2 day old chick scratching it’s head/face and falling backward!

[EsqChick]

I just picked up my 4 baby chicks today. I’ve handled them a few times and they seemed fine. I just went to check on them before putting my human kids to bed and as I was closing the door to the room with their brooder, I heard one of them chirping like crazy and freaking out. So I ran back and found the chick on her back, kicking and flailing about. I thought she just fell over or something so I put her back up right. A few seconds later she started kicking/scratching at her face near her eye and fell back again. So I’m seriouy worried and picked her up and held her for a bit and she was fine. I didn’t see anything on her face or in her eye. I was getting ready to put her back with the other chicks and she did the same thing again. When I finally put her back in she seemed fine and hopped back with the other chicks. I haven’t checked on her for about 10 minutes, but I’m freaking out. Does anyone have any idea what’s happening? Should I be worried?

 

[chickencheeper]

I just picked up my 4 baby chicks today. I’ve handled them a few times and they seemed fine. I just went to check on them before putting my human kids to bed and as I was closing the door to the room with their brooder, I heard one of them chirping like crazy and freaking out. So I ran back and found the chick on her back, kicking and flailing about. I thought she just fell over or something so I put her back up right. A few seconds later she started kicking/scratching at her face near her eye and fell back again. So I’m seriouy worried and picked her up and held her for a bit and she was fine. I didn’t see anything on her face or in her eye. I was getting ready to put her back with the other chicks and she did the same thing again. When I finally put her back in she seemed fine and hopped back with the other chicks. I haven’t checked on her for about 10 minutes, but I’m freaking out. Does anyone have any idea what’s happening? Should I be worried?

Can you post a pic of her eye? Sometimes chicks are just unsteady on their feet and they do scratch their eyes quite often but older hens usually just rub them on the ground

 

[ChickNanny13]

What are you using for the flooring? If shavings it could have got some dust in it's eye, scratched & lost it's balance. I used to use shavings but now us unscented (dog) potty paper. Assuming your chicks are about a week old at the most, they're pretty unsteady on their feet yet.

 

[EsqChick]

Can you post a pic of her eye? Sometimes chicks are just unsteady on their feet and they do scratch their eyes quite often but older hens usually just rub them on the ground

She’s s Black australorp so kinda hard to see in the pictures. But my husband and I took her out and examined her head to toe. She’s a little peppier, but she did the scratch/fall over/struggle thing again (though she was able to get back up this time). I don’t see a thing in her eyes or on her head. I did find this old thread which describes Charlotte’s issue EXACTLY.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/young-chick-scratching-at-her-head.633416/

Based on that we used warm water and wiped her head, paying special attention to the area around her eyes. We found a few flakes of the bed shavings in her down, so hopefully that was what was bugging her? We blow dried her and put her to bed with her sisters. Fingers crossed she’s ok tomorrow.

 

[EsqChick]

What are you using for the flooring? If shavings it could have got some dust in it's eye, scratched & lost it's balance. I used to use shavings but now us unscented (dog) potty paper. Assuming your chicks are about a week old at the most, they're pretty unsteady on their feet yet.

We are using shavings! Argh! Maybe I should clean it out and swap it tomorrow? The chicks are 3days I believe - they were delivered to the shop where we picked them up Thursday (so I’m assuming they hatched Tuesday or Wednesday?).

 

[chickencheeper]

We are using shavings! Argh! Maybe I should clean it out and swap it tomorrow? The chicks are 3days I believe - they were delivered to the shop where we picked them up Thursday (so I’m assuming they hatched Tuesday or Wednesday?).

Hay worked well for me, just make sure you get the packaged kind until they go outside and you can use the normal stuff in the run

 

[chickens really]

Your worrying about nothing..Use the shavings it's totally safe. It possibly had something stuck in its beak and they scratch and panic when small. I'm sure everything will be A okay.

 

[ChxLadyCass]

Hey all! I wanted to piggyback off of this post, as I have a wobbly chick. This is my first year hatching and I am all nervous about their flooring as I transfer them out of the incubator. is it OK for a chick to be hunkered down, and wobbling around and it's first day? Is that normal? Thank you so much!

 

[aart]

is it OK for a chick to be hunkered down, and wobbling around and it's first day? Is that normal? Thank you so much!

How many hours since it hatched?
Usually wait until it's dry and got it's feet under it to move to brooder

 

[ChxLadyCass]

How many hours since it hatched?
Usually wait until it's dry and got it's feet under it to move to brooder

I think 12-24 hours. It is all dry now. It isn't staying under the MHP though. It's a new sunbeam heating pad I have on low and it's hatchmate is fine under there. I don't know why this little one has me all paranoid!