Oh No! One of my little serama chicks is sick!!!!! UPDATE 6/21!

[patyrdz]

I think the vitamins is the best way to go. Put a couple of drops in his mouth the first day, then after that in his water or food. Good luck I hope he gets better!

 

[sammi]

does he seem to have a balancing problem?

Might not be relavent, but I found this post at another site::

"pick up the chick in question, lay it on its back in the palm of your hand , and tilt it back so the head is hanging back, but not quite upside-down. your hand would be flat like you're balancing a piece of paper on it, IF it's A.E. the whole body will tremble slightly or the head will have the shakes, you will feel it vibrating. only takes about 6 seconds to test , don't leave the bird this way too long...

My birds had A.E. some time ago, and one of the symptoms is not only the shaking thing but it may have balance problems too and walk on the hocks, balancing on one wing, general unsteadiness. Symptoms usually show up starting at about 3 weeks..."

 

[Serama]

Whoohh!! Lots of replies LOL well if thaths the case he seems ok.. Just keep a little watch on him and I think he's good now

 

[Stina]

could it be he's being bullied away from food, and just not getting the nutrients he needs?

I don't think so...

eye problems can be caused by lack of Vitamin A..

I don't think he has an eye problem...he can see that there's food in front of him...he just isn't coordinated enough to pick the pieces he specifically wants

could his legs be weak?
is he able to walk at all, or stand?

They don't seem weak...it seems to be a neurological thing

does he make any odd movements with his head and neck?

I dont' think so...

describe the droppings, color and consistency.

light brown and slightly loose, but not runny and not firm...urates present as well

did you say you have the chicks and duckling together?
(not a good idea)

Yes, they are together...I am trying to get the ducks outside b/c they are just such slobs...but I have to finish up the coop/run! This little guy is the first issue I've had

does the feed get wet?

No....food stays perfectly dry (I intentionally have it placed away from the waterer. Nothing is ever caked in the bottom.

does he seem to have a balancing problem?

yes. Dont' think it could be AE though......I hatched these guys from eggs, they are 4 weeks old yesterday/today, and they have had no exposure whatsoever to any other poultry.​

 

[sammi]

ok...try the vitamins and mixture I suggested in my previous post..
the B vits in the poly-vi-sol might help the legs..and E the neuro..

and for now, with the runny droppings, stick to one kind of feed..preferably the chick/starter feed, and no cat food.(might have too much sodium)
is the feed medicated?

what bedding do you use?
wondering if he might have been injured in some way..like banged his head..

for now:

keep separated, (gentle companion visit ok)..food and water easy access.
the mix..(along with chick feed)
the vitamins
one feed

keep an eye on the droppings

 

[Stina]

and for now, with the runny droppings, stick to one kind of feed..preferably the chick/starter feed, and no cat food.(might have too much sodium)
is the feed medicated?

They're not runny, they seem normal to me (softish but not runny at all...slight form)... The cat food was mixed in to up the protein for the seramas...the level has been decreasing since starting to add the Dumor starter. Everything is mixed, I can't separate it. Wellness Core and Nature's Variety Instinct are extremely high quality foods....no junk and shouldn't have excess salt. It's been in the food since day 1. I originally used it b/c I couldn't find anything but purina start and grow at 18% protein when everything I'd seen said seramas should have 26-28%. 25% cat food brought protein up to 26%. Food is unmedicated.

what bedding do you use?
wondering if he might have been injured in some way..like banged his head..

coconut coir...it is soft and loose, no big chunks...I have not seen any of them try to eat it and they've been on it since day 1 (paper towels covered for ~3 days). It is possible that he banged his head or something...though they aren't very flightly and I've never seen one try to fly towards the top with it closed....they'll sit and look when I'm standing there, but wait till its open to actually jump. **shrug**

keep separated, (gentle companion visit ok)..food and water easy access.
the mix..(along with chick feed)
the vitamins
one feed

He is separated with food scattered all around him and a dish of water next to him. I will see what I can get for the vitamins. Not going to change the feed....He's been on it his whole life so far, minus the Dumor, and I don't want to upset his system with a drastic change in diet....besides that the food is all mixed already (original mix of purina and cat food was poured on top of Dumor feed...so the Dumor is slowly being incorporated). I do not feel that diet is the issue here.​

 

[Serama]

Looks like he'll be alright just keep a watch on him play with him... as long as hes eating and mostly important drinking he should be fine. How do you think hes doing??

 

[Stina]

Since getting home from work he looks a little worse

Not a ton...it may be that he got a little overheated or didn't drink enough throughout the day or smt... He is still trying to eat and drink. I didn't see poly-vi-sol, but I got b-complex vitamins and vitamin E......will this be enough?...

 

[Stina]

Well I thought for a couple days there that I was going to have to euth him.....but I am finally seeing some signs of improvement! He was to the point where is right leg was pretty much completely limp...if I held him up and "rocked" him back and forth the leg swung pretty freely...the left leg he had some, but very little control over. Yesterday morning the right leg stopped swinging freely! This morning he actually has a little control over it....and slightly better control over the right...he can't quite sit up...but is getting closer...before he would sit with his right leg splayed out behind him b/c he would just be flat on his side if it was "under" him. Now he actually sits with it under him! He is also having less trouble with the food....he's not jabbing as aimlessly as he was

I am hoping he will make a good recovery!!

 

[Stina]

He's looking even better!! He can hold himself up on his feet! ...the right foot stays curled under now...hopefully he'll gain control over the foot as well...but I am absolutely amazed that he can actually stand up at all!!!!!