sick chicks

[jopash]

I've two sick chicks. They are five and a half weeks old now. Their father is a dwarf Orpington and their mother a Warren but as my Warrens didnt fancy sitting I put them under a neighbours broody hen. She abandonned them but when I found them they had started to pip so I put them in a hot box and they hatched. They were fine for the first four and a half weeks, eating and drinking well, vigorous, curious and active. They started to feather up nicely and then they got ill. They seem to wobble and have difficulty standing but they are still eating. They have never been outside and never been in contact with other chickens. They've had a good diet. One of my neighbours reckons they have a genetic disease which will progress. Another reckons they're fine and just need keeping warm. Any ideas?

[Skeksis]

http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/lsb-for ... hp?t=27030

[manda]

You need to get them to a vet ...could be any number of things but hands on and looking all over is the best chance they have.

[kitla]

Just a thought - if they've never been outside, depending on where they're kept
could they be deficient in vitamin D (from the sun)?
Anyway, I agree with Manda I'd take them to the vet personally

[Skeksis]

Yes, a vet is definitely the right thing. Chicks can go downhill very quickly and its not worth the risk

[jopash]

Thank you, I will. Though I think the vets here in France will laugh at me.

[kitla]

Perhaps you could look for an avian vet, it would be useful to know one if you're
keeping chooks. I'd have thought people in France that keep parrots & budgies
need to take them to an Avian or an Exotics vet - or whatever the equivalent is in
France, and poultry farmers must need the vet sometimes.