Chick wobbles when stands and is holding leg weird

[zookeeptd]

My little black silkie is about 1-2 wks old and can't stand. She is not using her left leg correctly. Kinda holds it limp. What can I do? I'm a newbie and at a loss! Help!!


update.. I put her in a plastic shoe box with some shavings food and water near the light where they normally sleep. She's eating up a storm but still wobbly. I pray this was a false alarm!!


2nd update.. Something is wrong!! Her toes on that foot are curled up. She sleeps alot then eats alot drinks then back to sleep. She's so tiny! The other silkies are almost twice her size. I separated her so she's chirping like crazy. Seems like she even chirps in her sleep. Still very wobbly and favors left leg. Any ideas out there??? Please!!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Sounds like Marek's disease. Try mixing Poly-vi-sol with no iron into her water, it one of the only things I changed to help my JG roo when he got Marek's he amazingly survived. For Poly-vi-sol, you do 1tsp or 1mL per gallon. For little cups, like Dixie cups I'd give about 3-4 drops of it.

Marek's disease is a virus, and forms a paralysis when it gets to the chicken. It can spread and form a tumor, which sometimes can kill them, and sometimes not. Some chickens have seizures when they have Marek's, so if she does start showing signs of seizures hold her steady, the seizures can cause the chick, I noticed, to roll out of control. So just steady her in some towels so she doesn't hurt her self.

I hope something good happens.
~JG

 

[zookeeptd]

If she doesn't have this will it hurt her? She is with 9 other chicks. Should I give it to them all? She is in the brooder but in a box so they can't get to her. Thank you for your advice!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

If she picks at it (or gets exhausted) and is peeping a lot it probably would be. It would be good if you did give it to them all, it's mainly used for real human babies, so it wouldn't hurt if it was on healthy baby chicks.

If she doesn't have this will it hurt her? She is with 9 other chicks. Should I give it to them all? She is in the brooder but in a box so they can't get to her. Thank you for your advice!

 

[zookeeptd]

She died about 1:30 this morning. That was horrible.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

I'm so so sorry. Other ways to prevent Marek's is lots of space for the chicks, and clean pens. When chicks are this young it can kill them pretty quick. My chicks got Marek's around 5 weeks, and one died less than a day, and one recovered quickly, one had symptoms longer than the others (for 6 months in my room) and recovered.

 

[zookeeptd]

I called Cackle and was told this was not Mareks. That normally happens at about 3 months and will effect more than one chick. The owner said from my description, she may have eaten the "wrong kind of bug" for her system to handle. I have had them outside once. She advices to give them a Sulfa based med. I picked up Sulmet but not sure how much for how long? I don't see any problems with the others so not doing anything as of right now. I was impressed that Cackle took time to talk to me about chicks that I did NOT get from them. I've ordered from them before and will again.