HELP my 8 week old chick is sick seizures

[luv2bmomjen]

She was perfect until yesterday and then we came home last night and found our Golden Polish laying on the ground in the dark having seizures. I brought her in and she seized for another hour paddling her feet backwards, arching her neck back and flopping. Ever since she has been lethargic and will not eat or drink. Also hasent pooped. I have been giving her water every 10 mins on and off. She is getting stronger but not much. Mostly just lays in her bin next to my bed and isn't moving around at all.
What do I do????
I have never been around or owned chickens until 8 weeks ago so I have NO CLUE!!!

 

[boskelli1571]

She was perfect until yesterday and then we came home last night and found our Golden Polish laying on the ground in the dark having seizures. I brought her in and she seized for another hour paddling her feet backwards, arching her neck back and flopping. Ever since she has been lethargic and will not eat or drink. Also hasent pooped. I have been giving her water every 10 mins on and off. She is getting stronger but not much. Mostly just lays in her bin next to my bed and isn't moving around at all.
What do I do????
I have never been around or owned chickens until 8 weeks ago so I have NO CLUE!!!

Hi there,
Is there any chance she could have gotten into something toxic?? Pesticides, lawn additives etc. have you noticed any dead rodents/mammals around the chicken area? Are your birds vaccinated for Mareks?
If she's still alive, make sure you put some electrolyte solution into the water, it will help her a little. Keep her warm and hydrated, keep your fingers crossed. Keep us poster,

 

[Eggcessive]

Did she have any injuries on her that looked like she was pecked or might have injured her head or neck? Boskelli had a good suggestion about possible poisoning as well. Does she have any signs of twisted neck or paralysis in her legs? Chicks can have seizures, although it is very rare. A recent thread here posted about a 6 week old cockerel who had a grand mal seizure once a day, then after recovering for a bit, would get up and go his merry way being active and eating/drinking. If it continues and there doesn't seem to be an infection or injury causing it, I would treat with some poultry vitamin containing trace minerals, such as Rooster Booster Poultry Cell, Nutridrench, or Avian Superpak.

 

[luv2bmomjen]

Let's see! No injuries that I know of but we were not home last night and due the fact that she has a huge top hat she can't see to get up the ramp to the coop at night or get water so that is my issue. She may have flown into the ramp trying to get in.
There is a squirl that has been hanging out eating out of there feeder. Could she have caught something from that. If so my whole flock is in danger.
I will take her to the vet tomorrow as she is not making progress.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some polish have vaulted skulls, so they can be injured more easily if one hits it's head. You can trim their feathers around the eyes to help them see and sometimes having a light on in the coop timed to go off 1 hour after dark can help get her into the coop. I use an extension cord to one of my small coops for that purpose. I'm not aware of squirrels being carriers of diseases. Mostly wild birds or rats and mice are the culprits for diseases.

 

[luv2bmomjen]

Thanks for all the help. If it is an injury wouldn't she still want to eat drink and poop though? I will look into trimming their feathers because we have two if this breed and are brand new to chickens. These two have really struggled due to not being able to see food water and the ramp to get in.

 

[luv2bmomjen]

Took "Denver" to the vet today and after a $110 bill it was all bad news :-(
She has always had a funny tick where her head bobs and the vet thinks it was a matter of time before this happened and now she has further damage. I am tube feeding her three times a day and we are going to see if we can get her strong enough to learn to eat and drink and walk. If not then I guess we have a choice to make. :-((((. I'm so sad.

 

[seminolewind]

That's sad. It sounds like either a head injury, something bad she ate or mold, or Aspergillosis-a fungus. It could be something else but that's what I'd rule out first. Oh yea, give vitamins in case it's a vitamin deficiency.

I do end up giving all my Polish poof trims so they can see. Except I leave the rooster with his poof so it's harder to see, LOL

 

[luv2bmomjen]

Well not much improvement today. I am tube feeding her which is NOT fun 3-4x a day. I really don't know what to do at this point. My kids are beside themselves. She did take a few steps today so they are hopeful again that she may improve but she is not even looking for food and water and just sits in a box all day. It's killing me it's so sad to see her just lay there helpless. When do you say "we have done all we can???" Could it take her weeks and then she will be back to normal or is it more likely that she will not eat or drink on her own since she is not even trying to look for or learn to eat?
I am brand new to chickens, Never Ever thought I would get this attached and lost for what to do next.
Not a fun way to start out our summer ;-(

 

[boskelli1571]

I'm sorry to hear such news

. I think you have reached decision point now. The chick has cost $$ so far - that's fine if you want to spend that much on a pet. If however, you want her for eggs/chicks etc. you have to be realistic and think that neither is likely to be the probable outcome. If you are prepared to tube feed indefinitely, go for it. Personally, as sad as it may be, I think I would cull at this point - sorry!