We are new at chicken raising and purchased several chicks in late April from a local breeder. They were all supposed to be bantams and most were. One of the littlest chicks began showing some signs of limping so we pulled her from the rest and isolated her for a few days. She was in a large box and all she did was lay on her side and flap around occasionally to peck listlessly from the food tray or to get an occasional drink from the water dish. On the third day in isolation she began squawking sporadically and finally just died. I had been carefully handling her and caressing her but from that first limp to not even standing on the one leg took only two days! She held the first limp leg straight out with the foot completely unresponsive to touch. There was no gripping reaction at all. As she became more unable to get around her other leg started to behave the same way. Was she injured but one of the larger birds pecking at just the right spot on her head? There really were no other signs of physical damage to her except the limping. Anyone have a clue? We just purchased another set young chicks and their mom from another breeder - this time Rhode Island Reds - and one of the chicks is showing similar behaviour. Her big ol' mom stepped on her when she was being put in the carrying cage, but there doesn't appear to be any further deterioration as with the first chick. I just don't want to lose another chick this way if there is something we can do for her besides keep her out of harm's way for a while. Thanks
