Is this normal? One of them is definitely sick!

[TriddyChooks]

Hi everyone, first time chicken parent here. Everything was going great but the last couple days started getting a little confusing.

One of my chicks (they’re all about 2.5 months old) started having trouble walking two days ago. She could walk a couple steps but then gets tired and lays down. It looks like one leg works better than the other but she can still curl toes on both feet. The other chickens kept walking over her so I decided to separate her, but I read that complete isolation could lead to bullying later so I put up a screen and now they’re separated.

I started giving them some probiotics and electrolytes from TSC and I’ve seen a little improvement but she’s still having trouble walking. She’s eating if I put the food right in front of her.

But just today my other chicks started doing this weird digging, they kinda lay on one side and then kick a bunch. It also looks like they might be trying to pull feathers. I’ve found a couple of stray feathers in their container but I don’t know if it’s normal to lose a feather or two. I’m not sure if this is just them attempting to bathe and preen or if this is more intense than it should be. I took a video but I can’t figure out how to attach it.

Is this normal behavior and I’m just over reacting or are they all getting sick with something? It’s starting to get warm where I live so I was getting ready to move them to a coop and run. Should I hold off? Thank you for any help ideas or feedback. Hopefully I’m over reacting and they’re fine.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like normal behavior as if they are dust bathing. Wait till you see them sun bathing—that is always shocking the first time you see it. Do they have enough room in their brooder? How many chicks in how large of a space? Are they getting too hot?

Could you post a picture of the one chick standing where we can see the legs? Are you using some human vitamin B complex for riboflavin? If not I would give the chick 1/4 tablet daily, crushed and given in a spoonful of water or food. You can get it at Walmart for $6.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Spring-V...MI6Kre5NCjjAMVREpHAR1CDTNTEAQYASABEgJuzPD_BwE

 

[TriddyChooks]

Thank you for the quick response. They’re in a metal gardening container that’s about 4x2x2. I removed their heater because they appear fully feathered to me and they have been in the garage where the temperature is very consistent. There are 6 of them, 3 are Mille fluers and are still quite small and the other three are bantam calico Cochins and are about 1.5 times bigger despite only being a couple weeks apart. I got them from two different local farmers.

The last few days have been in the upper 70s but today it’s 88 degrees. They’re in the shade but getting some fresh air. It’s normal to be in the upper 80s where I live. The farmers I got them from said they should be fine as long as they have plenty of shade and water. But does having them close together make them feel hotter?

Here are some pictures of my sick chick and what I have been giving her in her water. I appreciate your advice about vitamin B and will certainly pick some up from Walmart! Let me know if you need better pictures and I’ll try again.

 

[Eggcessive]

That comb looks a bit prominent. Wonder if it is a little cockerel? Does it stand or walk with the legs crooked or one foot pointing in or out? That could be slipped tendon or varus valgus deformity. What. Are the poops like? Is there any diarrhea or blood in poops? Coccidiosis can be a problem early on. Corid is the common treatment for that. 2 tsp per gallon of water for liquid Corid for 5 days is the usual treatment. Of course if the legs are the problem, it could be weak and need to be close to food/water.

 

[TriddyChooks]

That comb looks a bit prominent. Wonder if it is a little cockerel? Does it stand or walk with the legs crooked or one foot pointing in or out? That could be slipped tendon or varus valgus deformity. What. Are the poops like? Is there any diarrhea or blood in poops? Coccidiosis can be a problem early on. Corid is the common treatment for that. 2 tsp per gallon of water for liquid Corid for 5 days is the usual treatment. Of course if the legs are the problem, it could be weak and need to be close to food/water.

That comb looks a bit prominent. Wonder if it is a little cockerel? Does it stand or walk with the legs crooked or one foot pointing in or out? That could be slipped tendon or varus valgus deformity. What. Are the poops like? Is there any diarrhea or blood in poops? Coccidiosis can be a problem early on. Corid is the common treatment for that. 2 tsp per gallon of water for liquid Corid for 5 days is the usual treatment. Of course if the legs are the problem, it could be weak and need to be close to food/water.

Legs are normally a little crooked when it stands and sometimes it will sit with one leg sticking out. Poops look normal to me, brown and white no sign of blood and not overly wet (at least I don’t think so).

I knew about coccidiosis so I picked up corrid a few weeks ago as a precaution. Should I give it to my flock just in case? Is it bad to give it to them if they don’t actually have coccidiosis?