My baby chick can't stand or walk, and its knees are swollen. What should I do?

Thanks for reaching out about Chicky and including photos. A physical examination must be made to determine which of these it is, and each will require a different treatment plan. There are some infectious diseases that can cause this also like bacterial infections or Mycoplasma gallinacium. Provide good diet and husbandry, especially heat support. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Chicky. Swelling on the chest is often an overextended crop, possibly an obstruction or stasis. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Ingested foreign bodies, infections (bacterial, yeast, fungal) and other causes are possible. Various viral disease, ingested toxins or metabolic disorders can result in ataxia and wobbly gait. Heat support is important in recovering animals. Sick animals should be isolated to prevent possible cross-contamination if infectious. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about your chick and including photos. The lesions appear like vesicles and a bacterial or viral etiology would be high on the list. A veterinary visit should be scheduled to help with an assessment and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. This chick should b e separated from others because viral disease are possibly contagious to other birds. Providing heat support in the 80-85 F range can give some aid. Cleaning/dabbing the lesions with a dilute povidine/betadyne solution might help but does not replace a veterinary visit. Wash hands well after handling to prevent cross contamination. Good luck.

It sounds like Bink is extremely ill and needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. It is possible there is a wound that got infected, an underlying illness causing his symptoms, or other underlying problem which needs to be treated. If he is kept with a flock, it is best to remove him from the flock to prevent being picked on and to prevent the spread of any illness to other birds. You can keep him separated and with easy access to food and water, or try syringe feeding, however if he is very weak and not moving much at all, and has visible swelling or wounds, seeking vet care immediately is needed.

Sadly, I think that either this defect happened before Janice hatched or there could have been trauma or infection that has affected the joint of this leg. There is some redness I can see that makes me concerned that we do have infection in the joint now. Ideally I would take Janice to a veterinarian comfortable with poultry medicine to see if there are feasible treatment options. If not, you may have to consider humane euthanasia, particularly since she is not growing well. I'm sorry!

I am sorry Bahloul is not feeling well. Unfortunately for Bahloul there is no easy fix to her leg. I would recommend taking her to a vet as soon as possible to be evaluated. I am concerned about viral disease, infectious disease but also her kidney function. She most likely needs some blood work and possibly an x-ray to determine the cause of her leg swelling. I hope Bahloul feels better soon

These are neurological sign affecting most likely long nerves of legs. Marek disease (virus) is one of the most important differential to be ruled out at this stage. Isolate the chicken affected from the flock and as prevention you could use vaccination. Differentials that must be ruled out are lymphoid leukosis, botulism, deficiency of thiamine, deficiency of Ca/Phosphorus/Vitamin D. Discuss it with your local veterinarian.Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.