Sick chick, never saw this before. Ideas?

[yotetrapper]

I have a box of about 20+ 3 day old chicks. They all appear healthy and happy, but this morning one is sick. It sits on the ground, and shakes a little bit, then starts turning its head weird, as if it had a stiff neck. It will turn it's whole head and shoulder area until it flips itself over on it's back. There's nothing wrong with it's feet/legs, thats not why it's flippinig over.... it's weird.

My main concern is if it will spread to the other chicks, whatever it is?

 

[zatsdeb]

what is your temp? they need to be warm, 98 degrees at least! and no drafts! I would check that too, and to see if it is eating and drinking.flipping over sometimes is a sign they are cold.

 

[yotetrapper]

well, I dont know. I have never used a thermometer in the brooder before, I always just went by the chickens. If huddled, they were cold, if spread out good and not panting, they were good. These guys are all spread out and running around, they dont LOOK cold... hmmm.

 

[zatsdeb]

can you lower your light?? When I have one cold I lower the light, it can get warmer and the others can still get away from it. I know here we keep getting warm days, then cold...cold!!!!

 

[yotetrapper]

My light's only about 6" above the bottom of the box. The chick doesn't act cold, it acts like something is wrong with it's neck.

 

[zatsdeb]

what are you feeding? probably chick starter, maybe it got stepped on by the others?

 

[yotetrapper]

Yeah, chick starter. I just took him out, he's 90% dead. Hope its not something contagious.

 

[zatsdeb]

maybe he just got stepped on. some people try to save them poor thing. Probably just have to watch the others. sorry to hear its not doing well.

 

[valreegrl]

Stargazer?

I know this happens a lot in small birds, ie lovebirds...not sure about Chickens.

And I think it is due to a vitamin deficiency. Try polyvisol without Iron maybe? I know it can't hurt.

 

[Marie1234]

Doesn't that sound like wry neck or crooked neck? I think it's a neurological problem, not contagious, but will require intensive treatment with vit E and b-complex, and until it gets better chick may be unable to eat or drink unassisted. Not a chick you will want to grow into a breeder.