chick walking on knees -4 days old

[kathleengp]

One of my 4 day old silkies is not standing up. She gets around ok and eats and drinks, but she crawls around everywhere on her knees, never stands up straight. Should I splint her little legs?

Here she is with another one for comparison....

Thanks!!

 

[Suechick]

Aw, so sad. I'll say a prayer for you and hope you get some good advice.

Someone here should know what to do

 

[newchickmom09]

I don't know what to do but you could try posting this in the https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewforum.php?id=10 forum and hopefully get some quick good advice.

 

[australorpchick]

I had a chick to do this. Give it poly-vi-sol the liquid baby vitamins (MAKE SURE IT IS NOT THE ONE WITH IRON!). Put a few drops in the water and make sure it drinks it and put some in it's food. I gave mine a drop directly to his beak (but mine was 3 weeks, so be careful not to overdose). Mine was walking normal in 3 days. Good luck!

 

[Wynette]

my guess is slipped tendon(s). I had one that was exactly like this; I took it to the vet (it was 3 days old), who is an avian specialist, and she indicated my chick had slipped tendons in both legs, and that it's virtually uncorrectable. I put the little one down. Sigh... I HOPE that is not the issue with yours!

 

[kathleengp]

Oh dear....I hope we don't have to put her down - she is so sweet. We will try the baby vitamins for some time and see if we can get any improvement.

Thanks so much for all the info!!

 

[purpletree23]

I would try the Poly Vi Sol also. This is usually a vitamin B issue unless it is slipped tendons. Give one drop by mouth in the morning and one at night and see how it goes.

 

[kathleengp]

Just wanted to update you guys - she is doing so much better!!! We got her the vitamins right away and she started improving a bit the very next morning. She has gotten better by the hour and now stands straight up as of this afternoon and just walks with a bit of a limp.

I never - in a million years- would have thought to try baby vitamins...I just thank you guys so much!!

Here she is just now (with her personal 5-pound guard dog - lol):

 

[purpletree23]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A happy ending I'm so happy. Problems with legs is usually due to a vitamin B deficiency. You might have old food or this little on just needed more vitamins. Consider adding some vitamins to their water or dose each chick for a few days so they don't develop problems also.

Happy ending!!!

 

[Darlasmum]

Happy ending indeed! Thanks for the update and photos.