Limping chick, please help!

[Aysam]

Hello,

One of our chicks has been limping for 3 days (shes almost 2 weeks old). I don't think its broken, she can move it and sometimes stretches it out to the back, but she can't put any weight on it. We think she was injured by my well meaning daughter.

We separated her so she isn't being trampled by the others, but I can't tell if its getting better or not. Sometimes I think it is but...

Does anyone have any advice on how to know what is wrong. Should we wrap it? This is our first year with chicks, any advice most appreciated! Thanks, Aysa

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Dropping chicks could be a case, but a common problem in chicks is Marek's disease. It's a paralysis that spreads around the chicks body. Usually it starts at the legs in most chicks, and as it spreads they can have some seizures. It forms a tumor inside the chick, most of the time causing death.

There has been some suspicion of a cure to this disease which would be vaccinating or using this remedy. I have vaccinated but sometimes it won't work and other times it will. Most hatcheries will vaccinate chicks for Marek's. Some people use this remedy for Marek's, you can try it, but if it didn't work, don't blame me. I do not know what it's called, but you can look it up on BYC.

For chicks with Marek's I give 1 mL of Poly-vi-sol with no iron, per gallon of water. In other words, with chick waterers (usually 1 quart) I'd give .5 mL of Poly-vi-sol with no iron. (You can find it at drugstores: Safeway, Walmart, Walgreens ect.) It's the only thing I changed in my chicks feeding when they got Marek's. 2 Survived (and out of 3 one died in less than 2 days). I'm sorry about the chick.

 

[leadwolf1]

It is my understanding that Marek's takes from 6 - 8 weeks to show symptoms. This chick is way to young for that. Usually, chicks with Marek's never show symtoms...they just die from the disease.

How do you know that your chicks had Marek's? I've been fighting Marek's, confirmed by necropsy, since last September...I have lost 27 chickens to it yet I have never had a chicken under 12 weeks show symptoms.

OP....I would give 1 drop of poly vi sol, without iron, per day..with the dropper right on her beak. I would also put a baby aspirin in her water in case she is in pain and needs a little relief. I would not even worry about Marek's at this point.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

It is my understanding that Marek's takes from 6 - 8 weeks to show symptoms. This chick is way to young for that. Usually, chicks with Marek's never show symtoms...they just die from the disease.

How do you know that your chicks had Marek's? I've been fighting Marek's, confirmed by necropsy, since last September...I have lost 27 chickens to it yet I have never had a chicken under 12 weeks show symptoms.

OP....I would give 1 drop of poly vi sol, without iron, per day..with the dropper right on her beak. I would also put a baby aspirin in her water in case she is in pain and needs a little relief. I would not even worry about Marek's at this point.

You're correct , mine had symptoms at 5 weeks. Be careful with chicks, they aren't toys. I didn't handle mine until they were 3 weeks, just because of stress worries.