Seizures

[Mereah]

We got a chick 6 days ago from my daughter's school. It is approximately 3 weeks old. It was born with a deformed leg, but seemed to be adjusting well. It started having seizure like symptoms this evening. It will stick it's neck out kind of turn it slightly and shake uncontrollably. It lasts just a few seconds, but is happening about every 5 minutes.

Please help as we do not know what to do!!!!!

 

[Mereah]

I had been holding the chick for about a half hour giving it as much TLC as I can, the only thing I knew to do so far, and it seems to have settled the seizures. I still do not know what else to try, so I am desperate for any advice someone can give me.

 

[CSisley]

I'm sorry this may sound like a stupid question but are you sure the chick is having seizures and not just shivering? Chicks can shiver quite violently if they are cold and your body warmth may be what's "curing" it. Does it have a have a heat lamp where you are keeping it? I may be making and assumption here but do you have just the one chick or are there others? Chickens are extremely social animals and do not do well by themselves. If you are able to be with it every moment it is awake then it will do fine but otherwise chicks do not do well by themselves.

 

[Mereah]

Do not apologize as it is not a stupid question at all. That is why I said seizure like because I was not sure how else to explain it. I had no idea they could shiver that violently. It did get cooler where we were keeping him so we added some more heat for him. He is in our house for now, and there is usually someone there 24/7. I checked on him periodically through the night and this morning and he has been doing very well since.

Your assumption is correct in that we have one chick as the school had a home for the others, but not this one since he had the deformity. We do have other chickens, but he is way too little to introduce yet, as I am sure they would kill the little guy, especially since he does have a deformity. We will slowly introduce him as he gets stronger, but that won't be for a while I am afraid. We do have a couple of Shih Tzu's and we have introduced the chick, Chester, to them. The male is very protective of him, growling at our female if he thinks she is being too rough. We never leave them alone at this point, but thought the socialism would be good for him. We have done this in the past with our other chickens as we allow the chickens to free range part of the time and our dogs have never bothered them.

Thank you so much for your response and the great advice. This is the first time I have every used a forum like this and it is wonderful to have the knowledge and expertise of friendly people so willing to help.

 

[CSisley]

I'm glad to hear it's doing better! I'm always a sucker for the sick ones too.