Leg or internal issue? Please help.

[folgerrd]

Hey I'll post a video of what she is doing but here is a quick description.
Elvis is my 6-7 week old pullet, she is having some issues. It started mostly today but some signs were shown a tiny bit yesterday.

I took them(the chicks) outside to help in the garden and Elvis spent a lot of time in the grass and a bit in the soil. The soil is still filled with worms and rocks and sticks. We didn't see her trip, but we don't know for sure. She seemed to be tripping and now flipping completely over with a simple breeze or if she tries to walk. About an hour ago she also passed some blood. Please help.


this video was taken about ten-fifteen minutes ago. She doesn't flip or somersault in it but she is tipping and loosing balance and somethings is either up or uneven about her feet.



http://youtu.be/-aWxyLElEz0

 

[CMV]

I think I would start her on a vitamin regimen.

 

[folgerrd]

What is that? It's hard to find poultry supplies here if you mean poultry vitamins.

 

[CMV]

Oops- just re-read your original post. Passing blood is not normal and likely means the bird has cocci overload. I would treat for that first. If the bird is still ailing after the cocci treatment has been completed then I would follow up with the vitamin regimen. The vitamins can be found in any drugstore.

 

[folgerrd]

Okay, thanks. What is cocci overload?

 

[CMV]

Cocci is a protozoa found in soil. Ground birds are constantly being exposed to it because they peck and scratch in the dirt. When they are chicks they are given medicated feed to prevent the cocci from overwhelming the GI system. Once chicks stop eating medicated feed, but are still young they can get too much exposure to cocci and it will cause them to get ill. Once birds reach a certain age they are unlikely to get cocci because their immune systems keep it in check. Before that point, though, cocci presents a real danger to young birds because it acts very quickly and can kill birds by creating lesions throughout the GI system that prevent the birds from absorbing nutrients from their food. The bloody stools are a sign that there are lesions present in the GI system. You need to treat the bird ASAP with either Corid or Sulmet to knock down the cocci population.

 

[folgerrd]

What if she doesn't have it? These things won't hurt her then, right?

 

[leadwolf1]

You can find Corid or Sulmet at most TSC, tractor supply, or other feed stores. You put it into their water for 5 - 7 days.

As for the vitamin regimen. Get some poly vi sol, without iron, at your local store..any of them with a pharmacy will carry it. Give her a couple drops twice daily. Also, get some vitamin E capsules...I would think 200 ius for her age...give her one tablet twice daily. Snip off the end and squeeze it into her beak.

If it were me, I would start the meds and the vitamins at the same time. Once you finish the Corid treatment, you will need to treat them all, I would give them a couple TBSPs of plain yogurt daily to help rebuild their healthy bacteria.

 

[folgerrd]

okay thanks.

 

[folgerrd]

I read up on Cocci and it seems impossible for Elvis to have it, she was only in the soil for fifteen minutes before blood came. Puls she has passed no more blood since. The articles say they won't pass blood until four days afterward and we are currently on the second day.