Help... failure to thrive?

[PolarBerry]

I don't see any symptoms other than they start to lag behind, go lethargic, seizure/roll neck around, gasp and die. Takes about 15 minutes for them to die once they start to lag behind.

 

[PolarBerry]

One in his final gasps before dying. They start out lethargic/sleeping with head down/wings out, then they start rolling their head, then comes frantic wing and leg flailing with no head control and then they gasp and their head jerks back fast and they die. I always find them sprawled on their side with head arched back to their wings and legs sticking straight out.

 

[PolarBerry]

Removing from the brooder upon first symptom and administering warmed fluids by mouth does nothing to help. I've also been dipping beaks when I replace water to make sure they get some periodically.

 

[BlueShadow]

Well, I recognize that, its called opisthotonos. It is always a VERY bad sign that usually means death is coming soon, no matter the species.

Do you have vitamins to boost these keets? Specifically, Vit E and thiamine (B1). NutriDrench for poultry is a good source of Vit E although you should supplement thiamine also. Vit B is easily broken down by sunlight, so old vitamins or ones that have been in the light may have it broken down already. Since it started when you got them, I wonder about the parents diet.

May also be stargazing in the chick, from what I know that is poorly understood.

 

[PolarBerry]

This is the water supplement they've been on. Except was removed when did corrid.

 

[BlueShadow]

That has Vit E but not Vit B1/thiamine. Try to find a way to boost the thiamine for them. Some chick vitamins contain thiamine. Or, thiamine is water soluble, you maybe can use a human vitamin supplement (not sure if all the additives they put in the supplement will be water soluble though)! Might want to try a capsule if that is an option. Wouldn't have to use much per gallon of water.

 

[PolarBerry]

@BlueShadow

I purchased some of this water soluble powder. It has both thiamine and vitamin E.

The dose looks like all 4oz for 2 gallons?

 

[BlueShadow]

Looks like one 4 oz packet to 2 gallons of water to make a stock solution, then mix one ounce of that stock solution per gallon of water.

I don't recommend mixing up a stock solution, (it says make a new one every day!). Like I said, thiamine breaks down quickly. So I would add it directly to the water.

I will try some maths here: So thats 2 oz vitamins per gal water for a stock solution, that makes 128 oz of stock solution, one of those oz per gallon, 2/128 = 0.015 oz of your vitamin packet per gallon of water. If it weighs the same as salt (not an unreasonable assumption), my kitchen scale tells me that you need 1/16 tsp, affectionately known as "a pinch" per gallon of water.

 

[BlueShadow]

I have not used that brand before, but B vitamins are yellow in color (except B12, that's red, but there isn't a lot of B12 in there). So usually the solution is very light yellow when mixed.

 

[PolarBerry]

my kitchen scale tells me that you need 1/16 tsp, affectionately known as "a pinch" per gallon of water.

I had a 1/32 measuring spoon I used about half on for their quart waterers.

I also bought a locally made feed with animal protein called scratch and peck (unmedicated starter) and it has gotten them much more excited about eating. The turkeys are gobbling it down. It's only 20% protein but I do have a bio-mor (I think that's the brand) protein top dress powder made from hydrolyzed yeasts that I can add if it's ok to feed. It's 30% protein.