*PICS* Chick squatting with swollen knee joint and wings out?

[BLaBauve]

Still no change. He just sits holding his wings up. Still hoping someone can help me.

 

[jackrooster]

my chick had the same thing..........but on his hawk area and it would seep puss and bloood he ended up dieing

 

[BLaBauve]

Bummer. I'm not sure what to do.

 

[MotherJean]

The age and symptoms suggest Rickets caused by a feed deficiency of Vitamin D and/or a phosphorus/calcium imbalance. Rickets symptoms include:

* Lameness.
* Hock swelling.
* Soft bones and beak.
* Birds go off legs.
* Poor growth.
* Birds rest squatting.
* Reduction in bodyweight

Treatment: Polyvisol vitamins without iron. 2 drops directly in the beak twice a day for 1 week, then 2 drops once a day for 1 week. Have you been feeding this chick a nutritionally well-balanced chick starter feed like Purina Start and Grow? If not, I would recommend that you put all your chicks on a starter feed that has all the vitamins and minerals added. Also make sure that at least 80-90% of this chick's food intake is the vitamin enriched feed - limit free ranging and "treats" if necessary. Don't stop the Polyvisol, however. You need to provide at least double the daily requirement of Vitamin D and phosphorus in order to treat the Rickets. If this is a correct diagnosis, the hock swelling should subside and the chick should be showing signs of improvement within one week. Bowlegs and/or the wide stance you mention may be permanent.

 

[BLaBauve]

Where can I get the vitamins?

He has been eating an organic starter that I have fed to many many chicks without a problem. It's countryside organic feed.

 

[SuziQ991]

Polyvisol is an infant vitamin that you can get at Walgreens or Walmart. Make sure it is without iron.

 

[BLaBauve]

Well, the chick died overnight. It's so frustrating to see something die in 24 hours - and not know what caused it.

 

[RM44]

I'm sorry your chick died. You tried to do what you could. Sometimes they just die; it's part of the "chicken keeping". Don't let it get you down too much.