hi this is my first time on this i have been losing young chics for about 3 weeks now. They stager around like they are drunk then the next day dead no sneeking (sneezing) a little loss of appertite. i have had them on meds for 4days but i am worried i have never had any problem before help!
Help Flagpole sick chicks (new member)
It might be AE. Where did you get them?
Has McMurray cleaned up their hatchery yet?
I'm sorry this is happening i wish i could help is there anymore symptoms than these?
The Staggering and acting Drunk and a little appetite loss sounds like the symptoms of Poisoning.
Possibly epidemic tremor or encephalomalacia, according to Damerow's book, since both those can cause problems with staggering in chicks.
Is there anything in there that flagpole can treat that with. I sure hope they come back. It sounds serious. I am going to look it up too. Thanks! This is educational as well as helpful.
Flagpole - can you tell us more about their setting - any chance they got into any kind of poison? Are they with a momma hen? Temperature? Any problem signs in their poo, i.e. blood or anything? How many chicks do you have and in what size of space? How is the ventilation?
Claire whats the encephalomalacia i don't have my book handy?
There was a terrible outbreak of AE last year spread by chicks from Murray McMurray. It is egg borne, but the symptoms don't show for a few weeks after hatching. The chicks are unsteady and eventually unable to move. Those that survive, never thrive. It can be spread from infected chicks,. The symptoms are mild in adults--however chicks from their eggs can be affected. Once they have had the disease they are immune and are not supposed to be carriers--although some debate that. Here is a link. If the DG search engine was up you could find all the past discussions.
http://www.worldpoultry.net/health-diseases/a/avian-encephalomyelitis-ae-epidemic-tremor-10.html
This message was edited Dec 9, 2008 4:55 PM
Harmony - also called crazy chick disease. Neurological. Starts with sudden loss of balance, flapping wings, falling over, circling, moving head from side to side. I think that could be interpreted as drunken chick symptoms! Vitamin E/selenium deficiency believed to be the cause, but you have to treat early before brain damage sets in.
Now i know Crazy Chick yes that can cause all of those. I wish they would return and give us more details.
Avian encephalomyelitis (AE)/Epidemic Tremor is different from Crazy Chick in that is is viral rather than nutritional--but the symptoms are similar.
Ouch! Is there a county extension service? Usually that kind of thing can be investigated...
Viral instead of nutritional i will have to bookmark this page i know someone who may be interested in this info.
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