Hi everyone, I've lost a few chicks with the same symptoms recently and I'm baffled as to what the issue is. I'm pretty new to chickens so I believe I'm missing knowledge and experience to help me understand how to save my chicks.
I've done a lot of Googling and none of the major chicken diseases or illnesses quite match what I'm seeing. I wish I had a video of the issue but my first instinct isn't to pull out a camera when I see the chicks' exhibiting the behavior. Hopefully I can describe it clearly.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Salmon Faverolles, between 4-6 weeks of age, normal weight as siblings
2) What is the behavior, exactly. So the closest thing I can describe this as is an upright seizure. The chick will have its legs tucked underneath it, throw its head back, and open its mouth, sometimes chirping. I tend to pick it up and then set it down when it's ok and it goes back to normal. Other times I see balance issues in the chicks and they'll sometimes be limp but the next minute be running around with a mealworm in their mouth. I'm baffled.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? It happens a for a few days and then I find the chick dead in the brooder with its legs sometimes stretched out (but not always). I've now come to know which chicks won't survive when I see this behavior no matter what I do.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? It doesn't seem to catch on to other chicks. Sometimes it's one or two in a batch and sometimes none at all. It doesn't take out a whole batch either.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No signs of trauma. The chicks are active and running around like normal between intermittent "seizures".
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Am unsure and I don't think it's an issue with the other chicks injuring them or trampling them.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. The chicks do not stop eating or drinking and they go wild over mealworms right up until the day they die. They get eggs from hens, assortment of grains, kelp, brewers yeast, grit, etc.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. I've not noticed anything off with any of the chicks' poop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I've tried electrolytes, ACV in water, more brewers yeast and kelp in case it was a vitamin deficiency.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Just for me to know better going forward.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I sure wish I had a picture. If it ever unfortunately happens again I'll try to get a video or picture.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. They get straw and wood chips deeply layered with fresh bedding over time. They're in a 100 gal rubbermaid tub with a heat plate.
Thank you for any and all insight!
I've done a lot of Googling and none of the major chicken diseases or illnesses quite match what I'm seeing. I wish I had a video of the issue but my first instinct isn't to pull out a camera when I see the chicks' exhibiting the behavior. Hopefully I can describe it clearly.
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) Salmon Faverolles, between 4-6 weeks of age, normal weight as siblings
2) What is the behavior, exactly. So the closest thing I can describe this as is an upright seizure. The chick will have its legs tucked underneath it, throw its head back, and open its mouth, sometimes chirping. I tend to pick it up and then set it down when it's ok and it goes back to normal. Other times I see balance issues in the chicks and they'll sometimes be limp but the next minute be running around with a mealworm in their mouth. I'm baffled.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? It happens a for a few days and then I find the chick dead in the brooder with its legs sometimes stretched out (but not always). I've now come to know which chicks won't survive when I see this behavior no matter what I do.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? It doesn't seem to catch on to other chicks. Sometimes it's one or two in a batch and sometimes none at all. It doesn't take out a whole batch either.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No signs of trauma. The chicks are active and running around like normal between intermittent "seizures".
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Am unsure and I don't think it's an issue with the other chicks injuring them or trampling them.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. The chicks do not stop eating or drinking and they go wild over mealworms right up until the day they die. They get eggs from hens, assortment of grains, kelp, brewers yeast, grit, etc.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. I've not noticed anything off with any of the chicks' poop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? I've tried electrolytes, ACV in water, more brewers yeast and kelp in case it was a vitamin deficiency.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Just for me to know better going forward.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I sure wish I had a picture. If it ever unfortunately happens again I'll try to get a video or picture.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. They get straw and wood chips deeply layered with fresh bedding over time. They're in a 100 gal rubbermaid tub with a heat plate.
Thank you for any and all insight!
