HELP MY CHICK WONT WALK

[Dilani_PS68]

I have a chick who is about 4 months old. He is eating perfectly and drinking. But he won’t stand or walk on his feet.
He wasn’t like this before in fact he was running and jumping upon seeing me. How eve very suddenly he stopped and would lay on his side or on his stomach with his legs splayed out infront of him

He curls his toes around my finger when I bend them up towards his chest. I don’t think he’s paralysed as he has feeling in his legs and kicks them occasionally. He has moved from in area to another by squirming and wiggling his upper body

there aren’t any scabs or wounds on his feet either. He had mites weeks ago but I’ve treated that and he doesn’t have any on his body.

I had to give him a bath because he had matted poo on his behind and didn’t want his vet to get blocked.

He’s very chatty and he’s chirping like any other chick. He does have energy in him as when I walk towards him he makes chirping noises and squirms a little

I don’t think anything is broken but his legs are little bit stiff at first when I stretch them but then very fluid

I have him under a heating lamp for the moment since I gave him a bath

Could it be a vitamin b2 deficiency?

 

[SmiYa0126]

What are you feeding him? I would get a super b complex pill and give him 1/4 pill twice a day for 5 to 7 days. Is he eating?

 

[Dilani_PS68]

What are you feeding him? I would get a super b complex pill and give him 1/4 pill twice a day for 5 to 7 days. Is he eating?

Thank you for your reply!

Yes he is eating everything I give him for now I’ve given him some boiled eggs, mainly the yolk and some wheat but before he got sick he was on starter feed but did have the older hens layer pellets when he jumped into their coop

I have vitamin b complex for humans at home but is it safe to give to him?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Thank you for your reply!

Yes he is eating everything I give him for now I’ve given him some boiled eggs, mainly the yolk and some wheat but before he got sick he was on starter feed but did have the older hens layer pellets when he jumped into their coop

I have vitamin b complex for humans at home but is it safe to give to him?

Yes that's perfect! Make sure it has a range of b vitamins 5, 7, 12

 

[Dilani_PS68]

Yes that's perfect! Make sure it has a range of b vitamins 5, 7, 12

Okay that’s great! How should I give to him? Should I dilute a 1/4 of it in some water and give it to him with a syringe?

 

[SmiYa0126]

I would just pop it into his beak.

 

[Dilani_PS68]

I would just pop it into his beak.

Okay thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes he is eating everything I give him for now I’ve given him some boiled eggs, mainly the yolk and some wheat but before he got sick he was on starter feed

He needs to be eating chick starter.
The boiled egg is fine as a treat.

I agree, I'd try the B-Complex and see if that makes a difference.

You sure all the mites are gone?

Marek's disease comes to mind with your description of symptoms. Hopefully it's just a vitamin/nutritional deficiency, but if you lose him, then sending the body for analysis will give you the best info.

 

[Dilani_PS68]

He needs to be eating chick starter.
The boiled egg is fine as a treat.

I agree, I'd try the B-Complex and see if that makes a difference.

You sure all the mites are gone?

Marek's disease comes to mind with your description of symptoms. Hopefully it's just a vitamin/nutritional deficiency, but if you lose him, then sending the body for analysis will give you the best info.

He’s eating chick starter too

I’ve been giving him the b complex and it’s definitely made a difference. He’s not walking yet still but he’s putting in more effort to try and stand and he’s able to stand on his two feed for about a minute before he goes back on his hind legs. I really hope this is a sign that it was a vitamin deficiency after all

His poo has gone back to normal and it’s firm so none of that watery mess

I’ve put the mite powder on him again just in case and he’s in the house now so I’ve routinely been checking for mites and I have seen any so far

However I’m able to feel his breast bone really well which is concerning considering he’s eating so well

My biggest concern at the moment is that because of the way he’s been resting his legs, will he have problems walking again even after the vitamin deficiency is solved?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would suspect Mareks as a possibility too at his age, but hopefully it turns out to be something else. You can try to handle him some, lift him up to his legs and hold him to help balance. That will force him to stretch his legs. Make sure that he can reach food and water. If you should lose him, be sure to get a necropsy done through your state vet. They can look for Mareks signs, and do testing if they suspect it. The body must be kept cold and taken in or shipped overnight right away to arrive M-F during lab hours. Here is a list of most state vets in the US to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html