Please Help! Little Chick can no longer walk

[sojeo]

Our lone Little Chick has been plagued by problems from day 1. It hatched day 25, I had to help it out of the shell as it was stuck. Nursed it back to health and by day 3-4 it was fine. Was even out for 2 minutes walking around outside, at this morning. Have been giving it vitamins and egg yolk and milk mixed with it's medicated started feed. By lunch I noticed that it was breathing through it's mouth, right wing drooping and right leg straight out. I had a closer look to see if it slipped a tendon, but the leg looks the same as the left one. I was thinking maybe spraddle, but with the other symptoms I'm thinking Marek's? I didn't vaccinate it and now I'm thinking that I should have.

Should it be culled? Also, I have 11 egg in the incubator in the same room, if it is Marek's do I have to worry about them catching it somehow.

I am at a loss of what to do.

 

[SimplyForties]

Wish I had an answer for you. The fact that it was late hatching, needed help and continues to have problems might provide some insight. Good luck.

 

[C_Dzchicks]

Wish I could help but the best I can do is suggest the Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow. She has a section in the back about diagnosing and treating problems. Hope it gets well.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

I would consider culling. Sounds serious and you don't want to spread around disease.

 

[sojeo]

Our little chick passed soon after posting. I still am wondering if I should vaccinate the new chicks when they hatch. I am also getting 6 from a hatchery that will already be vaccinated.

Thank you for your support.

 

[jenni2142]

I thought I read that you shouldn't mix unvaccinated with vaccinated chicks. You may want to check that out. I am sorry you lost your little one. I too helped one out of the shell but I am lucky my little guy thrived and is now over 6 months old.

 

[Judy]

Yes, I have definitely read here that you have to vaccinate all if any are vaccinated, as the vaccinated ones shed the actual disease.

 

[sojeo]

Thanks, I will go down to the feed store and see if they have it available, if not I will try the vets. I'm not afraid to do it myself, so that's a bonus at least.