6 week old chick can’t walk—wobbles and sits on hocks

[Prince and Pavo]

One of my chicks has been unable to walk for a couple weeks now. I first noticed it when she started sitting on her hocks more than usual, and a couple days later she could hardly walk at all. I isolated her. I’d been giving her vitamin E and B-complex and she’d improved enough to be able to walk around fairly easily after a week or so, so I let her back with the other chicks and stopped giving the vitamins. She was fine for a few days but then started to wobble again. I isolated her and started giving her the vitamins again, but she’s only gotten worse. She can’t walk at all now, and even when she’s sitting down she struggles to keep her legs under her. Poop looks fine. She’s not lethargic, just can’t move. Eats normally as if hungry, but not as much as other chicks would. She also doesn’t chirp, pretty much ever… not when I pick her up, not when I separate her from the others, not when she’s cold…
I have no idea what to do.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One of my chicks has been unable to walk for a couple weeks now. I first noticed it when she started sitting on her hocks more than usual, and a couple days later she could hardly walk at all. I isolated her. I’d been giving her vitamin E and B-complex and she’d improved enough to be able to walk around fairly easily after a week or so, so I let her back with the other chicks and stopped giving the vitamins. She was fine for a few days but then started to wobble again. I isolated her and started giving her the vitamins again, but she’s only gotten worse. She can’t walk at all now, and even when she’s sitting down she struggles to keep her legs under her. Poop looks fine. She’s not lethargic, just can’t move. Eats normally as if hungry, but not as much as other chicks would. She also doesn’t chirp, pretty much ever… not when I pick her up, not when I separate her from the others, not when she’s cold…
I have no idea what to do.

I'm sorry about your chick.

Do you have photos of her?

How old is she?

Sounds like you are doing what you can for her. I'd start the vitamins back and see if those make a difference.

She may benefit by being placed in a chick chair or sling to help her get off her joints for short, monitored periods of time during the day.

 

[Prince and Pavo]

I'm sorry about your chick.

Do you have photos of her?

How old is she?

Sounds like you are doing what you can for her. I'd start the vitamins back and see if those make a difference.

She may benefit by being placed in a chick chair or sling to help her get off her joints for short, monitored periods of time during the day.

Thanks for your response.

These photos don’t really show the problem very well, but you can tell that she always sticks one of her legs out in front of her and leans on her wings to stay upright.

She is actually about 8 weeks old.

I am still giving her the vitamins. I haven’t stopped since she started getting worse.

A sling is a good idea, I’ll definitely try that. Thank you for the suggestion.