SelfSown
In the Brooder
- Oct 19, 2025
- 6
- 36
- 36
I have a chick that's 5 and half weeks old. At three weeks old it started wobbly walking (see previous thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wobbly-walk-in-3-week-chick.1678564/) and by the next day it struggled to walk at all.
I’ve been dosing it with vitamin B2 then switched to an activated B-complex. At first it could barely walk at all and would end up with both legs sticking out behind it (like in the photo). In the last few days its able to move a lot further (a few metres vs only 30 cm previously) and it only gets one leg stuck out behind it (always the same leg) and its toes don’t quite seem as curled up. It also seems to be able to sit up on its haunches for a lot longer than previously.
However its still has very little use of its toes and moves less by walking (or even hock walking) and more by half launching itself in little hops. It doesn’t seem in distress so I’m happy to keep it going for longer if it needs more time to recover. But if its never getting better I’d like to cull before its condition declines too much.
If it is Vit B deficiency, how long does it take before the chick starts improving and what are the signs of improvement?
And is there anything else I can do to help it or is it time to help it move on?
I’ve been dosing it with vitamin B2 then switched to an activated B-complex. At first it could barely walk at all and would end up with both legs sticking out behind it (like in the photo). In the last few days its able to move a lot further (a few metres vs only 30 cm previously) and it only gets one leg stuck out behind it (always the same leg) and its toes don’t quite seem as curled up. It also seems to be able to sit up on its haunches for a lot longer than previously.
However its still has very little use of its toes and moves less by walking (or even hock walking) and more by half launching itself in little hops. It doesn’t seem in distress so I’m happy to keep it going for longer if it needs more time to recover. But if its never getting better I’d like to cull before its condition declines too much.
If it is Vit B deficiency, how long does it take before the chick starts improving and what are the signs of improvement?
And is there anything else I can do to help it or is it time to help it move on?
I would be worried after it being this old it won't recover and get enough muscle strength to be able to ever walk. Like I said though I have no experience. I hope someone who has been through this or understands their anatomy better can give you a better answer.
