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What is wrong with my baby chicks ?

3 weeks ago we purchaced 24 mixed breed baby chicks. 6 of them are rhode island reds. 5 of the 6 are acting weird. they walk a few steps and then lay down or fall down. they seem to be lethargic and dizzy. even when they are laying down they want to fall over. very strange. the other 20 chicks are fine. it is only the rhode island reds. any ideas ???

Public Comments

1. take them to the vet!!!
2. I happen to know someone who had chicks that did this. They probably wont make it, but they might. Just keep an eye on them.
3. Did you purchase your chicks from a hatchery or breeder who vaccinates? It could be Merck's Disease, which most commercial hatcheries do vaccinate against. Were your chicks like this from the start, or did this develop over the last week or so? If they weren't the strongest chicks, they could have been a bad hatch, been subjected to temperature changes that weakened their immune systems, or had their health otherwise compromised by stress. Put some electrlyte solutuion in their water, or mix a little sugar and some terrimyacin (broad spectrum antibiotic) into their waterer. If this doesn't help, they might just be sickly or weak chicks. When you're dealing with chicks, there's always a mortality rate, and some chicks are a little more fragile than others. For the remainder of your chicks, make sure you regulate their temperature in their brood pen, always provide plenty of fresh water and feed a good quality chick starter formula. Good luck, and I hope this helps.
4. take them to the vets
5. NO! They are perfectly fine!!!! if they are still chicks then they are fine, some chicks when still young do wable and fall and such. this is natrual becuase at that age the chicks don't have thier center of balance yet, and it causes them to walk somwhat wobbley. the other chicks may be older, or more mature, and they have their center of balance, this is perfectly natrual and nothing to worry about! the chicks will deffinetly be fine. Good Luck!!!
6. It sounds like they are very ill, they may not make it unless you find an poultry vet immediately. Three-week old chicks should be walking fine by now. I wish I could help more, but it's hard to tell exactly what's wrong until a person can actually see the chicks and examine them. Any other symptoms? Pasty butts, mucousy nose, labored breathing, swellings/sores? Until you can get a vet's advice, seperate the sick ones immediately, and put them in a warm quiet place with plenty of water and food. Make sure all the pens or brooders you are keeping them in are clean and disinfected. It might be contagious and you dont want it spreading to your other chicks.