If your baby bird is doing anything out of the ordinary then you’d naturally start to become concerned, especially if the bird isn’t walking and isn’t opening its eyes.
This article explores why your baby bird may be doing this.
Table of Contents
Baby chick won’t walk or open eyes:
A change in how your baby bird acts usually means that there is something going on with the bird and that you should keep a close eye on the chick’s health.
Here is why your baby chick won’t walk or open its eyes
Lethargy after hatching:
Most baby birds will hatch out of their shells and start walking around and opening their eyes quite quickly after hatching, however, this isn’t always the case
In some cases, your bird may be too tired from hatching out of its shell and will not walk around right away, the chick may not even move until it has gained some energy after hatching.
What to do:
If the bird doesn’t seem to have enough energy to come out of its shell, then you can help the bird out by giving it some sugar water to drink.
Having the bird drink some sugar water is a quick and easy way to give the bird an energy boost and this will help the bird open its eyes and start walking around.
Vitamin A deficiency:
A vitamin A deficiency can also be the reason why your bird isn’t able to walk or open its eyes.
Birds who lack enough vitamin A in their diet may be emaciated and weak, too weak to walk.
This deficiency can also cause birds to develop eye issues such as dry eyes, discharge coming from the eyes, and structural damage to the eye causing the bird to want to keep its eyes closed
What to do:
It is recommended that you take your bird to the vet to determine if the bird actually has a vitamin A deficiency.
If your bird does have a vitamin A deficiency then supplement vitamin A into the bird’s diet in the form of foods as well as vitamin supplements.
Foods rich in vitamin A include broccoli, peppermint, swiss chard, pumpkin, dandelion, kale, coriander, and cantaloupe.
Infection:
An infection can cause your bird to keep its eyes closed and to feel weak, too weak to walk.
If your chick has an infection of the eye then the bird’s eye area may start to look swollen and irritated keeping the bird from opening its eyes.
Lethargy is another infection symptom and this may be why your bird is not walking.
What to do:
Infections are best dealt with by your vet, if it is found that your bird does have an infection your chick will be prescribed antibiotics by the vet.
Parasites:
Parasites can also cause irritation in your chick’s eye area which can make opening the eye difficult.
Birds can become infected with mites or lice and the effects can be more pronounced if the bird is younger, ie: a young chick.
In addition, the parasites will take nutrients away from your chick’s body leaving your bird weak, weak to the point where it can’t walk.
What to do:
Examine your bird and its environment and check for parasites, you can alternatively take your bird to the vet to be examined for parasites.
If it is found that your bird does have parasites then you or your vet can treat the bird using a permethrin-based poultry dust.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other bird related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Baby Chick Wants To Be Held All The Time, Baby Chick Looks Wet, White Spots On Cockatiel Beak, Baby Chick Screaming, Baby Chick Distress Call, Chicken Stuck On Back, Red Rash On Chickens Skin, Chickens With Red Skin, Baby Chick Laying Down With Wing Out,