Dying 5 week old chick. That is clawing itself.

[browning6]

I have a 5 week old silver laced Wyandotte I got from a feed store. He was fine 2 days ago. Then yesterday he couldn't stand up. But he wasn't paralyzed. He would take his feet and try to move. Clawing under his beak. To the point it was bleeding this morning. His head isn't turned back. So I don't think it is Newcastle's disease. I have heard mereks paralyzes their lower body. And he still has plenty of movement. Could it still be mereks. I have about 140 birds ranging from a week old to two years.
So mereks might kill last two years work of breeding and raising birds.

I will try to post pics. My phone won't let me at this point.

 

[browning6]

 

[Eggcessive]

I doubt if it is Mareks because symptoms generally show up later. There are other illnesses that could cause him not to stand such as a vitamin deficiency, avian encephlomyelitis (AE), or an injury. Chicks with AE can be placed on their backs, and they will have fine trmors. I'm not sure how to help his scratching of himself--maybe soaking in warm epsom salts and drying thoroughly with a hair dryer. He will be pecked by the other chicks, so I would cage him. Have you checked for mites or lice? Nustock cream from the feedstore may soothe the raw places and hide them from peckers.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would put vitamins in the chick's water. Here is a great link by Nambroth a member of BYC who compiled a lot of info on Mareks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[ronkonkoma]

Check for mites. They could be sucking the life out of him. Maybe that's why he's clawing at his face.

 

[browning6]

I doubt if it is Mareks because symptoms generally show up later. There are other illnesses that could cause him not to stand such as a vitamin deficiency, avian encephlomyelitis (AE), or an injury. Chicks with AE can be placed on their backs, and they will have fine trmors. I'm not sure how to help his scratching of himself--maybe soaking in warm epsom salts and drying thoroughly with a hair dryer. He will be pecked by the other chicks, so I would cage him. Have you checked for mites or lice? Nustock cream from the feedstore may soothe the raw places and hide them from peckers.

As far as the lice and mites. I will check but i doubt it. and he was isolated when i noticed he kept clawing himself. the next morning the underside of his beak was raw like this. I have them on a starter crumble, so could a mineral of vitamin deficecy exist? I thought starters were suppose to have that covered.

I am going to look up AE a little more in depth.

thanks for the ideas. BYC is a chicken growers life saver.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some links to help you: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...itis/overview_of_avian_encephalomyelitis.html
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html