Please help! Baby chick is lame.

[Chad Brantly]

I have 3 chickens hatched by a broody hen 2 weeks ago. Today when I got home one was sort of lame. No signs of injury. Any idea what is going on??

 

[azygous]

It may be a vitamin deficiency. B-12 might help this chick. I would just get a bottle of B-12 tablets, crush one a day and sprinkle it over the chick's food. It can't overdose on B vitamins as they're water soluble and any excess will be eliminated.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x

 

[Chad Brantly]

That is a good thought. They have Purina start and grow in the chick feeder but I did put a flock grazer block out for the big hens this past weekend and I’ve seen the chicks eating on that quite a bit. Maybe I need to close it in the brooder with only access to the chick food and water.

 

[CB3fish]

A few years ago i bought 10 chicks, the store had one chick which was crippled, They gave me this chick free because they obviously could not sell. It lasted a few days and died. No one can figure out why a chick comes out mis-formed. I hope yours survives. you will have to make sure it gets to feed and water. Good luck.

 

[Chad Brantly]

I don’t think it is crippled though. It has been fine up until today.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Trying azygous recommendation will not hurt, baby's PolyVisol without the iron is a good one too use also; 1 drop on the side of the beak 3x day. Works, best wishes

 

[ChickNanny13]

I don’t think it is crippled though. It has been fine up until today.

Vitamin deficiency issues can/will show up at anytime in life. I had a 3wk old chick develop paralysis (CTP) & thanks to BYC Member learned of Riboflavin deficiency, vitamin deficiency. It can even affect older birds

 

[Chad Brantly]

This morning the chick was laying on her back with legs splayed and her neck twisted so that her head was upright. I gave her some iron free polyvisol and separated her from the rest of the flock with her own food (with vitamin b added) and water. I haven’t been able to get her to eat or drink yet, but I will continue the polyvisol and see how things go. So far no noticeable difference.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Try mixing boiled egg yolk mixed in it's crumbles, make a mash. You can also make a sling so it can sit upright or support it in a cup/mug. Hope it shows some improvement soon. Hoping it's not a neurological issue, have you checked for injuries?