[Rosemary]

I bought 41 Black Rock day olds. They are now two weeks old. They have been really robust until the lamp blew overnight on Tuesday into Wednesday. On Wednesday morning one chick was almost dead and I culled it and another one died over night. I assumed they had been chilled and then trampled by the others. Then there were three that looked a bit ropey, so they are in the sick bay - well, a box with their own light, water and food, really to protect them. They are all eating and drinking, there is no scooty poo. I've also seen one of them preening and they are now cheeping normally BUT they seem to have lost control of their legs. They can walk a bit but are really wobbly. There was a 4th one this morning in danger of being trampled so she's in the sick bay as well.

It's no bother to keep them seperate and give them time to recover but anyone any idea what it is and what might have caused it?

[BlueDaisy]

If you still have them on newspaper they can sometimes find it a bit slippy. Perhaps with 40 all together they find enough purchse bumping into and walking on top of each other but now that there is less of them perhaps they are struggling. I would try using an old towel or some wood shavings as a base and see if that makes any difference.

[Rosemary]

I did wonder about that. The newspaper is pretty ripped up and there's lots of leaf mould in it now, so it's not so slippy. I'll have another look at it today.

Another chick down today - they look like they are drunk.

[bigchicken]

Not so good Rosemary, are there anymore symptoms, do they maybe walk on there hocks, do they have shaky heads, when dead or dieing are there legs out to the one side. Watch them closely for more clues and maybe we can find out whats causing this. No need to say i,m sure but get them on straw or shavings and try and give then a booster and make sure water and feed is fresh.

[Rosemary]

I'll put the sick ones on Hemcore. They are eating (Farmgate Chick Crumbs with ACS) and drinking and there's cider vinegar in the water. I'm changing feed and water twice a day. No sign of scoots.

They are a bit shaky - they were panting but that seems to have stopped. Yes, their legs are out to one side, like they are lying down but if you give them a nudge, they pull their legs in and get up, if somewhat unsteadily.

I'm just hoping that the longer I keep them alive, the more chance they have of pulling through.

What kind of booster? I have some poultry spice.

[bigchicken]

If you pick up the affected chick and invert in the cup of your hand does it have any tremors ie  wings head or legs.

[Rosemary]

If you pick up the affected chick and invert in the cup of your hand does it have any tremors ie  wings head or legs.

Nope - they just cheep and struggle to get the right way up. All still alive - one looks OK, so might mark with Tippex and put her back with the rest and monitor closely.

The rest are WILD - never still, flying and perching on top of the sick bay and the feeder. Looking a wee bit scruffy as they shed the down for feathers, but very active.

[bigchicken]

One of those thinks then hope they recover maybe it was just the chill.

[Rosemary]

Thanks. They don't seem in any distress, so will give them their chance and see how they go.

[BlueDaisy]

Very peculiar. Hope they do okay for you now.

[Carasine]

It could potentially be a vit D/ calcium deficinecy.
With the light being off and getting chilled they maybe need a boost of vit D and calcium to strengthen muscle tone. If they are off their legs they may not have been eating enough to keep their levels up.
Perhaps try cheese or pro-biotic yogurt on them, or maybe some marg.

[Rosemary]

I'll give them some cheese. Thanks.