Poorly chick

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Hiya...I am new to the poultry world but enjoying hatching and rearing chicks.
I have had two broods so far, my first hatch of Lavander Cochin gave me three chicks. These are now six weeks old but sadly one died a few weeks ago.
It went very listless and sleepy, seemed to have trouble walking and keeping its head up, for all the world like a heroine user (sorry but that is how it looked!)
Anyway it died and I put it down to the nature of life. However I now have another from the same brood who is in the same state. It is a few weeks older so seems more able to endure it but this one tends to walk backwards in an unsteady way as well as sleeping a lot and tending to hang it's head down low too.
I have looked up stuff and spoke to experienced birders but not really got anymore clues.
I have cleaned and sterilised the cage. They are fed on organic crumb and I have fresh water for them daily.
The other from the first brood is very healthy and is in with the two from the last brood who are about three weeks old and doing well too.
My worry is that either something has gotten into the flock or that I am doing something wrong somewhere.
Thanks David
 
Hi David,

What are the droppings like? Is there any diarrhea or blood?

There are a number of diseases that could be to blame and it is very hard to diagnose sometimes. From the description, it could be a disease of the central nervous system and any information you can give may help us propose a cause.

Kind Regards, Tim.
 
Hi Tim
Thanks for the swift response, as a newcomer and as I watched these chicks hatch it is a little destressing to see them ill and not be able to help.
No blood and no sings of diarrhea, the chick is very lethargic although with this one it does still peck and walk, but at times it does so backwards...but seems to be like it is less energy sapping going backwards. It just sits on its own mainly sometimes sleeping sometimes it gets up but always looking wiery.
Also it seems to always carry its head lower than its back end and likes to be able to hang its head over the side of a perch it sits on.
The previous one that died had the same symtoms and state but only had them for about 2 days from start to death. This one has had them for about 3 days and is still a lot more with it than the other was.
I worry that it is not getting to the water although I have seen it feeding and have food and water near it.
I have a heat lamp still around so it has warmth if it needs that too.
 
Hi, like Tim said could be a number of things. What size is the cage they are in? Have they been outside at all on the ground? It does sound like some sort of neurological disorder/nerve damage. If it doesn't improve in a few days it would be better put to sleep. Just my thoughts.
regards, David :)
 
Hi David,

Sounds like there is a disease at work somewhere although I don't really know what. You can send samples off and have them tested for some diseases but to be honest, it's usually better just to quarantine sick birds so the others don't catch it and look after the sick bird on its own.

I suspect something Nerological but I don't know what :(

Tim
 
Cheers David
They spent about 2 weeks in a hamster cage then moved up into a long kinda rabbit cage (plastic bottom and cage top...about 5' x 2')
They haven't been out yet cos I don't have any older chicks or hens.
The worry and confusion is the exact same illness but about 2 weeks apart, I had thought of putting the poorly chick back in the little cage but I know they are social creatures too.
Another friend told me I should put it out of its misery but I am not sure I have the ability or constitution!
It doesn't seem to be suffering as I said the other one just eventually didn't wake up.
I expected that this morning but when I got up it was up and pecking!
It is now satwith its head down in the wood shavings...not looking good.
 
Thanks Tim
Yes as I was just saying to David I was in two minds on quarantine as, one it feels too late and two, the social aspect I feel will mean that the isolation will kill the chick anyway...
I agree it seems neurological and have scoured the web but no joy.
Looking like tonight may be its final one...I have cleaned the cage loads and will do again tomorrow but the gap between the two illnesses is odd and the fact that the other chicks are uneffected.
Thanks for your interest I will let you know
David
 
Hi
Still going today but walking bacwards...but is feeding a bit and has drunk a bit.
Not sure what to do cos it has lasted now about 4 or 5 days and evryday I expect the worst.
Thanks for your advise, if nothing else it is good to be able to chat to anyone who knows some of what it is like to be going through this

David
 
It could possibly be Marek's Disease - I have checked my book and that has an incubation period of 2 weeks and affects the nervous system. It can be caught by chicks from 6 weeks old. They eat well but get thin, and almost all (that catch it) die before 10 weeks.

They can get a discoloured iris and irregular pupils. Can also lower the head to the floor. There are 6 (or maybe 7, can't remember) different types - each has slightly different affects.

It is highly contageous, spread by dander so keep others well away. It can survive for a year in the poultry house. Some breeds are much more prone to it than others - Silkies and Sebrights especially, not sure about Cochins.

It might not be - it's easy to find symptoms that fit an illness sometimes and I could be way off... Marek's is quite common though.
 
With silkies and otHer crested breeds you do hatch the odd one that is neurologically not ok due to ? Cerebral herniation/trauma from their skull defects.I know yours is not one of these , but a number of people use Vit E caps contents for these neurologically damaged birds -apparently with good results.This is only non-evidence based hearsay but it may be worth a try and you really have nothing to loose.Ros
 
Cheers again Tim
That does sound very like what I have...scary as the remaining 3 will be already infected in theory and I have 10 eggs hatching in a week!
Feels late in the day to be isolating the poorly one as surely the others have been around both the earlier now dead chick and the current poorly one.
I will need to think hard with the new brood coming soon!
Thanks for your research and fingers crossed for the future.
I am very concerned about the year long thing you said.
Is there anything I can do to get it out of my flock and the cages and runs?

Thanks again Tim

David
 
Thanks Ros
Interesting and what and where is 'Vit E caps'?
Having read Tim's post I do sadly feel it could be Marek's
But please tell me more about your possible solution

Thanks David
 
Hi David,

It is very hard to diagnose - because it could really be so many things - but if any more come down with it, I would put Marek's on the shortlist..perhaps speak to a vet / lab about getting a PM done. I would do some research on it anyway.

As for getting rid of it... :? it is carried by dander - so very very hard. Vaccination is the about the only way forward, or keep others away from this brooder and room, or don't hatch for a year... ummm can't really think of other solutions yet

Lets hope it isn't Marek's though.

T
 
Hi------Its just something I've heard,not used myself.I have just come across it a few times.people breeding intensively crested breeds giving them Vitamin E capsule (contents) prophylaxis against neurogical problems.How much,how often,what it is meant to do I am afraid I have no idea--maybe something if you Google it ? Ros
 
------ I looked , quite a bit there about cerebellar ataxia (lack of balance originating from brain) due to Vit E deficiency in chicks.Have a look! Ros
 
hHi their,i say MAREKS is your best bet, seen it heaps in my birds befor i started to vaccinate. Hears the problem, if it is MAREKS all your birds may already have it. They may never become ill, but can remain carriers their whole life passing it on to their young. If it is confirmed by a vet i would not kill your flock ,but hatch in an incubator and vacc at day old.Wait 14 to 16 days then you should be safe to give the chicks to a broody hen. Watch the hen to make shaw she excepts them. After two years with no signs of mareks you may not have to vacc anymore.You may not have carriers, the sick will have died and the young stock will be vacc and theirfor safe from the disease. SYMPTOMS i have seen in my birds include ;un steady walk stiff leg or legs droped head paralised legs and sonetimes wings, inlarged or small puprill that does not react to light.Tilted head ,loss of weight for no obvises reason and so on ...You will proberly onlel have 1 or 2 of these signs together. HOPEFULLY it is not Mareks and just a bug or a well aimed peck to the head BEST OF LUCK BEC...
 
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