Cockerel can't stand, leaning back on hocks

[CuzChickens]

Hello everybody, I am in need of some advice,

I have a 5 week old mixed breed cockerel who is sitting on his hocks, and can not stand up, he leans back on them, and kinda flops around when he wants to move. His appetite is fine, he is eating and drinking plenty and is still quite vigorous, cheeping his little head off because he is not with his brothers and sisters. He has always been a bit interesting, his body has seemed a bit stunted and he has been a little behind in development, but he still gets along great with everybody else, I don't know if that has anything to do with the issue. His legs and hocks do not seem swollen, he just won't put an ounce of weight below his hocks. Thank you in advance!

 

[zephyricle]

Have you tested to see if he's got feeling in his feet?

 

[Eggcessive]

He could be showing signs of a riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency. I would immediately start him on vitamins for poultry, or give him 1/2 of a crushed vitamin B Complex tablet into some of his food daily. What do you feed him? Is it a balanced chick grower feed? Vitamins can leech out of feed if it is not fresh, or if it has been sitting on the shelf for a few months.

 

[CuzChickens]

Have you tested to see if he's got feeling in his feet?

Yes, he has feeling in all of his toes and both feet.

He could be showing signs of a riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency. I would immediately start him on vitamins for poultry, or give him 1/2 of a crushed vitamin B Complex tablet into some of his food daily. What do you feed him? Is it a balanced chick grower feed? Vitamins can leech out of feed if it is not fresh, or if it has been sitting on the shelf for a few months.

Would Nutri-Drench be good? I am feeding him medicated chick starter that I bought 4 days ago. I have 21 others on the same diet and none of them are having issues, why would he be the only one?

A friend mentioned he might be calcium deficient, becuase he is growing too fast for his bones, I can't remember how he put it...Is that possible? He is a mixed breed, and I know he is at least half Light Brahma, and the dad is either Black Australorp (I think that's the dad) Speckled Sussex, or Partridge Plymouth Rock.

 

[Eggcessive]

NutriDrench is good, but does not contain the riboflavin. Poultry Cell does though. It contains calcium as well. Give it orally 1-2 ml daily by mouth. Or use another vitaminfor chicks in the water.

 

[CuzChickens]

Hmmmm, I only have Nutri drench and sav-a-chick...do I have any fruits or vegetables high in riboflavin?

 

[Eggcessive]

SaveAChick has riboflavin. Also foods rich in riboflavin or B 2 are beef liver, lamb, salmon, pork, plain yogurt, eggs, spinach, and sunflower seeds.You don't need a lot, just a little to boost him.

 

[CuzChickens]

OK, thank you so much! I'm going to give him some sav-a-chick and see where this goes.