Chicken won't walk

[shannon101]

We have a chick that was supposed to hatch on Wednesday. It did not hatch fully until Monday and it needed help at that point because the shell and membrane had dried out. And it was exhausted.
It is two days now out the shell and it won't walk and it's eyes are still closed.
We have been giving it fluids but no food as of yet since it won't open its eyes.
What could be causing this? I thought Mereaks disease at first but it's had no exposure to any adult birds. And none of our birds are showing signs.
Then I thought brain damage.

 

[theuglychick]

Does he have a heat source? What is the temp in the area he's kept in? Chicks get weak if they are cold.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That's a cute baby. My guess would be genetic deficiency.

I agree not Marek's.

Did you have others hatch and on what day?

 

[shannon101]

@theuglychick
Yes it is in the brooder, the hottest temperature in there is 100.
@EggSighted4Life
It was the only one that hatched. And it needed help out on Monday because it had dried out.

 

[theuglychick]

Hmmm, being that hatch day was supposed to be Wednesday and she was in the egg till Monday, and it's Wednesday and she hasn't eaten food yet, is suspect she could be weak from needing food.

The yolk lasts only a few days and if she was in the egg that long it most likely has already be used up. If possible I'd get some sugar water and food in her.

 

[shannon101]

We are giving it vitamin water right now.
I should mention that I also did a pinch test.
The foot that looks curled doesn't seem to have feeling. When you pinch the toe on the left it pulls away but not the right.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Regardless of vitamin, I agree she needs calories or will likely pass before long.

Honestly, I might cull.

Simple electrolyte recipe is... 2 cups warm water, 2 tbs brown sugar, 1/2 tsp each salt and baking soda. plus your vitamins.

Improvise and add that stuff to your water unless it is already one of those mixes.

If I were going to try saving, I would give pure egg yolk, raw right away (not cold)... though it would be from my own flock and not store bought eggs.

 

[shannon101]

Update,
The chick past away this afternoon.
Probably for the best.
Tried feeding it (liquid) because it still had not opened its eyes.
Then today when I went to give it some vitamins it was breathing faster then normal and salivating. Not a good sign, so I figured it wouldn't be long.
In the future when they are this young what is the best way to cull?
With our older birds we cut the throat and bleed them out, but with the tiny ones.. I think our knife would take the head right off and I would rather not do that.

 

[theuglychick]

Im sorry for your loss.

There's a great article on here by a poultry vet (I think) on euthanizing chickens.

I'll see if I can find it and post it here for you.

 

[theuglychick]

Okay, it was a link to an article and I had a difficult time tracking the post down, BUT I found the article at this external link: https://mikethechickenvet.wordpress.com/2017/02/16/euthanasia-for-backyard-birds/