Help, chick falling over

[Wyorp Rock]

Barnevelder, 2 weeks old,

Unsteady on feet, falling to one side. Weak chirping. Lethargic.

A couple of the others look a little unsteady on their feet

Vit B, Molasses, water, warmth, fresh Oregano, crushed garlic, apple cider vinegar in water.

No, they don’t. A couple are resting with their wings out.

The heat plate is 54°C at the plate.

The heat plate is 54C? That translates to 129.2 F
Are the chicks using that at all? I realize you have raised a lot of chicks, but the plate sounds too hot to me.

Two things come to mind with the description of your symptoms - either the chicks are overheated or at 2 wks old it's possible they are suffering from Coccidiosis overload.
I also realize and did read that you are using a medicated feed, but that is not a cure all especially if you have an outbreak. Generally the amount of Coccidiostat in feed is very small.

Turn down or raise the heat plate - get the chicks hydrated and see if that makes a marked difference over the course of a few hours. If not, I would treat for Coccidiosis.
Do you have Amprolium available at your local feed store?

I also agree about eliminating everything from the water at this time. Maybe some Nutri-Drench or sugar water to see if they perk up.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am confused about the temperature of the brooder, whether it is 19c or 54 c. I agree with Wyorp Rock on checking to see if they are too hot, too cold, and if they might have coccidiosis. Corid/amprollium in the water is the treatment for coccidiosis. But I would try the electrolytes with vitamins first.

 

[Megwyn]

Do you see any runny poops or any with blood in them?

No there was, but not any more.

 

[Megwyn]

I am confused about the temperature of the brooder, whether it is 19c or 54 c. I agree with Wyorp Rock on checking to see if they are too hot, too cold, and if they might have coccidiosis. Corid/amprollium in the water is the treatment for coccidiosis. But I would try the electrolytes with vitamins first.

The base of the plate is 54°, the room is just under 20°. The chicks can move about and choose where they are - under the plate, or at the other end of the brooder.

It’s cooler than touching a heat lamp, and is above the chicks like a mother hen. I don’t know how better to explain how the heat plate works. It’s a safer alternative to heat lamps as a plate will never catch fire, and is no where near as hot.

The younger chicks are fine. It’s just two of the older chicks.

We checked the temperature of the worst chick with an infrared laser thermometer, and it’s body temperature is 39.5 at its hottest point, and 29 at its coldest. (C).

 

[Megwyn]

The heat plate is 54C? That translates to 129.2 F
Are the chicks using that at all? I realize you have raised a lot of chicks, but the plate sounds too hot to me.

Two things come to mind with the description of your symptoms - either the chicks are overheated or at 2 wks old it's possible they are suffering from Coccidiosis overload.
I also realize and did read that you are using a medicated feed, but that is not a cure all especially if you have an outbreak. Generally the amount of Coccidiostat in feed is very small.

Turn down or raise the heat plate - get the chicks hydrated and see if that makes a marked difference over the course of a few hours. If not, I would treat for Coccidiosis.
Do you have Amprolium available at your local feed store?

I also agree about eliminating everything from the water at this time. Maybe some Nutri-Drench or sugar water to see if they perk up.

Thank you Wyorp Rock. I have raised the plate a bit, I have been hydrating them, they seem a little perkier. The water just has a wee bit of cider vinegar in it, and they seem to really like it. I have put some molasses in some soaked chick starter, but they don’t seem at all interested in that. I have also been giving the worst chick a bit of water and food via beak. Not enough for a feed though, and I don’t have a catheter to crop feed these wee ones.

I will keep up the hourly feeding for now, and see how we go. The shops are closed here until the morning now. Is there anything I might have on hand that works against coccidiosis?
M

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you Wyorp Rock. I have raised the plate a bit, I have been hydrating them, they seem a little perkier. The water just has a wee bit of cider vinegar in it, and they seem to really like it. I have put some molasses in some soaked chick starter, but they don’t seem at all interested in that. I have also been giving the worst chick a bit of water and food via beak. Not enough for a feed though, and I don’t have a catheter to crop feed these wee ones.

I will keep up the hourly feeding for now, and see how we go. The shops are closed here until the morning now. Is there anything I might have on hand that works against coccidiosis?
M

The only thing you have on hand right now would probably be your medicated feed. I would continue to try to get the chick hydrated you can offer wet soupy feed, but hydration is always first.

Keep us posted.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you can get some Corid today at your feed store, You could start a 5 to 7 day treatment. Nothing else should be mixed into the water, and that water should be the only source of water. Mix 2 tsp of liquid Corid into each gallon of water, or 1 1/2 tsp of the powder if you use that. Liquid may be less expensive at TSC, and you can also give a couple of drops undiluted directly by mouth twice a day to the most affected chicks.

 

[Megwyn]

If you can get some Corid today at your feed store, You could start a 5 to 7 day treatment. Nothing else should be mixed into the water, and that water should be the only source of water. Mix 2 tsp of liquid Corid into each gallon of water, or 1 1/2 tsp of the powder if you use that. Liquid may be less expensive at TSC, and you can also give a couple of drops undiluted directly by mouth twice a day to the most affected chicks.

View attachment 1600119

Eggcessive, none of the chicks has runny faeces, all look perfectly healthy, I have been watching carefully and the two sicker chicks have perfectly healthy poos.

They are slowly improving. I am feeding them a teaspoon full at a time of wet mash from crumbles, with a bit of molasses added. Two are still very wobbly on their feet. It is still a mystery as to what is going on. I’m starting to wonder if they have hypoglycaemia.

 

[Megwyn]

Update. They have infectious anaemia. Supportive care is all I can do.

All are improving. My sickest chick still cannot stand up once fallen over, but can shuffle along ok so long as no one bumps her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update. They have infectious anaemia. Supportive care is all I can do.

All are improving. My sickest chick still cannot stand up once fallen over, but can shuffle along ok so long as no one bumps her.

Wow. Did your vet diagnose the Infectious Anemia? What type of testing did they do for that?
I would love for you to post some photos, I have never seen that before in chicks. From what I understand it can cause skin lesions, possibly some hemorrhaging on the wings )- does your chick have that - it would be sad, but interesting to see and helpful to others.