Several chicks act like they had a stroke

[QuaGNaR]

I ordered several chicks from Cackle hatchery that arrived on Feb 13; 5 partridge cochin, 7 red commits, and a few others. 4 of the cockins and 3 of the red commits are acting like they had a stroke. They have difficulty walking around and mostly sit with their beak on the ground. These chickens are smaller than the rest, I assume from not eating as much. A few cocknis have spasms where they will flail and then fall down and flop around until they are sitting again. One cockin cannot stand and just flops around until it stops and lays there.


This has been happening for a little over a week. I thought I had half-baked them. I had moved them outside to the chicken house and added a second light which was much hotter than the first. I found one chicken streched out next to the water thingy. I got him back to life with some water and food and he started walking around somewhat uneasily so I named him stroke. Over the following days more chicks started having the same type symptoms; trouble walking, moving slowly, not as alert, beaks on the ground. These symptoms have gotten worse and one of my cockins can't stand or sit straight. I have been picking them up and putting their beaks in the water and watching them drink then setting them next to the food so they will eat. Otherwise I don't think they would.


I thought I had injured them with the light but I am questioning that now after reading some. I gave them Sulmet anti-biotic for 2 days 1 week after I got them and save-a-chick probiotic 3 days the next week. There was 7-10 days between the 2 treatments. I am feeding them Dumor chick starter/grower 20%. Some may be getting a little better: eating and drinking by themselves. I have the flailing chick in a cup after reading about it here.


What can I do for these little guys? Is it too late to save them?

 

[ten chicks]

I ordered several chicks from Cackle hatchery that arrived on Feb 13; 5 partridge cochin, 7 red commits, and a few others. 4 of the cockins and 3 of the red commits are acting like they had a stroke. They have difficulty walking around and mostly sit with their beak on the ground. These chickens are smaller than the rest, I assume from not eating as much. A few cocknis have spasms where they will flail and then fall down and flop around until they are sitting again. One cockin cannot stand and just flops around until it stops and lays there.


This has been happening for a little over a week. I thought I had half-baked them. I had moved them outside to the chicken house and added a second light which was much hotter than the first. I found one chicken streched out next to the water thingy. I got him back to life with some water and food and he started walking around somewhat uneasily so I named him stroke. Over the following days more chicks started having the same type symptoms; trouble walking, moving slowly, not as alert, beaks on the ground. These symptoms have gotten worse and one of my cockins can't stand or sit straight. I have been picking them up and putting their beaks in the water and watching them drink then setting them next to the food so they will eat. Otherwise I don't think they would.


I thought I had injured them with the light but I am questioning that now after reading some. I gave them Sulmet anti-biotic for 2 days 1 week after I got them and save-a-chick probiotic 3 days the next week. There was 7-10 days between the 2 treatments. I am feeding them Dumor chick starter/grower 20%. Some may be getting a little better: eating and drinking by themselves. I have the flailing chick in a cup after reading about it here.


What can I do for these little guys? Is it too late to save them?

In the event it is Coccidiosis,Sulmet only targets two strains,whereas Corid targets 9. Do you have them with other chickens,if yes then a coccidiosis overload/outbreak is a possibility,also often when they are first put on the ground an outbreak can occur with or without having other birds.

 

[casportpony]

Can you bring them inside where it's warm?

-Kathy

 

[QuaGNaR]

I could but I don't have another light setup and these aren't my only chickens. The chicken house is a bit warmer than my house with the heat lights on. I do have them separated from the rest of the flock.