12 hour old chick not able to stand

[Misfit Farm]

I had 2 chicks hatch (out of 12 set eggs) from the incubator that my husband built. 1 of the chicks hatched late Thursday night/early Friday morning at which point the other egg was juste pipped. The second chick finally hatched all the way out at about 7:00 PM last night. The first chick is doing great but there appears to be something wrong with the second one. It is lieing on his/her side peeping and kicking it's feet like it is trying to get up. It is peeping and when you pick it up it kicks and seems strong. When placed on its feet it just tips over. It almost seems like it's neck is bent down and it can't keep it's head up.

We did have some problems with the incubator tripping the circuit breaker and found the eggs cold to the touch a number of times - I was actually surprised that anything hatched. Could this have caused probelms with the chick?

Thanks.

Jen

 

[Misfit Farm]

Oh and is there anything I can do to help this little one? IOs there any hope?

Thanks.

Jen

 

[Gagirly]

I'm having practically the same problem. My chick can hold its head up and lies on its chest but can't seem to walk. It seems to try to walk on its hocks rather than getting its feet under it. Somebody please give advice.

 

[Misfit Farm]

Gagirly - That sounds like spradle legs. If you do a search for spradle leg you can find a bunch of suggestions. I had that problem with a chick last year and made the brace out of band aids that was suggested but that chick was being raised by a hen and the hen sat on it and killed it. The problem I am having now is different. This chick can't even get up off its side.

Jen