sudden partial paralysis 3 week old chick

[lizzylougaupo]

I am new to chicken keeping -- we have 2 three-week old Plymouth Barred Rocks and a four-week old Delaware. Yesterday morning I found one of the BRs lying in the brooder on its side, and the other chicks walking over it. I removed her and spent all day yesterday researching what it could be and treating her. I started her on antibiotics (tetracycline) and electrolyte water, administered with an eye dropper. She has little interest in solid food -- I tried tempting her with egg yolk and her starter mixed with water to make a mash. But she will drink eagerly from the eye dropper (took me awhile to figure this out: I catch the tip of her beak with the hole in the end of the dropper and squeeze gently and she will just "suck" from it.) I mixed a small amount of her starter in the water, as well as crumbled up egg yolk, thinking it would dissolve enough to be sucked up in the eye dropper so she would get some nutrition. She likes this. (All in electrolyte water).

She seems to be partially paralyzed: she can't stay upright but can kick her legs and move her head and will do so when I pick her up but then I cup her in my hand and she relaxes and seems to like being held. She seems to sleep all the time. When I put her back in the brooder I swaddle her in a washcloth b/c if I don't her legs kick out and she starts spinning on her side and sort of flapping like she's trying to get up.

What could this be? What should I do? This morning still all the same.

(I have separated the other chicks and disinfected everything, also.)

 

[Eggcessive]

It is hard to figure out the illness to treat for in these little chicks sometimes. I have listed two threads to read--one on wry neck and the other on botulism. These are some of the diseases that can cause paralysis, as well as head injuries, and later on Marek's disease. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/207448/treating-botulism-updated-rip-spike and https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/97121/lets-talk-wry-neck-crook-neck

 

[lizzylougaupo]

Thanks. It's probably not Marek's b/c they were vaccinated. Botulism is a possibility -- their food gets flung around and I found when I cleaned out the tub that the water had been leaking and there was a puddle under the bedding. They like to scratch down and get fallen food from the floor. I read about some types of avian encephalitis, maybe that's it?

Is there any reason not to keep giving her antibiotics?

 

[mg15]

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/521

you might try this site and look up Vitamin E defiecency

 

[lizzylougaupo]

She is improving! I tried the vitamin E, squeezing a little from a capsule onto my finger then holding it next to her beak. She loved it! So much that her little tongue came out and was licking my finger! I ony gave her a couple small drops...anyone here know how much is safe?

This evening she was able to sit on her haunches for longer stretches without falling over, AND she is now pecking the regular food from my palm with great enthusiasm.

And the preening- someone mentioned this as a sign they're feeling better and she's doing a little of that. Hoping!

 

[lizzylougaupo]

Yay, ever better! Almost by the hour her paralysis seems to be dissipating and coordination returning. As of last night she could finally sit on her haunches mostly without falling over, but seemed determined to walk, even though she'd fall with almost every step. This morning she can stand and take steps without falling as much!

From what I've read and heard on forum I decided it's either avian encephalomyelitis or Vitamin E deficiency (thank you mg15).

I think what helped was adding electrolytes to her water (Sav-a-chick) about 1/8 tsp per cup of water. It has vitamin E in it, but I also gave her small bits of E that I squeezed from a capsule. Handfeeding her with the chick feed, yogurt and egg yolk mixed in with the water I think kept her from starving/dehydrating.

Yesterday she started eating crumbles from my hand and today she is drinking from her water dish and eating by herself in the brooder! I can't believe how I can practically see her improvement by the hour!

Now she is cheeping a lot and I think she is lonely. She can hear the others from the tub next to her. When would be safe to move her back in with them?

 

[mg15]

Hi, So happy she is improving. Here is some info on amt. of Vitamin E and Selenium

The overlapping manner in which vitamin E and selenium function in the cellular antioxidant system suggest that they spare one another in the prevention of deficiency signs.
Only stabilized fat should be used in feeds. Adequate levels of stabilized vitamin E should be used in conjunction with a commercial antioxidant and up to 0.3 ppm selenium. Signs of exudative diathesis and muscular dystrophy due to vitamin E deficiency can be reversed if treatment is begun early by administering vitamin E PO or through the feed. Oral administration of a single dose of 300 IU of vitamin E per bird usually causes remission.
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou..._poultry/vitamin_deficiencies_in_poultry.html

 

[lizzylougaupo]

So my baby is up and walking around, though she walks like a drunken sailor. Now she is lonely and cheeping a lot -- when I let her out to walk around she went right over to the other tub which has clear sides and stood looking in at my other two and cheeping.

Two things: I am leaving in a few hours to be gone for three days, leaving explicit instructions for chicken care with my 10yo daughter! It would make things easier for her if they were all together again.

Secondly: If I leave her isolated three more days till I return (I don't want to put the responsibility of rehousing them together on my daughter) I am worried she will decline because she is depressed. Today is the first time she has shown signs that she knows that she is alone and doesn't like it!

But if it is avian encephalomyelitis (one of 2 possibilities, the other being Vit E deficiency) I don't want to put her back if she's still contagious.

My dilemma! Any advice?

Thanks!!!

 

[mg15]

HI,

1. http://www.avianweb.com/sickbirdcare.html
   pictures
2. http://www.poultryhub.org/health/disease/types-of-disease/2610-2/
   There is no treatment for AE
3. http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/avian-atlas/search/disease/481

since there is no cure for Avian encephalomyelitis and the Vitamin E helped her from demise could you rule out AE ?
I would look at the pictures of affected AE birds and try to determine if the symptoms are the same that you saw in your bird.
Selelium is important with Vitamin E from what I have read.
Nutri Drench is what I use with the little ones.

Too bad you cannot take the chick with you for continuous care by you.
It would be awful if something happened while the chick would be in the care of your daughter.

Good luck on your decision.
I could never tell you what to do in this situation, to let her back with her mates or keep her away.

 

[lizzylougaupo]

mg 15 thank you so much for your reply, just in time!! I've looked at lots of websites and descriptions of both conditions and it could fit either. There is a chance of survival with AE, I think I read a 25-60% mortality rate, and once they're better they are immune although there may be lasting effects. But what you said about her response to Vit E is smart, indicative that that's the more likely possibility.

I think with all that I am going to take a chance and put them back together. I just think it will be too hard on my baby to be alone all weekend. She has recovered (symptomatically) SO quickly that the Vitamin answer does seem to make most sense.

Thanks so much!!