Something is wrong with my chick... *(

[Farmer_Dan]

I'm not sure what happened to her, but I found her kinda sprawled out on the ground. She is eating and drinking, though it's some trouble for her. She seems to have lost some of the use of her legs. I pick her up and she is very calm, doesn't seem like she is in pain at all. I checked out her legs and they feel fine, basically the same as each other (I'm no vet) and doesn't feel like anything is broken or bothering her.

She has trouble standing up and walking, though she can do it. She has a very wide stance while standing there but seems to prefer just laying on the ground. She can get around but it's quite awkward for her. This is something that started suddenly, I figured she broke a leg or something, but it appears to be with both legs.

Anyone have any idea what it could be?

 

[Kittymomma]

It might be spraddle leg. Check out this link and see if it looks familiar. The link has directions for treatment too if that is what is wrong with her. What are you using for bedding in the brooder?

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

 

[australorpchick]

It might be a vitamin deficiency. Try giving a drop or two to the beak of PolyViSol (Without the extra Iron). I've also tried mixin some in some yogurt and crumbles and feeding it to my chick who was walking on his knees or had wry neck.

 

[Farmer_Dan]

I should clarify, the chick is about 2 months old and is out of the brooder and into the coop (with a little light still but not much). The chick was fine for the first 2 months, then just today, trouble walking.

Spraddle leg seems to be a day old chick thing so unless it is a late onset spraddle, it's probably not that. The rest of the girls in there seem fine so I don't know that it is a diet thing, but I may try giving her a little supplement anyway.

Currently, the 'bedding' is just the lawn (well, it was the lawn until the chik tractor went there, now it's pretty much dirt. They have perches other than that to sleep on.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'd go with the vitamin supplement then. Just like some hens don't get enough calcium from what is in the layer ration and need oyster shell some chicks are more prone to vitamin deficiency. The other possibilities that come to mind is that she possibly strained something coming off the roost wrong or maybe Mereks, though I think she's a bit young for that.