Week old chick loss of mobility, progressive weakness.

[Lilly16]

Sadly, I have a Buff Orpington pullet in quarantine that has lost the use of it's legs in the last 24 hours and would still eat and drink but can't get about well on it's own. At first I thought her wing was injured as she put it out, but I think that was for balance. Today she is much weaker, and I think I will lose her today. I have read about Marek's, but I don't think in the bin in my dining room they are exposed, though I have had them on the ground twice for about 15 minutes in my green house to get soil exposure. I purchased the chicks on Saturday, April 13. The food came from our local feed and seed, it is sold in bulk, also where I got the chicks. I have a teaspoon of Braggs apple cider vinegar in their water. The one thing I have done differently that I have never before done was add sugar to their water in the first 3 days at the advice of the farmer who owns the feed and seed and does this routinely. He did not see the virtue in the vinegar, so I thought I would give it a try. We lost one chick overnight the first night but I saw no symptoms or deterioration, and they had only had them in one day when I purchased. The cattle tank was clean that they were in and no chicks were debilitated. I didn't think that was due to anything contracted at home. Thanks for your advice and ideas!

Update: The chick is alert and eating after a deep sleep period. I have bandaided her legs in case this is splayed leg. I have also put paper towel down in the small plastic bin i am keeping her in alone. She is on top of the bin with the flock near the heat lamp.

 

[Lilly16]

This is a fickle situation. She is up and down in her little box, and her Right leg is most affected but I can see or feel no injury. See above edit, about splayed leg.

 

[seminolewind]

Too early for Marek's which shows up near 6 weeks or older. I think you're right about splayed leg. Make sure she is really eating and not "pretending". Is she getting around better with the bandaid?

 

[Lilly16]

Too early for Marek's which shows up near 6 weeks or older. I think you're right about splayed leg. Make sure she is really eating and not "pretending". Is she getting around better with the bandaid?

I took them all out to clean the bin and let them have forage time, and she tried multiple times to stand, when I realized it the way the bandaide was on limited her ability to do so. We cut a new one in half and replaced it further up the legs. She cheeped to her friends and they came over to her, even though she could not seem to walk. They are all tired and sleepy now, I put her back in the quarantine so they don't peck the bandaide, that really upset her.

 

[seminolewind]

I've had to doctor up bandaids with each chick. Customization.

 

[Lilly16]

I've had to doctor up bandaids with each chick. Customization.

Hi, The bandaide hobble was successful! I isolated her in a small bin within the brooder for basically 3 days, with visitation in the flock progressing. She was slower at first but holds her own with the flock now. We keep hairspray paint on her wing so we can tell who she is now just to keep a bit more watch. Thanks all!