Three chicks who can't walk, but all have different symptoms

[brettzim]

My girlfriend works at the local feed store and came home with three ill chicks today. We don't expect them to survive but wanted to see if we could help at least one live. The trouble is they all seem to have different problems.

Chick #1 - the oldest, has some real feathers in. She seems to have straddle but her legs don't come out on either side - she more lays with one leg out. She also looks bloated near her rear end. Not sure if that is because she is just so much larger than the other chicks so appears to be a bit chubby since she is more filled out, or if she is just that unwell. She cannot stand on her own. I did the trick with the half bandaid to hobble her legs together to see if she can start supporting her own weight but am not 100% sure she had straddle.

Chick #2 - this guy is the real heartbreaker. She lays on her side with both legs out, she trembles a bit too, and she will just run her legs while laying on her side. She will try to support her own weight if you hold her up. And if you prop her against the side of the tank she can race around the outside of it if she is leaning on it. It seems like her right leg is the weaker of the two and she is always on her right side.

Chick #3 - just sort of hunkers down, does not stand up but keeps her feet under her. She looks like the size of a new chick but I guess she is older than that and has some real feathers coming in. She is just super tiny and does not walk around.

All three eat and drink. None appear to be suffering. We can do what needs to be done if it looks like we are just prolonging their misery but I'd love any advice if there are theories on how we can possibly nurse them back to health. We are giving them vitamins and electrolytes but that's about it.

 

[khoe]

I would definitely keep up the vitamins. Are they eating? Possibly an egg yolk hard boiled and smashed with some chick starter for some extra protein.

 

[brettzim]

Yes, they are all eating. They are not listless or anything, each seems pretty cheery, just unable to walk. Do you have any idea if there is harm in giving them a boiled egg if my chickens are currently on egg withdrawal? We wormed our laying hens over a week ago with Wazine and are waiting the two weeks until we eat their eggs. If so I will get these little gals some store eggs and try that.

 

[khoe]

I think they are probably ok to eat the eggs, even direct the wormer wouldn't hurt them.

 

[brettzim]

Ok, thank you for your advice!

 

[brettzim]

So, the update is that the tiniest has died. She seemed the least viable because she was not super into eating and drinking. The other two are going strong and one seem to have significant improvements. Also, I think it's a quail chick. I taped her feet with athletic tape to give her some bigger platforms to try and balance on. She does not have good balance or strength but seems to be able to stand/wobble and take a few teetery steps before face planting. She cannot right herself when she tips onto her side but can walk slowly if you help keep her steady and she has her "shoes" on. The other I am still worried about because she just seems to be a bit of a chubby butt, a little bloated around her rear end. She has a great appetite though and I have her legs hobbled since one keeps splaying out to the side. She is not walking but she seems like she will try to support her weight for a second or two when you set her on her feet. Originally she would just collapse. She also is upright more than she was. She was so splayed out originally I thought she may have wry neck.

It's tough because these little gals are growing so quickly and I don't want their muscles to grow in these awkward positions since they are laying on their sides much of the time. I am trying to do chick "physical therapy" a little bit every hour or so. Having them walk and stand and sit upright.

I hope we can save these gals. They are alert and happy but just crippled.

 

[khoe]

It sounds like you're doing everything right! I will hope for the best. Keep us posted and keep up with the great work!

 

[brettzim]

Update with Good news ... I had to leave the house for a night but returned home to the quail walking around the box with her still sorta gimpy buddy. I'd left this little critter not really feeling good vibes that she'd recover. She would try to stagger around the cage but would fall over and just lay on her back running in the air with her legs. But, somehow this little gal has determination and was walking a day and a half after I left her. She seems like she is on the mend for real now. Which is great because I was getting attached to her. Her friend though, it turns out, is a meat bird, which explains why she is so bloated looking. She is still not great but I think it's because her body is expanding faster than her legs can keep up with. Honestly, these Cornish birds are sort of shocking in their rapid expansion. She is happy enough since she can trundle around the cage and drop herself in the middle of the chick feed and stuff her face. But, I am not sure what her future holds. the quail on the other hand, is doing great and I think she will make a full recovery.

 

[khoe]

Update with Good news ... I had to leave the house for a night but returned home to the quail walking around the box with her still sorta gimpy buddy. I'd left this little critter not really feeling good vibes that she'd recover. She would try to stagger around the cage but would fall over and just lay on her back running in the air with her legs. But, somehow this little gal has determination and was walking a day and a half after I left her. She seems like she is on the mend for real now. Which is great because I was getting attached to her. Her friend though, it turns out, is a meat bird, which explains why she is so bloated looking. She is still not great but I think it's because her body is expanding faster than her legs can keep up with. Honestly, these Cornish birds are sort of shocking in their rapid expansion. She is happy enough since she can trundle around the cage and drop herself in the middle of the chick feed and stuff her face. But, I am not sure what her future holds. the quail on the other hand, is doing great and I think she will make a full recovery. 

This makes my day! Sad to hear the other is a meat bird but atleast he/she is happy for now!!