Sermara chick sudden laying on side. Help

[Hegatha]

Hello this morning I was checking on my babies when I noticed my serama chick one month old is laying on its side disoriented. It can stand up properly and I hatched this chick out from a breeder. Please help! Thank you

PS This is a $100 chick so any help would be great

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is the chick? I would probably give it vitamins and electrolytes by dipping it's beak or carefully giving some with a dropper or syringe, so as not to aspirate the chick. Coccidiosis can be a problem up to 20 weeks, especially if coming to new ground, or being around other new chickens. Corid (amprollium) 2 tsp of liquid (or 1.5 tsp of powder) per gallon of water for 5 days would treat a cocci outbreak. Symptoms are lethargy, puffing up or hunching, poor appetite, ruffled feathers, and diarrhea (sometimes with blood) are symptoms. Check it's crop, check for mites and lice, and check poops.

 

[Hegatha]

Its one month old and this happened overnight. I have other chickens and they are all fine but Im worried it may be Marek's. Its literally laying on its side legs out and cant walk. Im worried on what to do about my other chicks now if it is mareks.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you contacted the breeder to find out if it was vaccinated for Mareks? Seramas are very fragile chickens I would imagine. Does it move it's legs if you move them, or can it stand for a few seconds if you stand it up? It could possibly be signs of Mareks, but there are many other things to rule out first. Treating for coccidiosis will not hurt her if it is that. Mold in food,poisoning, and avian encephalomyelitis can look similar to Mareks symptms.

 

[Hegatha]

Well After reading it sounds like it cant be passed from the parents to egg so if it were mareks it would have gotten it from one here which I dont have anyothers showing signs. It will move and try to stand but its just resting now.

 

[Hegatha]

Update I ended up taking this baby to the vet we ended up euthanizing her and sending in for a necropsy. The Vet is thinking most likely avian encephalomyelitis bc of how it was acting and its age plus all my other chickens are vaccinated for Marek's. My worry now is if it comes back positive for AE will the other chicks in with her be contagious now and what should I do?

 

[maranfarmer563]

I too have chicks staggering and falling down,I hatched 10 tomaru 4 weeks ago every thing was fine til 2 days ago. Yesterday I switched to medicated food and tetracycline in water,I hope this works