Thank you!----month-plus-old chick lethargic, droopy wing

[nickRW]

I guess I'll try to give as much context as possible--

We got 3 chicks about a month ago, and had them in a big cardboard box (made out of a few smaller ones). We've been feeding them with the chick/chicken feed with supplements in it, that the farm/chicken store recommended.

Recently (a few days ago), we moved them in to a new box (more durable, with a top with air vents, since they were starting to fly).

Today, when we went in to check on them (in the garage, that didn't change), we found one drooped with one wing out, and thought she might be dead.

Fortunately, she wasn't, but isn't in great shape.

Their food was low and their water was fairly full, but had some crud kicked in it.

We took her out of the box, and tried giving her some water, which she seemed to drink (I can't tell, she moved her beak a bit). We think she might just be hot, as, being out from under the lamp and having some water seemed to perk her up, but that's just a hopeful guess.

Her wing stopped drooping, and, a couple times, when she thought she was falling or something(?) she flapped a bit, though not strongly.

Her eyes are open more now.

EDIT: forgot to mention, she was breathing heavily, but is not doing that as much, now

The more concerning parts:
-she doesn't sit very well (leans to one side, feet are weak and curled, one more than the other)

-in the wrong position, she tends to lean her body back (kind of like a person sitting down, rather than like chicks lower their body on to their feet) and leans her head back

-while somewhat interested in water, she doesn't react to food (pellets)

Thanks for any advice!

edit: I forgot, last night, she started gobbling up the scrambled egg she had been ignoring, but then kind of stopped moving, we weren't sure if she was feeling worse, or just sleepy after gorging... looks like the latter, at this point

 

[nickRW]

also, when sleeping/resting, she tends to droop forward or lean back with her head (so it kind of sinks in to her shoulders/neck), rather than with a head mostly level, like the others...

 

[nickRW]

Just trying to add any relevant info-- we noticed her falling a little behind the other two (they've started to jump/fly while she hasn't, and they seemed to be maturing more evenly than she was).

Also, I don't know if it matters, related to problems with specific breeds, but she's a wyandotte.

We've tried polyvisol (which she seemed to dislike) and gatorade watered down (which didn't have much reaction, about the same as water-- she'd drink, but not go back for more...

Again, any help would be appreciated.

 

[seminolewind]

Hard to say. It does sound like a neuro thing. Try vitamins. Hopefully someone else can give you advice.

 

[FlyHigher]

Hi, sounds like the sick chichen is only one month old, so it's probably not MD, ND or IBD(all the three disease can cause neurological symptoms).
Maybe you can do some search on Botulism. Here is the the list of symptoms of Botulism. Good luck!

Botulism
Body - Lying on breast, legs paralyzed
Body - Paralysis
Body - Twitching, muscular spasm
Death - High mortality-producing diseases
Legs - Paralysis
Neck - Paralysis (limber neck)

Or maybe you can check coccidiosis in the meantime if her legs are pale and stool is bloody.

 

[Kim95037]

Keep her hydrated, I used a small eye dropper and let them take it in as it drips off of their beak. I just lost 5 baby chicks, so I feel your pain. I hope you can figure out whats going on! Theres so many things that can go wrong with these guys. The first batch I raised without even one little glitch. This time around was a totally different story. I'll say a little prayer for your little one!

 

[nickRW]

Hi,

thanks for the advice, everyone! I don't think it's Botulism, because she's not twitching, and her stool seemed normal, so coccidiosis seems unlikely.

She's thankfully doing better-- sitting balanced (and attempts to balance when moved) rather than flopped over.

She's still drinking, but has not eaten (pellets or cooled scrambled egg).

I'm not sure if this was happening before, but when she blinks, her left eye tends to stay closed longer, don't know if that's a sign of anything.

When we put her back in her box (separated, next to the coop, clear divider), she heard one of the other chicks and tried to get to it, but was either really weak or somehow disoriented, because she tripped and flopped a bit, trying to walk a couple steps...

I'll keep posting until she's better or not, hopefully with some more help from your accumulated knowledge...

Thanks again!

 

[seminolewind]

I have read quite a few posts recently about one-eye problems. I wonder why.

 

[nickRW]

This morning, Stripy (who may get a new name, due to loosing her stripy chick feathers and having an illness) was not in her box, and we feared the worst (either something had gotten into the garage and had gotten her, or she had gone off to hide and/or die somewhere in the mess of storage).

However(!) it turned out that she was sleeping in the corner two boxes made, just out of view and slightly closer to the heat lamp. Even better, when she saw us, she got up and started walking!

We've been keeping an eye on her, and have reintroduced her to the other chicks-- she's still a bit slow/wobbly, and is noticeably smaller/less developed than the other two, after a few days of poor health, but can basically keep up with them and isn't getting picked on, so, even if she isn't 100%, she definitely seems on the road to a solid recovery.

Thanks, all, for your support (moral and otherwise)!