I have 4 chicks now, all a little over a week old. A few days ago, I was holding my RIR for quality petting time. Nothing of note happened--she sat quietly and calmly in my hand, no injuries, no flapping of wings, etc.
But when I put her back in the brooder, she hopped up on the perch near the heat light and immediately her right wing drooped and she leaned over to that side. It seemed like her leg couldn't support her. Looked a little like what I would imagine a stroke would look like.
I thought she may be too hot (the perch is quite close to the light unless she moves over to the other end of the perch) so I removed the light. She still listed to one side. I kept watching though and after a few minutes she was fine--wings normal, walking normally.
So I thought everything was fine--until today. This time it happened when I was holding her. Same thing happened, looked like she just lost control of that side of her body. She was trying to stand but just couldn't. And as before it went away after a few minutes.
Now I'm pretty worried and don't know what to do or what it could be. She's my favorite of the chicks and I'll be really sad to lose her. I'd appreciate any advice you guys have to offer.
Some other info that may be helpful for you all to know:
- I have all the chicks on medicated chick starter with a small amount of grit sprinkled throughout (But didn't have grit the first time it happened)
- The first time it happened, I had only paper towels as bedding, but now have pine shavings.
- I clean out their food completely every few days or when one of them messes in it.
- I clean the water out daily or more often if they poop in it or it gets nasty sooner
- I have noticed that they are acting like older chickens in that they scratch and dig thru the bedding. I've seen them eat a few tiny pine threads a couple times and I know they shred the paper towels. (and do so even more often now that they have pine on top.)
- They dump out what I think is a lot of food onto the ground and it sometimes gets buried under the shavings so they scratch to get it out. I clean it as best I can but they just keep doing it.
That's all I can think of that may be relevent. I really hope you all can help me, even if its just to tell me I'm being an overprotective mama.
But when I put her back in the brooder, she hopped up on the perch near the heat light and immediately her right wing drooped and she leaned over to that side. It seemed like her leg couldn't support her. Looked a little like what I would imagine a stroke would look like.
I thought she may be too hot (the perch is quite close to the light unless she moves over to the other end of the perch) so I removed the light. She still listed to one side. I kept watching though and after a few minutes she was fine--wings normal, walking normally.
So I thought everything was fine--until today. This time it happened when I was holding her. Same thing happened, looked like she just lost control of that side of her body. She was trying to stand but just couldn't. And as before it went away after a few minutes.
Now I'm pretty worried and don't know what to do or what it could be. She's my favorite of the chicks and I'll be really sad to lose her. I'd appreciate any advice you guys have to offer.
Some other info that may be helpful for you all to know:
- I have all the chicks on medicated chick starter with a small amount of grit sprinkled throughout (But didn't have grit the first time it happened)
- The first time it happened, I had only paper towels as bedding, but now have pine shavings.
- I clean out their food completely every few days or when one of them messes in it.
- I clean the water out daily or more often if they poop in it or it gets nasty sooner
- I have noticed that they are acting like older chickens in that they scratch and dig thru the bedding. I've seen them eat a few tiny pine threads a couple times and I know they shred the paper towels. (and do so even more often now that they have pine on top.)
- They dump out what I think is a lot of food onto the ground and it sometimes gets buried under the shavings so they scratch to get it out. I clean it as best I can but they just keep doing it.
That's all I can think of that may be relevent. I really hope you all can help me, even if its just to tell me I'm being an overprotective mama.