Seizures

[Jessimom]

Hi, I have a 3 week old Ayem Cemani chick. I had hatched 4 of 12. One died around 7 days old - no signs of trauma, just found it at the bottom of the chick pile. I found a second one on Saturday at the bottom of the pile looking half dead. I pulled it out, gave it electrolytes and some yogurt and after a while it popped back up, so I put it back in. I found it on Monday lying on it's side twitching, with other chicks walking across, pooping on it.

I took it out and held it. It was obviously having a relatively minor seizure. Once it stopped twitching, I gave it some electrolytes and put it into my hatching bator with the last (late) hatched baby that was still wet. It seems to be doing fine, but twice more, I've found it lying on it's side looking dead. When I pick it up, it stays limp for a bit, then tries to stand. Eventually getting up and acting like any other chick.

It seems to be growing on par with the other chicks. Has anyone else had a chicken with seizures? Have they survived? Should I keep it away from the other babies?

 

[Elky]

I believe you have a case of coccidiosis. You need to remove the effected chicks as soon as possible. Clean their cage and put electrolytes in their water. Also apple cider vinegar in their water. Do you see bloody droppings or dark colored combs? This happened to me last year and they sometimes have "spasms"

 

[Jessimom]

I believe you have a case of coccidiosis. You need to remove the effected chicks as soon as possible. Clean their cage and put electrolytes in their water. Also apple cider vinegar in their water. Do you see bloody droppings or dark colored combs? This happened to me last year and they sometimes have "spasms"

No bloody stools, every time I checked. They do have electrolytes in their water, and every 4th water change they get ACV. They are TINY, tiny babies, so no combs that I can see at all. I'll check their brooder again tonight. I'm only having problems with the Cemanis. So, I was thinking genetics?

 

[MrsBachbach]

No bloody stools, every time I checked. They do have electrolytes in their water, and every 4th water change they get ACV. They are TINY, tiny babies, so no combs that I can see at all. I'll check their brooder again tonight. I'm only having problems with the Cemanis. So, I was thinking genetics?

Do you have some NutriDrench? I would try giving the chicks that are having seizures a multivitamin dose. If it was me, I would try to get a bit of Vit E in them. Seems like Vit E deficiencies are sometimes responsible for neurological symptoms. Maybe you could take a capsule, poke a hole and squeeze a drop or two in their mouth. Then get some NutriDrench or even Poultry Cell ( I've used a bit of that before watered down a bit) and give them a little bit for a few days. Or, get a vit/mineral supplement to add to the water. They sell that a Tractor supply too. You need more than just electrolytes I think. I think it's a deficiency if it isn't a disease. I don't think it would be cocci, especially if they aren't on the ground.

 

[Jessimom]

Do you have some NutriDrench? I would try giving the chicks that are having seizures a multivitamin dose. If it was me, I would try to get a bit of Vit E in them. Seems like Vit E deficiencies are sometimes responsible for neurological symptoms. Maybe you could take a capsule, poke a hole and squeeze a drop or two in their mouth. Then get some NutriDrench or even Poultry Cell ( I've used a bit of that before watered down a bit) and give them a little bit for a few days. Or, get a vit/mineral supplement to add to the water. They sell that a Tractor supply too. You need more than just electrolytes I think. I think it's a deficiency if it isn't a disease. I don't think it would be cocci, especially if they aren't on the ground.

This is what I've been using:

But I'll definitely try the Vit E. I'll also look for Nutridrench or Poultry Cell at my local feed store. They don't carry much.

Like i said, it seems to be a normal chicken until it falls over and it's legs to strait out, and then it trembles. A little bit out of it afterwards, then is back to normal. That is what every seizure I have seen is like and I have seen a LOT OF THEM.

Thank you Elky and MrsBachbach. You have both giving me lots of things to look in to.

 

[Elky]

No bloody stools, every time I checked. They do have electrolytes in their water, and every 4th water change they get ACV. They are TINY, tiny babies, so no combs that I can see at all. I'll check their brooder again tonight. I'm only having problems with the Cemanis. So, I was thinking genetics?

Hmm I would treat symptoms then until you get it figured out

 

[MrsBachbach]

This is what I've been using:

But I'll definitely try the Vit E. I'll also look for Nutridrench or Poultry Cell at my local feed store. They don't carry much.

Like i said, it seems to be a normal chicken until it falls over and it's legs to strait out, and then it trembles. A little bit out of it afterwards, then is back to normal. That is what every seizure I have seen is like and I have seen a LOT OF THEM.

Thank you Elky and MrsBachbach. You have both giving me lots of things to look in to.

I can't read what it has, but if it has A, E, D, and B's it should be good. I know the Poultry Cell is for roosters, and is high in iron, but it has a bunch of vitamins, minerals, things you wouldn't even think of in it. I give it in tiny doses for weak chicks.
The only other thing I can think of if it isn't deficiency related is a disease passed through the egg. I think Avian Encephalomyelitis is one of them. You can read about it and other diseases here:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/9/avian-encephalomyelitis-epidemic-tremors/

 

[MrsBachbach]

This is what I've been using:

But I'll definitely try the Vit E. I'll also look for Nutridrench or Poultry Cell at my local feed store. They don't carry much.

Like i said, it seems to be a normal chicken until it falls over and it's legs to strait out, and then it trembles. A little bit out of it afterwards, then is back to normal. That is what every seizure I have seen is like and I have seen a LOT OF THEM.

Thank you Elky and MrsBachbach. You have both giving me lots of things to look in to.

Or, maybe, it might be having a reaction to something in that mix. Toxicities or a reaction to something. I've seen some chicks(just a few) go crazy scratching themselves and falling over before. When I pulled the vitamin water and put plain water they improved. Just a thought in a different direction.

 

[MrsBachbach]

This is what I've been using:

But I'll definitely try the Vit E. I'll also look for Nutridrench or Poultry Cell at my local feed store. They don't carry much.

Like i said, it seems to be a normal chicken until it falls over and it's legs to strait out, and then it trembles. A little bit out of it afterwards, then is back to normal. That is what every seizure I have seen is like and I have seen a LOT OF THEM.

Thank you Elky and MrsBachbach. You have both giving me lots of things to look in to.

And here is the info on the Vit E:

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/disea...lacia-exudative-diathesis-muscular-dystrophy/

 

[Jessimom]

Thank you for all the links. I'll be doing some reading tonight!