Help! My 4 week old chick has a lame foot/leg!

[sophie1992]

Hi,
My 4 week old chick has been walking fine up until this morning. It seems he can't put any weight on one of his legs now and his foot is curled up. I have tried to feel for any breaks or anything abnormal but cant find anything. He will let me touch it and I can flex his foot so it is straight. He is eating, drinking and seems fine apart from the foot!
Any help that anyone can give me would be much appreciated! I'm thinking it is possibly a sprain but cant find the symptoms for what i should look out for anywhere online.

Thanks in advance!

P.s i can post a picture if that would help?

 

[GitaBooks]

It sounds like it could be partial paralysis. My 4 week old chick, Amber, suddenly developed a lame leg and it progressed into the inability to stand or walk. We had to euthanize her.

However, paralysis can be reversed, depending on the cause. These include:
Eating poison or heavy metal
Improper vitamins or nutrition (give a supplement)
Marek's
An Injury

She could just have a sprain as well, so no need to panic. Here is a link that talks about reasons behind paralysis (not just marek's).

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq



I do hope your chick gets better soon. Best of luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

Get some poultry vitamins that include riboflavin (vitamin B2) in case of riboflavin deficiency. If it is that the sooner it is started the better the chance for a cure. Note: Poultry Nutri-Drench does not contain riboflavin. Here is a link to read: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/

 

[sophie1992]

Great thanks for both your help! I'm going to get him started on vitamins (particularly B2) straight away!!

I'll let you know how we get on!