New Chicks Can't Walk!

[Queengoddess]

I had 12 chicks hatch over the weekend, so they are 3 and 4 days old currently. Six were bantam Cochins, and they are all healthy and fine. the other six were Silkies, and all but two of them are also fine. It's the two I'm very concerned about.

Although they appear perfectly normal (no deformities, etc), neither of them can walk. It's not spraddle leg, it's more like their legs just won't work right thus they (sadly) drag themselves around using their wings and very minimal help from their feet/legs. In this way they are able to make it to the water and food bowls and so are surviving. But unless something changes, I don't see how these babies could possibly live much longer.

Does anyone have any idea what's going on or how they might be helped? I would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Thanks!

 

[n8ivetxn]

I spend a lot of time reading through some old threads and came across this recently. The BYCer said it sounds like a tendon issue, apparently this does happen, maybe not common, but occasional....

They said to gently massage the leg while moving it back and forth in normal range of motion. Do it a few times per day. This person said on the second day the chick was using its legs normally....

I hope this helps, please keep us posted - I'll be watching....

- some other posts said it was a slipped tendon and recommend trying to relocate the tendon behind the knee. Sounds difficult to me, but several on here have made it work.

 

[AlienChick]

I would probably just go ahead and cull those two.
However, if you want to experiment, you can try giving them vitamin B along with their multi-vitamins (poli-visol no iron).
See what happens.

I had an older chick (about 4 months old) suddenly go lame (not walking at all and other chickens walking all over her).
I tried the vitamin B therapy and she began improving over the course of the week.
She was able to walk, even though she walked like a toy soldier (it was cute).

Here's a good link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...my-hen-video-unbalanced-new-video-post-385/70

 

[chickenzoo]

Sometimes when chicks hatch they do not developed enough strength in their legs to stand. This creates what i call scooters. If done early enough they can often be helped. Put some non skid material or paper towl in the bottom of a tall but.very narrow shot glass or drinking glass. Make it so the legs fall underneath the chick correctly. You want the sides of the glass to be close to the chick...if you need to cut a toilet paper roll down and put in the glass and place chick in the roll. You want the chick to beable to push up against the sides. Itake the chick out to drink and eat. After a day or two they may be fine. If it continues then you will need to cull. I have fixed many this way.

 

[Queengoddess]

So Chickenzoo, the idea is that they cannot get out but they will try by using their legs thus making them stronger?

 

[chickenzoo]

Correct. It is almost like a fake egg... Hehe

 

[n8ivetxn]

Very cool idea, I have to remember this stuff!

Queengoddess, you have to keep us posted, k?

 

[Queengoddess]

It didn't work, although it appeared to help one a little at first. That one began using one leg "somewhat," but they have both since died. The first one two mornings ago, and the improved one yesterday morning. I think if I had started this therapy from the get-go, it might've been successful, but they were several days old when I started. So sad.

 

[n8ivetxn]

I'm sorry for your loss

Maybe you can focus on the little ones that still need you

Thank you for letting us know