Help! chick with balance issues!

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I went out to the brooder and noticed that this 7 wk old gold neck d'uccle is laying down and not moving much, she appears to be having balance issues, what do you think is wrong with her? she is very alert, looking around and making half peeps half squawks. she is seperated in a tub in the house and she is moving around a little and starting to eat, I already put Nutri drench in her water. Should i bring her a friend or will another flighty chick just cause stress?
what is wrong?

 

[coach723]

Have you seen any droppings? At 7 weeks coccidiosis has to be considered. If droppings are runny, mucousy or bloody I would treat with Corid. Vitamin deficiencies are also not uncommon and can cause balance and neurological symptoms. So B vitamins and E may help. If you do decide to treat with Corid then you cannot supplement Thiamine at the same time as it may reduce the effectiveness of the Corid.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

have not seen any droppings yet, but i put her on paper towel and she is eating , so anytime.

Have you seen any droppings? At 7 weeks coccidiosis has to be considered. If droppings are runny, mucousy or bloody I would treat with Corid. Vitamin deficiencies are also not uncommon and can cause balance and neurological symptoms. So B vitamins and E may help. If you do decide to treat with Corid then you cannot supplement Thiamine at the same time as it may reduce the effectiveness of the Corid.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

 

[coach723]

Looks runny, I would be inclined to treat for coccidiosis. Treatment chart is below, along with a link for giving oral doses, which I would also do. Use the severe outbreak dosing, and no vitamins until treatment is complete. I know it's a holiday, but the sooner you start treatment the better, it can progress quickly. Make fresh daily and it has to be the only water available during treatment. If she perks up then I would put her back with the rest of the chicks in the brooder and treat them all.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

She is still doing good and her droppings are not watery anymore, they are firm and green & white, I have been on the lookout for anymore chicks with the same symptoms, none yet, the corid powder is coming tomorrow. So she has to be alone for another 5 days for her treatment? While she is getting treated I will start everyone on corid then after the 5 days I will put her back and start the preventative dose for 5 days correct?

 

[coach723]

No more balance issues? Is she eating and drinking well? Have you been supplementing vitamins while waiting for the Corid? Sorry for all the questions, it's hard when you can't actually see them to see what is going on. Possible that she was being kept from feed by the other chicks and was getting a little weak, may be a very docile, low pecking order bird. IF it's coccidia then they have all been exposed, so I would only isolate if she's at risk of being hurt. Being separated can cause a lot of stress for some of them. You can try putting another chick with her to see how it goes, or put her in the brooder and watch to see if she's just not getting access to feed and water like she should. Either way, I would keep an eye on her to make sure she's really on the mend, make sure droppings remain good. You said green, so just to cover all bases, a lot of green can mean they aren't eating enough, or sometimes infection, especially if runny. If it's more green/brown then more normal. Having the Corid on hand is a good idea, whether you end up using it this time or not. It's always in my 1st aid supplies.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

No more balance issues? Is she eating and drinking well? Have you been supplementing vitamins while waiting for the Corid? Sorry for all the questions, it's hard when you can't actually see them to see what is going on. Possible that she was being kept from feed by the other chicks and was getting a little weak, may be a very docile, low pecking order bird. IF it's coccidia then they have all been exposed, so I would only isolate if she's at risk of being hurt. Being separated can cause a lot of stress for some of them. You can try putting another chick with her to see how it goes, or put her in the brooder and watch to see if she's just not getting access to feed and water like she should. Either way, I would keep an eye on her to make sure she's really on the mend, make sure droppings remain good. You said green, so just to cover all bases, a lot of green can mean they aren't eating enough, or sometimes infection, especially if runny. If it's more green/brown then more normal. Having the Corid on hand is a good idea, whether you end up using it this time or not. It's always in my 1st aid supplies.

I just went out and checked on her and she is getting around ok, but still a little wobbly, I put her back with the other chicks and she was walking around so happily! She ate SO much food! I didn’t notice her drinking any nutri drench water, she is definetly my most easy going chick so she could have been deprived of food. When the corid arrives I will treat everybody though. Should I treat 5 days with corid and then do another 5 days of preventative dosing, or just 5 days of preventative?

 

[coach723]

When the Corid arrives I would do another assessment of how it's going before treating. I honestly don't do preventative dosing (I know others do), I treat full strength, severe outbreak dosing, if I treat. If they are slow to recover then I do the follow up week at preventative dosing. It's a judgement call on your part really. If she's weak from not getting to feed, then I would be inclined to vitamin supplement as I suggested before since deficiencies can cause all sorts of neuro-muscular symptoms. Another suggestion is to maybe increase your brooder size (if possible) and add a feeding station, so she has more chance for access to food and water (you did not say how big your brooder is or how many chicks are in it). I'm glad she's looking a bit better.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

The brooder is 4x6 with an attached 3x3 section, there is 1 big feeder and 1 big waterer, I have 12 5-7 week old bantams in there. I am going away next Saturday so I am hoping that everyone will be healthy before we leave or we might have to bring some chicks camping!

When the Corid arrives I would do another assessment of how it's going before treating. I honestly don't do preventative dosing (I know others do), I treat full strength, severe outbreak dosing, if I treat. If they are slow to recover then I do the follow up week at preventative dosing. It's a judgement call on your part really. If she's weak from not getting to feed, then I would be inclined to vitamin supplement as I suggested before since deficiencies can cause all sorts of neuro-muscular symptoms. Another suggestion is to maybe increase your brooder size (if possible) and add a feeding station, so she has more chance for access to food and water (you did not say how big your brooder is or how many chicks are in it). I'm glad she's looking a bit better.