Less than week old chick not walking well

[Bellasbabies]

Hi everyone, I purchased 9 chicks a couple days ago and all but one are thriving.

She seems to be being picked on by the other birds and wasn’t moving around much under the brooder plate, she tries to walk and it looks like one leg may be injured (she catches herself with her wing and kind of hobbles) but there are no signs of injury and she was fine yesterday. If she runs, both wings come out like she’s trying to balance… I’m wondering if she was trampled on? She’s one of the smaller birds in the bunch.

She’s eating and drinking if I set her next to it and I have separated her from the other babies, she’s next to them so she can hear them but no access to them. She has her own little set up with a heating pad at the moment (this started this morning)

I have tried giving her mashed feed but she doesn’t want anything to do with it, she prefers the dry version. She’s drinking purina electrolytes and I am also hand serving her poultry cell small bits at a time (read 1/2ml a day can help a lot) while giving her fresh water between. I don’t want to stress her out but I want to save her in case this is something more serious.

Anyone have any idea? The link below is a video of her trying to walk and how she moves. Couldn’t figure out how to attach a video here

 

[Eggcessive]

I cannot see her legs to know whether she has an injury or possibly a slipped tendon that some chicks are born with. If you could get some help, and take a picture of her legs at the same level while she stands to see how her feet look, that might help. Does she have any swelling or sore on her hock? Has she always walked this way since you brought her home? The Poultry Cell which contains riboflavin or B2 is good for legs and feet in chicks. Sometimes standing in a warm shot glass or small wine glass or padded cup for short periods can help them build the muscles for standing.

 

[Bellasbabies]

I cannot see her legs to know whether she has an injury or possibly a slipped tendon that some chicks are born with. If you could get some help, and take a picture of her legs at the same level while she stands to see how her feet look, that might help. Does she have any swelling or sore on her hock? Has she always walked this way since you brought her home? The Poultry Cell which contains riboflavin or B2 is good for legs and feet in chicks. Sometimes standing in a warm shot glass or small wine glass or padded cup for short periods can help them build the muscles for standing.

Thank you for the reply!!

She walked fine the first two days of having her and then the following morning (day 3) is when she was walking weird/off.

She doesn’t seem to have any sores or swelling.

I’ll try the shot glass in the meantime. Just a couple minute lbs at a time, I assume?

I will also get a picture of her standing for help! (she stands kind of on her hind end/leaned back)

 

[Bellasbabies]

I cannot see her legs to know whether she has an injury or possibly a slipped tendon that some chicks are born with. If you could get some help, and take a picture of her legs at the same level while she stands to see how her feet look, that might help. Does she have any swelling or sore on her hock? Has she always walked this way since you brought her home? The Poultry Cell which contains riboflavin or B2 is good for legs and feet in chicks. Sometimes standing in a warm shot glass or small wine glass or padded cup for short periods can help them build the muscles for standing.

 

[Bellasbabies]

I added what I could for pics of her standing. She doesn’t stay up for long. Also the front of her feet/legs. I can get some of the bottom if needed.

I also added the little cup I’m using for her for her to build muscle (would that work for her?) she was standing and wasn’t happy about it, haha.

She is super sweet and loves being held but I don’t want to overly baby her cause she can’t rely on me forever

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry I hadn’t seen your pictures until now. How is she getting around—any better? Have you given the vitamins?

 

[Bellasbabies]

Sorry I hadn’t seen your pictures until now. How is she getting around—any better? Have you given the vitamins?

Her right leg is SLIGHTLY moving but her left leg feels “dead”. I have been hand feeding her egg/honey/water mix and she drinks it on her own without a syringe, I just have it in a bowl and hold her. She has had her electrolyte and plain water, chick feed, and poultry cell. She eats/drinks it all as long as I move her to it. Every couple hours I go out to make sure she’s eating/drinking something but she’s not moving any better. If I set her down, she just falls over onto the left side.

I’m at a loss for what to do. I plan to continue this but I don’t know if it’s helping or not.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some chicks with leg issues don’t make it or need to be put down. I do hope she makes it. Are you giving the Poultry cell right into her beak 2-3 drops daily. She doesn’t need other electrolytes. Here is a thread about chick chairs, where you can get them up to rest the legs, and attach food and water right in front of them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_chick_chair.jpg

 

[Bellasbabies]

Some chicks with leg issues don’t make it or need to be put down. I do hope she makes it. Are you giving the Poultry cell right into her beak 2-3 drops daily. She doesn’t need other electrolytes. Here is a thread about chick chairs, where you can get them up to rest the legs, and attach food and water right in front of them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_chick_chair.jpg

I was just giving it to her throughout the day. Is 2-3 drops all she needs? I may have been giving too much!

 

[Eggcessive]

2-3 drops is probably good for a baby chick. The dose for chickens is 1 ml daily for 3 pounds of weight.