Day old chick - Leg Weakness

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Ahh ok, good to know!! That makes sense. The ranch supply stores in my area only sell All Flock in pellets, I've never seen the crumbles so I presumed it was for older birds.

I personally haven't fed it to my flock very often, as I prefer to use organic feed and I haven't found an organic version of all flock, so I guess I don't know much about it.

We transitioned everyone over to it bc we have ducks, too

 

[MamaFox78]

We transitioned everyone over to it bc we have ducks, too

Yes that makes sense - that's where I've seen it used the most, mixed species flocks☺

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

You're doing the best you can.

Thanks for all your help. I didn't get to do the eggs / vitamin E for them today, she only got one extra dose of B vitamins, along with normal feed.

But I will be darned if what I've done so far hasn't already helped eliminate the twitching practically overnight! It really was only a couple days I think she had it then... Friday and Saturday? I read that I should keep supplementing for a couple weeks, so that's fine, I totally will. But I am just shocked how quickly such an alarming (and potentially serious) symptom could turn around with something that seems almost too easy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for all your help. I didn't get to do the eggs / vitamin E for them today, she only got one extra dose of B vitamins, along with normal feed.

But I will be darned if what I've done so far hasn't already helped eliminate the twitching practically overnight! It really was only a couple days I think she had it then... Friday and Saturday? I read that I should keep supplementing for a couple weeks, so that's fine, I totally will. But I am just shocked how quickly such an alarming (and potentially serious) symptom could turn around with something that seems almost too easy.

I'm glad she's doing better!

Yes, I would keep up with the vitamin therapy for a couple of weeks, then taper it off. See how she does.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

I'm glad she's doing better!

Yes, I would keep up with the vitamin therapy for a couple of weeks, then taper it off. See how she does.

Thank you! Yes, the twitching is better. The skin and bones, frail feeling, and ragged feathers still look and feel so disconcerting. Do you think I should try to tube feed her or anything, as long as she is eating on her own? I do think I saw some new little feather buds trying to come in at the top of her wings, so that's a start, but she still does not look like the other plump, healthy little chickies. :/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If she's eating and drinking on her own, it shouldn't be necessary to tube feed her.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

They all gobbled up the Vitamin E eggs this morning and Peep got a dose of B vitamins. I definitely saw her eating the egg at least, so that's a start. I feel like I woke up to her looking so much better!

Spoiler

She's feisty and trying to hop out of my hands now! But the mild twitching is back, so of course we are going to carry on supplementing. Not out of the woods yet, but I was so happy to come down and see her looking a little less bare and unfortunate-looking.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Pictured in the brooder with her flockmates, L to R, Marshmallow, Ruby, Peep, and Carmella Soprano.

Taken just before Peep came over and knocked Marshmallow off her perch! Lol

#chicklife

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Check out this plump little chicken!

I love seeing all these new little feather buds coming in on her poor tum, and all around her neck and wings

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Tomorrow will be three weeks since we picked up Peep.

I have been continuing the Vitamin E + eggs for everyone daily, although I stopped the extra B vitamins for Peep sooner. I suppose I could put a few drops in their water easily enough. I purchased a supplement in the goat section based off a tip from BYC that's a tube of Selenium and Vitamin E gel, which I was able to get Peep to eat a bit of this morning. I will try giving some to another chick I may have seen twitching, but after burning through and entire bottle of vitamin E capsules! Lol I figured this was worth a try and maybe not quite as messy as breaking open the oil in the capsules.

Peep, pictured center. She's doing really well with her flockmates! She is in with Carmella and the three Bieles, while I keep an eye on Ruby to make sure she's not a Rubio lol Her neck still looks and feels pretty horrible, but I'm hoping those are new feathers coming in better. Her belly feathers are coming in though, and her legs are nice and strong though! I feel really good about how she's doing!

I'll try to get the girls outside again for some grass time, fresh air, and better pictures in the next day or so.