Chick Sitting With Legs Straight Out In Front

[CaptainCat]

Hi all!

I have 10 chicks that are 6 weeks old. This one here (pics below) is either my Easter egger or olive egger. For the past 2 weeks she has been wobbly on her feet and often seems off-balance and would fall back on her butt (see second photo). Generally she could get back up and walk around.

About a week ago we transitioned the chicks from a pen inside into an outdoor coop. She has since seemed to decline. She is now unable to stand on her legs. She won’t put them underneath her and instead sits back with her legs straight out in front. She try’s to sit forward and instead will fall back, freak out, and spread/flap her wings to try to steady her. Eventually she has to use her wings to position herself so she doesn’t fall (see photo 1).

Because of this, she is now unable to go to her feed/water, so I’ve been providing it to her. Today, we were reading that we can suspend the chick in a sling to try to straighten out the legs/allow the chicken to understand they need to put pressure on them to stand (see photo 3). She seems okay in the sling, but at times will lift up her legs and they shake. Specifically one more than the other.

We have checked her feet, which seem fine. We have felt her legs to see if it causes pain when we touch them, and have pulled down her legs to straighten them, and she doesn’t seem to have a problem with any of that. We started supplementing a B vitamin crushed up in water as we read that she may have a vitamin deficiency. We soaked her in warm water to ensure she wasn’t having issues pooping since she had been sitting on her rear for so long. No issues there - she has been pooping fine in the sling. She has a healthy appetite and has been drinking lots of water.

Looking to see if anyone might know what is going on. We are first time chicken owners and would love to know if anybody has seen this before/know what it might be.

Thank you!

 

[azygous]

It could be a B-vitamin deficiency. There are more than one B vitamin. Which are you giving? The best thing would be B-complex to cover all possible deficiencies.

Marek's can cause this, although six weeks is a bit early to come down with symptoms. Another thing that can cause this is exposure to petroleum distillates such as motor oil or transmission oil. It only take a tiny bit of oily gravel to make a chick lame.

 

[CaptainCat]

It could be a B-vitamin deficiency. There are more than one B vitamin. Which are you giving? The best thing would be B-complex to cover all possible deficiencies.

Marek's can cause this, although six weeks is a bit early to come down with symptoms. Another thing that can cause this is exposure to petroleum distillates such as motor oil or transmission oil. It only take a tiny bit of oily gravel to make a chick lame.

Thanks so much for the reply! We started today with 1/4 of a B-Complex vitamin crushed and added to her water. Not sure if that’s enough.

I had read about Mareks. She was vaccinated, but I understand they can still get the disease in some instances. I did not know about the general age for symptoms to arrive though, so that’s super helpful!

As far as motor oil, if that was the case, does it normally correct itself or is there anything I can do to negate the effect?

 

[azygous]

Unfortunately, exposure to petroleum distillates causes permanent damage. I would still treat with the B-complex, though. It can strengthen the legs and perhaps the chick may show some improvement. I always suggest trying.

If you suspect there's an oil spill, you need to locate it and clean it up. It can continue to do neurological damage. I had a log splitter sitting where my chickens ranged. Hydraulic fluid leaked onto the ground under it. I had a couple of adult hens with the exact same symptoms as your chicks, legs out front, difficulty walking, etc. I didn't make the connection until an eight-week old chick who I'd seen picking up grit under the splitter collapsed at my feet.

It took me three days to finally look at the log splitter and the oily soil under it and draw a direct line to my lame chickens and the little chick I'd just lost.

 

[CaptainCat]

Unfortunately, exposure to petroleum distillates causes permanent damage. I would still treat with the B-complex, though. It can strengthen the legs and perhaps the chick may show some improvement. I always suggest trying.

If you suspect there's an oil spill, you need to locate it and clean it up. It can continue to do neurological damage. I had a log splitter sitting where my chickens ranged. Hydraulic fluid leaked onto the ground under it. I had a couple of adult hens with the exact same symptoms as your chicks, legs out front, difficulty walking, etc. I didn't make the connection until an eight-week old chick who I'd seen picking up grit under the splitter collapsed at my feet.

It took me three days to finally look at the log splitter and the oily soil under it and draw a direct line to my lame chickens and the little chick I'd just lost.

Definitely will-do. How much B-Complex would you suggest? With all of the water just be sure to have some dissolved? (Sorry if that’s a naive question).

I don’t believe they’ve been exposed to any petroleum as they’ve been in the pen inside with only pine shavings during the time that the chick started developing this issue, but I’ll be sure to look around just incase. Thank you for all that info - I had no clue!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would crush the B complex into a tsp of water or in a little egg, and give it to her. She needs the 1/4 tablet all at once or twice daily, not just in water. Chick slings are good for getting a disabled chick upright and in front of their food and water. Here are some examples, and the first 2 pages contain the design:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[CaptainCat]

Hi all,

Just circling back incase somebody in the future comes across this feed and is dealing with the same issues. OUR CHICKEN IS NOW WALKING! Here's what happened:

Chick age: Weeks 5-8: Chick was immobile. Loud squaking when picking her up. Couldn't stand on feet. Put her in a sling to stand parts of the day. Were giving her 1ml Poultry Cell vitamins everyday-ish (there were some days we missed).

Chick age: Weeks 9-11: Started giving 1ml of Poultry Cell via syringe every night, mixed with 600mg (pill and a half) of Vitamin E. We did a pill and a half, or 600mg, instead of the recommended 400mg because it was EXTREMELY hard to mix/syringe into her mouth and we accounted for some of it not making it into her mouth (getting stuck in the syringe, stuck in the little cup, etc). She was beginning to put her feet underneath her, push down harder when we were holding her. She couldn't stand on her own necessarily, but she was almost pushing all the way up.

Chick age: Week 12: SHE IS WALKING! Though she stumbles a bit at times, she can fully stand up and sit down, run to us, etc! She is much smaller than the other chicks she was raised with, but we are getting her healthy!