chick treated for straddle leg appears lethargic (details below)

[LuckyRunnerDucky]

Received a week old chick yesterday which had a severe case of straddle/splayed legs, neither leg supported any body weight. Despite this it seemed strong and healthy and has a very loud cheap. Put a small leg hobble on it and the legs seem to be improving after just 24 hrs with leg supports however it seems to struggle picking up food and is very inaccurate which it pecks, even if held still its aim still seems off. It drinks if i dip its beak in water but i haven't seen it eating unless i sit and hand feed it mash and even then its only a few mouthfuls. It appears strong when it moves and cheaps but is very lethargic and sleepy for a week old chick, often falling asleep mid-feed. Any help or advice would be gratefully received.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would offer the chick some vitamins that contain riboflavin (B2,) and you can find that in Poultry Cell vitamins, human vitamin B complex tablets dissolved in water, and in PolyVisol without Iron baby vitamins. That might give it a boost. I would continue to feed it the watery mash several times a day, and I would look at the eyes to see if there is anything unusual with them that might indicate blindness in one or the other.

 

[LuckyRunnerDucky]

Thanks for the help, we tried to get some vitamins in it but i think it just wasn't eating enough to keep going, unfortunately it passed in the night.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss, but this can be common in chicks that cannot walk.

 

[LuckyRunnerDucky]

Yeah, I just hadn't seen this website before and wandered if anyone had anything i hadn't tried before but once they're down (especially for a week) I know its very unlikely they will get back up again. Thanks for your help anyway it is just a shame it wasn't brought to me earlier