Chick is struggling

[Birdsandsuch]

I got new birds about four weeks ago, and while most are thriving, one is struggling. She is a black austrolop, about four weeks old. She stopped growing and is about half the size of the rest of the flock. She is completely unable to stand and almost crawls around using her wings for balance. She is eating and drinking on her own but not a lot. I think it is a case of wry neck, but I am not that experienced. She is currently separated and I have been giving her vitamin e and selenium, but I can’t tell if it is working. We have been feeding her egg yolk, but I don’t know if that is helping either. Other members of my family believe she will not make it, but I am holding out hope. I am hoping for some guidance as how to help her, or if she is even worth helping.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I got new birds about four weeks ago, and while most are thriving, one is struggling. She is a black austrolop, about four weeks old. She stopped growing and is about half the size of the rest of the flock. She is completely unable to stand and almost crawls around using her wings for balance. She is eating and drinking on her own but not a lot. I think it is a case of wry neck, but I am not that experienced. She is currently separated and I have been giving her vitamin e and selenium, but I can’t tell if it is working. We have been feeding her egg yolk, but I don’t know if that is helping either. Other members of my family believe she will not make it, but I am holding out hope. I am hoping for some guidance as how to help her, or if she is even worth helping.

Welcome To BYC

I'm sorry about your chick.

Was she ever able to stand, walk around normally and eat/drink on her own?

At 4weeks of age, she may be failure to thrive and sadly won't make it.

Do her legs function at all?

You can try vitamin therapy if you wish. Go to Walmart, CVS, etc. and buy a Bottle of Vitamin E and B-Complex.

Give your chick 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily along with a little egg for the uptake of E. Cut out that selenium you are giving.

Place her in chick chair to see if she can get some leg function going.

Keep her hydrated and try to encourage her to eat some wet mushy chick starter.

Examples of Vitamin E and B-Complex.

 

[Birdsandsuch]

She was able to walk for a while but began just sitting all day about a week back. She is very eager to eat egg yolk and I will continue vitamin e, but not selenium.

 

[MROO]

She was able to walk for a while but began just sitting all day about a week back. She is very eager to eat egg yolk and I will continue vitamin e, but not selenium.

Rather than just Vitamin E, give her a generalized poultry vitamin. It coves all of the bases.

 

[Birdsandsuch]

Ok that sounds good, is there one you would recommend

 

[Eggcessive]

What symptoms of wry neck does she have? Is her neck twisted to the side or bent up or down? Wyorp Orp’s advice to give vitamin E is for wry neck. A generalized poultry vitamin does not have enough E. What do her poops look like? Have you considered treating for coccidiosis with Corid? Dosage is 2 ml of the liquid Corid per gallon of water for 5-7 days. In addition you can give her 0.1 ml of undiluted Corid orally once or twice daily. You may wet a little bowl of chicken feed with Corid water. It is safe for the others to drink. The only thing is that B vitamin thiamine should not be given while treating with Corid. Coccidiosis can make her weak, have decreased appetite, lethargy, and be hunched or puffed up with ruffled feathers. I hope that you can save the little one.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She was able to walk for a while but began just sitting all day about a week back. She is very eager to eat egg yolk and I will continue vitamin e, but not selenium.

Ok that sounds good, is there one you would recommend

Yes, I would recommend that you get a bottle of Vitamin E and B-Complex. E is for neurological, B-Complex is complimentary for leg support, to support E and overall health.

A generalized poultry vitamin generally does not contain sufficient therapeutic amounts of the target vitamins that have been suggested for you to give.

For instance, Poultry Cell is a good, generalized poultry vitamin and can help give a quick boost to droopy hen or in times of stress like molt for a few days, there's nothing wrong with it, but in each ounce, there's only Vitamin E 50IU which is sorely lacking for treating the symptoms you wish to treat.

Welcome To BYC
You can try vitamin therapy if you wish. Go to Walmart, CVS, etc. and buy a Bottle of Vitamin E and B-Complex.

Give your chick 400IU Vitamin E and 1/4tablet B-Complex daily along with a little egg for the uptake of E. Cut out that selenium you are giving.

Place her in chick chair to see if she can get some leg function going.

Keep her hydrated and try to encourage her to eat some wet mushy chick starter.

Examples of Vitamin E and B-Complex.
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