I assisted the hatch of a Welsummer chick who hadn't made progress other than a large hole and who had begun drying in the shell. I am 100% confident without intervention this chick would not have survived. I didn't know the reason for it's inability to turn itself and zip without help but upon drying in the brooder it's very clear that it was because it doesn't use it's left leg.
The chick CAN move the leg (when I turn him upside down, he kicks it out), but doesn't appear to want to. The toes stay curled under as if the leg is unusable almost all of the time. The chick stays laying down the majority of the time and when it wants to move it shuffles itself by kicking its strong leg and flapping its little wings.
I'm curious if anyone has ideas on how to treat or support this chick. I suspect it won't make it, but is there a point where I should just put it out of its misery? Has anyone had a chick with a bum leg successfully make it to adulthood?
The chick CAN move the leg (when I turn him upside down, he kicks it out), but doesn't appear to want to. The toes stay curled under as if the leg is unusable almost all of the time. The chick stays laying down the majority of the time and when it wants to move it shuffles itself by kicking its strong leg and flapping its little wings.
I'm curious if anyone has ideas on how to treat or support this chick. I suspect it won't make it, but is there a point where I should just put it out of its misery? Has anyone had a chick with a bum leg successfully make it to adulthood?