived and have had 2cc per gallon of water in their drinkers since. I gave her another drop of PND yesterday. She will not eat anything other than her finely ground starter feed.

 

[MH37125]

"Sadie" is still the same this morning. Still eating on her own and taking water from a syringe. She sits with both feet directly under her but I did notice while she was sitting her right wing looked lower than the other? When she sleeps she leans into her left side. Could this be something wrong up higher on the leg?

 

[Eggcessive]

She may be just a weaker chick, but the heat and extra water, and electrolytes in the NTD can help. Many chicks can suffer from shipping stress for up to a week after delivery. I would put a small mirror and a fuzzy toy in with her to snuggle. Barnvelders are a rare breed, and with my one barnvelder a few years ago, she didn't live long. The gene pool may be a bit small. Leg problems can be common in chicks, such as slipped tendon, Here is a good link to read about leg problems: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[MH37125]

She may be just a weaker chick, but the heat and extra water, and electrolytes in the NTD can help. Many chicks can suffer from shipping stress for up to a week after delivery. I would put a small mirror and a fuzzy toy in with her to snuggle. Barnvelders are a rare breed, and with my one barnvelder a few years ago, she didn't live long. The gene pool may be a bit small. Leg problems can be common in chicks, such as slipped tendon, Here is a good link to read about leg problems: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

Thanks Eggcessive. I did read that link late last night. I've looked her all over and checked her legs over and over and I just don't see or feel anything out of place. She has become so small and fragile. I don't see any redness or swelling in her hocks. It may be that she is just a weak little one. I will keep doing what I've been doing and see what happens.

Should I stick with PND or switch to something like Save-a-chick? All the chicks were vaccinated for Mareks. Should I feed her some medicated chick feed? I have all the others on non medicated organic.

 

[Eggcessive]

The only thing I don't like about PND is that it doesn't contain riboflavin (B2.) I even emailed the company, but got no response. Poultry Cell by Rooster Booster does have riboflavin. Riboflavin deficiency can cause curled under toes and walking on hocks, which is called curled toe paralysis, but she doesn't sound like she has a riboflavin deficiency. I would probably continue to use it for the trace minerals that it contains. Medicated chick feed with amprollium is to help build up immunity to coccidia, and doesn't treat an infection or outbreak. She's a bit young to have cocci, since it's more common after 3 weeks old. I would just try to get her to eat and drink. You could try grinding a little of the chick crumbles in case they are too big for her. Adding water to a small amount of feed is another way to get food into them, but just keep her nostrils clean. Lastly, tube feeding could be an option until she gets some weight on her. An 8 french feeding tube from a vet plus a 35 cc syringe would be all that was necessary. Here is a thread about that: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/805728/go-team-tube-feeding

 

[MH37125]

Ok I will keep with the PND. She's still about the same tonight. She seems like she still has a lot of life in her and her chirps are getting louder when she talks to me. She just can't get her legs to work.

I've had all their food ground finely since day 1. The others are good with crumble now but keeping hers finer. I hate to cull a chick that is still eating and drinking but I can't keep this up its as tiring as a newborn.

 

[MH37125]

Sadly I euthanized her this morning. Chest became very swollen and mushy like, was not responsive and kept its eyes closed. I should have maybe ended it days ago.

 

[Eggcessive]

it's sad to lose one, but you tried very hard to save her, and she isn't suffering now. Sorry for your loss.