help! my 3 day old chick cant walk yet! ;(

[cherfan1991]

Hi, i'm new here, my name is nikki and i have been raising chickens for about 3 years now.
3 days ago one of my hens had a 8 baby chicks but one of them still can't walk.
I don't think it is spraddle legs b/c he just keeps his legs curled up under him. and he keeps trying so hard to stand up but he just cant. he will keep scooting backwards trying to stand up and thats a far as he gets.... his feet are kind of limp...
he has energy, he eats, drinks, just cant stand up.... I don't know what to do? I have never had this happen to any chicks before...
Does any of this sound familar to anyone? can someone give me some advice? I would greatly appreciate it!

thank you!

Nikki

 

[clhbubba]

This is not going to be the positive/encouraging post you may have hoped for but this did happen to me several weeks ago so I thought I would tell you my experience. We hatched one of the most beautiful chicks, rust on top and gray on bottom, stunning. But it couldn't walk. Not spraddle leg, just couldn't walk. For a week and a half we tried various splint type things on it's legs but nothing helped. I'm a vet tech and had the input of other vet techs and vets. Nothing worked. We had to hold him next to the water and food, he had a great appetite. Which, made the decision to cull him excrutiatingly painful. I have cried more over that chick than I have in a long time. My DH did it for me as I was too attached. I wish you more luck than we had. Several people on here said that they had a similar thing and after a couple of days the chick was fine. I hope that is the case with yours, I'm certainly keeping my fingers crossed for your chick.

 

[19Dawn76]

I'm so sorry. Fingers crossed here 2.

 

[Mikeeeeeeeeee]

Try this first!!!!!

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...ox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=G&um=1


We had one a few weeks ago, and splinted with a band aid on each foot, 8 hours later, you would never have known he had anything wrong.

 

[cherfan1991]

Ok well no change yet except for the fact that he is constantly chirping.
do you think he is in any pain?
i feel bad b/c i dont know what to do....

i am planning on taking him to the vet tuesday....but in the mean time i mite try the band-aid thing.

i hope he is ok...
thank you guys for the advice and clhbubba, i am so sorry about your loss. ;(

thanks!

Nikki

 

[clhbubba]

Thanks for your words. Is he separated from the others? If so do you have a buddy in with him? If not maybe a stuffed animal. Some people use a feather duster as a 'Mom'. A chick that constantly chirps is usually unhappy in some way. Not always but usually. I had to separate mine from the others because they kept running over him. I was able to put a buddy in with him. Too hot/cold, hungry, thirsty or lonely? I'm certainly hoping this turns out well for the little guy/gal. Keep us updated about the vet visit. Hopefully they'll have some suggestions.

 

[fourfeathers]

Does the chick have slipped tendons? Is it able to eat or are you handfeeding, can it get to the waterer? If it can't eat then it won't get strong enough to get its legs under him if due to weak tendons, muscles. If it is a slipped tendon and the hock is swollen or inflamed, then that is a whole other situation and very hard to cure. I would do a vit supplement of polyvisol w/o iron 1-2 drops a day and electrolytes. I did have one chick that had weak legs and couldn't get them up under it, not spraddle, but I treated it like spraddle and she 'got her sea legs' and was up within 24 hrs. But, if yours is a slipped tendon that is so hard to treat successfully. It is crying because it is uncomfortable or wanting something....food, water, a friend, warmth. Make sure it is not on a hard surface, but on a towel with some traction and cushion. If you can't put a buddy in there, a stuffed toy works well for it to snuggle up to. good luck. Pictures would maybe be helpful.

 

[cherfan1991]

ok well im not sure how to distinguish if it is slipped tendons..... he can't straighten his legs and the only way he can sit up is if he props himself up (like in the picture enclosed)
his feet still feel limp too...
i have to pretty much hand feed the little guy bc he cant get to the water or food by himself, and i have been making sure he is getting plenty to drink and eat. i gave him a stuffed toy last nite and he fell rite asleep.

thank you for your help! i hope someone will be able to tell what is wrong with him by the picture below?

thanks again!