Meat bird unable to stand/walk

[ChasingChooks]

Hi everyone!

I have a 4 week old broiler chicken who is unable to stand and support himself, or walk. He is separate from the others, and has been drinking water (with electrolytes), and eating grower feed. His poop looks normal. I have been crushing a calcium + D3 pill and mixing with a bit of sour cream for 3 days in a row, and feeding it to him.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[nuthatched]

How big is he? Why are you giving him calcium?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi everyone!

I have a 4 week old broiler chicken who is unable to stand and support himself, or walk. He is separate from the others, and has been drinking water (with electrolytes), and eating grower feed. His poop looks normal. I have been crushing a calcium + D3 pill and mixing with a bit of sour cream for 3 days in a row, and feeding it to him.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Not being able to stand or walk.. is to me a clear indicator there is pain and no quality of life, especially without any friends for a flock animal. Kinda the whole reason most of us choose to raise our own animals is to reduce suffering and be better than factory farming.. yet I see folks let it go on and on, daily here. Calcium and d3 with sour cream will not improve the current condition in my opinion..

Consider harvesting early.

Sorry you both are facing this.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

If anything he needs B vitamins. I like Durvets B complex. Calcium + D3 is used to treat egg binding and soft shell issues in hens. The calcium will not help your cockerel with his leg issues.

 

[FloridaChook]

Sounds like calcium and protien issues

 

[ChasingChooks]

Thanks for the replies! I will try B complex. The sour cream is only to mix with the powder to get it down the throat.

The reason that I was giving calcium was to strengthen the bones. I know that excessive amounts of calcium is bad, but I figured that 3 days wouldn't do any harm.

Just trying to keep the little guy alive, and get him to market with the others!

If an animal does not have the will to live, I typically cull. But he has been drinking and eating by himself, so I'm giving him a chance.