Help Sick 8-10 week old Chicks

[NormanTorino71]

I bought these chicks with most of their feathers already in place. its been a week and a half maybe two. I have had 1 die and 2 more with what looked like splayed leg. I was told Splayed leg is more of a younger chick problem. the 2 sick ones will drink if you put them by water but I have not seen them eat in the last day. they will try to get up but its like they can't control their legs they wobble and fall. I have notice they have a white/ tan color diarrhea. I have looked at their eyes and they are still yellow and black. along with the other chicks and chickens I have. I have had my full grown chickens fenced off from the chicks do to them getting picked on.

Any ideas of what this could be?

Thanks

 

[aoxa]

What are you feeding them?

Has Mereks ever been an issue for you?

 

[NormanTorino71]

Never had any form of problem. I have been feeding layer feed to my Hens and starter to the chicks the first bag i had got wasn't medicated. but they now have the medicated starter

 

[aoxa]

Never had any form of problem. I have been feeding layer feed to my Hens and starter to the chicks the first bag i had got wasn't medicated. but they now have the medicated starter

This is not Cocci, so medicated feed is not needed.

Sounds like Mereks to me. http://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource000791_Rep813.pdf

 

[aoxa]

Neural form: Characterized by one, all, or none of the following symptoms -
• Progressive paralysis, usually of the leg or wing, a typical leg-paralysis victim will
have one leg extended forward and one leg extended back. A swelling of the sciatic
nerve is the cause.
• Weight loss
• Labored breathing
• Diarrhea
• Starvation and death due to an inability to reach feed and water and to trampling by penmates.

 

[NormanTorino71]

Neural form: Characterized by one, all, or none of the following symptoms -
• Progressive paralysis, usually of the leg or wing, a typical leg-paralysis victim will
have one leg extended forward and one leg extended back. A swelling of the sciatic
nerve is the cause.
• Weight loss
• Labored breathing
• Diarrhea
• Starvation and death due to an inability to reach feed and water and to trampling by penmates.

OK so This could effect my Full grown hens also? I should also just deal with the sick ones now instead of letting them lay around?

 

[aoxa]

OK so This could effect my Full grown hens also? I should also just deal with the sick ones now instead of letting them lay around?

Yes, it is highly contagious. It takes a while to show though.

If I were you, I'd send one to the state lab for testing. Make sure you know what you are dealing with.

 

[NormanTorino71]

Yes, it is highly contagious. It takes a while to show though.

If I were you, I'd send one to the state lab for testing. Make sure you know what you are dealing with.

not sure where a state lab would be around here. I could try and contact a vet I found out about today.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a link to finding your state vet. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdfMost local vets are only a middle man to get a necropsy. Not saying that yours would do it, but some vets charge lots of $$$ for sending your bird off, when you can do it yourself. In some states like California, they are free.

 

[Eggcessive]

Coccidiosis is also something to consider with your chicks since they came from somewhere else. That may not be the cause since they do have Mareks symptoms, but they can be exposed to new strains of coccidia on your property. Coccidiosis also can make chicks immune systems weak to cause them to get other diseases. So just be aware that they can have both going on at the same time. Sorry for your losses.