Chicken on back

[buckaroogirl]

So, I went out to put my girls away for the evening and found one of my ameraucana chicks on its back, unable to right itself. I picked it up. It was calm, put it on its feet and it ran away. Then stopped fluffed himself up and fell back onto its back unable to right itself again. What could be wrong with it? I had another ameraucana die the other day from what I assumed was sour crop but I'm not sure. I'm also a part of a ladies Facebook page who I got my chicks from and another girl had the same issue with one of her birds. Always on its back unable to right itself. Any ideas?

 

[Whittni]

Sounds like a deformity (which can happen to a lot of hatches). That chick sounds like a cull, but I don't like to cull birds if I don't have to, you need to set it's legs,

check this page for info on fixing it:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/02/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it.html

 

[buckaroogirl]

It's an older chick though. Was fine for a month and a half. Then all of a sudden found it like that. It's not spraddled leg

 

[buckaroogirl]

It's about 3 months old

 

[ten chicks]

So, I went out to put my girls away for the evening and found one of my ameraucana chicks on its back, unable to right itself. I picked it up. It was calm, put it on its feet and it ran away. Then stopped fluffed himself up and fell back onto its back unable to right itself again. What could be wrong with it? I had another ameraucana die the other day from what I assumed was sour crop but I'm not sure. I'm also a part of a ladies Facebook page who I got my chicks from and another girl had the same issue with one of her birds. Always on its back unable to right itself. Any ideas?

Why do you think the other chick died from sour crop? Have you looked up info on Coccidiosis,asking this because one chick has already died and another is ill? Some symptoms are runny/watery poop(may or may not contain blood)fluffed feathers,lethargic,not eating/drinking properly. If symptoms match,purchase Corid(amprolium)i see you are in Canada,in Manitoba i purchase liquid Amprolium(ask for Amprolium,brand name is Corid,and is not called Corid in Manitoba) from a vet. Dosage for Amprolium powder 20% is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water, dosage for Amprolium liquid 9.6% is 2 tsp per gallon of water.treat all chicks for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment.

 

[buckaroogirl]

The one that died had real foul smelling breath. Unsure of her poops but she was still eating and drinking. They're free range during the day, shed walk with her buddies then stop and fluff up, walk again and peck around and repeat. When I isolated her I put her in a kennel with food and water and she started eating right away. I looked up sour crop afterwards and just guessed that that's what maybe it could have been. Should have cut her open and looked.....I put super booster in their water, for the last two days. But maybe I should try something else.

Would the coccidiosis make it flip onto its back and not right itself? I find it strange that this happened to my bird. And also another bird from the same breeder. But I've had this bird for about two months now.
I'm assuming I can take a fecal sample and bring it to my vet to examine?

 

[ten chicks]

The one that died had real foul smelling breath. Unsure of her poops but she was still eating and drinking. They're free range during the day, shed walk with her buddies then stop and fluff up, walk again and peck around and repeat. When I isolated her I put her in a kennel with food and water and she started eating right away. I looked up sour crop afterwards and just guessed that that's what maybe it could have been. Should have cut her open and looked.....I put super booster in their water, for the last two days. But maybe I should try something else.

Would the coccidiosis make it flip onto its back and not right itself? I find it strange that this happened to my bird. And also another bird from the same breeder. But I've had this bird for about two months now.
I'm assuming I can take a fecal sample and bring it to my vet to examine?

I don't know if Coccidiosis(there are 9 strains of Cocci) will cause this,but there are so many different symptoms,and can affect every chick differently. When young chicks get ill,especially when feathers are fluffed my first guess is always Coccidiosis. Absolutely take a sample to vet,that way you will know for sure. I agree it is strange that another chick from same breeder is showing similar symptoms.

 

[buckaroogirl]

Ok. Thanks for your help! I hate to see my chickies in distress! ill bring a stool sample to my vet (I work there, just on maternity leave). And see if I can order some of the powder or liquid.

 

[buckaroogirl]

Question. How would I treat the environment for coccidia?

 

[ten chicks]

Question. How would I treat the environment for coccidia?

Coccidiosis is usually always around,most birds carry some in their sml intestines,and build immunity to the strains they have been exposed too. Considering there are 9 species of cocci,an outbreak can occur at any time,only a problem when they get an overload of it. Cocci is very common for chicks to have. I always keep a supply of Amprolium on hand in the event of an outbreak. Cocci is a parasitic infection of the intestinal tract,and is spread by their droppings which get into feed/water via droppings. Can be spread by birds,bringing new chickens into area(which may carry a strain that other chicks have not been exposed too)or bringing it in on your own clothes/shoes.

For disinfecting feed/water bowls,you can use a diluted solution of cleaning ammonia,wash feeders,change bedding in nest boxes,you do not need to sterilize the ground(this is almost impossible to do). Bleach will not kill cocci as cocci is parasitic,not bacterial. Just basic general cleaning.