Quail chick’s feet up near its head

[MoxxyMay]

Hey guys,
I’ve just had two baby quail hatch at day 16. The first one (Captain) seemed to be okay walking around at first but then I noticed her feet were turned in and she seemed to be hobbling. I’ve tried taping her feet in the proper position but they still rotate inwards and cause her trouble walking. She mostly sort of crawls around though she seems decently mobile. When her feet rotate in they end up near her head and it’s almost like she can’t get them back under her. I’ve looked at pictures of spraddling but I don’t thinking it’s that cause her legs don’t go far out, they’re just right up against her body. The second chick (Bert) seems to be standing fine but occasionally I see her with her leg bent like Captain. Does anyone have any suggestions for how I can help Captain?? The incubator floor and brooder floor are both covered in paper towel. (Captain is in the brooder)
Thank you!

edit: photos
In the overhead shot you can see her feet are about as wide as her little wings, and I think her legs may have gotten wider since I taped her feet.

Also it’s the top of her foot you can see caught behind her wing and it happens often when she tries to walk. She’s very flat and can’t stand up tall on her legs the way Bert has been doing.

(Bert is resting in incubator still so photos have been more difficult)

 

[QuailTail]

Taking photos will help, someone will inevitably ask you for them so if you can get some of both chicks that would give people a better idea of how to advise

 

[FloorCandy]

How old are they now? I’ve had some with legs that turn in, usually with curled feet as well. Sometimes this corrects itself on its own as they get stronger. If they’re more than 24 hours old, and still hobbling on the sides of their legs, you can try taping their feet to the floor. I find the act of standing up tall and alarm calling is a good fix for weak legs, so tape it’s feet down and let it cry for company for a few hours.

 

[MoxxyMay]

How old are they now? I’ve had some with legs that turn in, usually with curled feet as well. Sometimes this corrects itself on its own as they get stronger. If they’re more than 24 hours old, and still hobbling on the sides of their legs, you can try taping their feet to the floor. I find the act of standing up tall and alarm calling is a good fix for weak legs, so tape it’s feet down and let it cry for company for a few hours.

thank you for your reply!

Tomorrow morning Captain will be just over 24 hours so yeah I’ll try taping her feet down tomorrow. I really hope that works!

I took the take and hobble off her and put her back in the incubator overnight because I thought maybe I’d taken her out too early and done more harm than good putting these big things on her feet that made it easier for them to get stuck.

Do you think it would be better to tape her feet down in the incubator or brooder?
Thanks!

 

[FloorCandy]

thank you for your reply!

Tomorrow morning Captain will be just over 24 hours so yeah I’ll try taping her feet down tomorrow. I really hope that works!

I took the take and hobble off her and put her back in the incubator overnight because I thought maybe I’d taken her out too early and done more harm than good putting these big things on her feet that made it easier for them to get stuck.

Do you think it would be better to tape her feet down in the incubator or brooder?
Thanks!

Either way, but just make sure it’s alone, and make a pile of feed in front of it, and offer water every couple hours.

 

[MoxxyMay]

I put her like that for a while but she still doesn’t extend her legs properly and her lower legs seem almost rotated inwards.

she’s walking on her elbows with her feet in the air so her leg looks like an arrow.

I can’t find a vet with an avian specialist on the weekend and I don’t know what to do

 

[FloorCandy]

Try holding the hock (knee) between your thumb and index finger and roll it gently like you would roll a pencil between your fingers, if the tendon has slipped you will feel it snap into place.

 

[MoxxyMay]

Try holding the hock (knee) between your thumb and index finger and roll it gently like you would roll a pencil between your fingers, if the tendon has slipped you will feel it snap into place.

I’m not sure I can feel it at all? Her joints are pretty swollen and a bit bloody