reluctant to walk

[Chick N Mama]

I am brand new so I apologize if I am asking about something obvious but I haven't found it on any other threads. I have a 3 week Welsummer who is now heisitant to walk. Her legs and feet have no sores, deformaties or other obvious signs on either the top or bottom. She prefers to lay down but supports her weight when standing. She still eats, drinks, and poos. She lets the other birds eat first and then lays by the feeder and eats alone. She will stand to drink because it is elevated.She was perfectly fine until yesterday. She allows the littler pullets to walk on her as she is lounging but will move to bump off the bigger birds. I will post a picture later.

• Should I isolate her with a couple little chicks before she gets picked on by the bigger birds?
• Is this an illness or injury?

Thank you!

 

[Chick N Mama]

UPDATE: WORSENING !
I now see she has problems spreading out her feet - they are contracted in claws and has something odd up above. I will post photos.
PLEASE HELP! I fear she won't make it. I can't find anything exactly like it anywhere... It is as if she has arthritis in her feet like RA is in humans.

 

[Chick N Mama]

 

[loveourbirds]

is the chick still supporting its own weight, and was there anything strange about how it held its toes before?

 

[Chick N Mama]

Occasionally supporting her weight now. She was absolutely fine until yesterday. I have her separated from the rest - I am afraid it is Avian Encephalomyelitis. I don't see any tremors but she is definately not moving around much. I got another chick from the same batch and she seems not to be affected but I am fearful.

 

[loveourbirds]

if I had to guess, I would say it came from a dry hatch. I see this happen sometimes when my incubators run out of water, the chicks will appear fine for the most part with a slightly curled foot. as they get older the problem gets worse sometimes to the point of the chick not being able to walk at all. but sometimes they do live and grow with no problems other than a small foot deformity.

probably the best thing to do is move it away from the other chicks, they will pick on it and make it worse. give it plenty of water and mix in one of the following: save a chick (by directions), sugar (1 tablespoon per quart), vitamins and electrolytes by directions, or 1 teaspoon of vinegar per quart (raw vinegar is best but always use apple cider vinegar)

as long as it eats and drinks it has a good chance, watch the back of its legs for soreness, if it gets to bad the best thing to do is cull it.

someone else may have some better advice than mine, but this should help.

good luck,
brian

p.s. let me know how it goes

 

[Chick N Mama]

Thank you for the advice! I will try anything!

 

[Chick N Mama]

Could it be a chickie miracle?! After six hours of isolation, she is much improved! Her feet are flat on the ground and she is walking - but not running. The only thing I did was gently stretch out her legs last night in case it was a slipped achilles tendon, even though I really didn't know what I was looking for. I will keep her isolated today, just in case. This chicken business is so strange! I am a nurse so I really want a diagnosis!!!
If it was a slipped tendon, there is conflicting advice about what to do..? Any special diet while recovering and should I still keep her separated as so not to reinjure? Please advise. Thanks.

 

[loveourbirds]

im glad to hear its doing better. my guess is it was just dehydration, maybe the other chicks wont let it drink. I would keep it separated for a couple of days just to be safe. keep plenty of fresh water to it, and it usually doesn't hurt to add the sugar or vinegar, this helps with hydration.
expect the chick to be a little slower growing than the rest. as far as a special diet, just use medicated chick starter.
I have also seen this happen in brooders here when several chicks pile on top of one and stress it. its hard to tell what did cause the problem, but its getting better and that's all that matters right? good luck and keep me updated, brian.

 

[Chick N Mama]

I am thinking she may have been dehydrated as well; although there is pleanty of fresh water available all the time. One of the oldest and largest in the brooder, she is definately the most docile and she does allow the others to literally walk all over her. She complains bitterly when I keep her isolated so I added an additional waterer to the brooder. So far, so good! My little May is hanging in there! I will be dividing them into 2 areas soon and that will give her less competition. Thanks for following up.