2 day old chick struggling to stand, tips to one side?

[LucyinAust]

I have a barnevelder chick that hatched nearly 48 hours ago ... it took a very long time to hatch and in the end I assisted it (I'd lost another earlier in the hatching so actually helped 5 out of 7). From when it pipped, to me getting it out of its shell was about 40 hours, it had absorbed all yolk. It is struggling to stand up, keeps rolling to one side (and the same side all the time). I've googled and it doesn't seem to be a wry neck (although it does seem to look more to one side, the neck isn't twisted), it's little legs do stick out to the side - so I'm not sure if it could be spraddle legs? ... but do those tip over all the time?

Once I put it on its legs, it is able to walk a little bit ... but then tips to the side. Sometimes when trying to walk it flicks itself onto its back. Then it's like a turtle that can't roll over.

I've syringed some honeyed water to give it a drink and mushed up some chick crumbles even smaller, which it has enthusiastically eaten.

Not sure if I should just euthanase or keep going??

We've tried to work out why the hatch was such a disaster - and the only difference with these eggs compared to others we have hatched was that these were posted and unfortunately took 2 extra days before we put them in the incubator. They had such thick membranes the little things struggled to get out (so maybe it was the eggs we received?!). They looked very odd on candling - nearly threw them all out thinking they'd died at day 18! Admittedly this is only our 4th incubating, and I've never assisted hatching before.

Hoping someone has seen this before and can please offer some advice! Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Problems with chicks after hatching is one reason I stopped hatching chicks, and let a broody hen hatch eggs. I had to euthanize a couple of chicks that would turn over backwards. I give them a 2 day window to show someimprovement. One thing though is that yours is trying to eat, so that is good. Can you go get some Poultry Cell at your feed store? Give the chick a couple of drops orally, and keep feeding the wet food. Place the chick in a padded heavy cup or small glass to let it get some balance and build up leg strength. Have you put a hobble on it’s legs for splay leg? If you post a couple of pictures of the chick in a standing position, we may be able to help more to tell if that is splay leg. Leg bone deformities and slipped tendons and foot problems are common. It might be better to try the cup first, and here is a good picture of how to apply a hobble for splay leg:

 

[LucyinAust]

Thank you so much for your reply. I've taken some photos (very had to get good shots! Cheeky thing keeps moving!). It is actually doing a HUGE amount better today. Unfortunately one of the ones I thought I'd saved, died overnight ... but this little one (that I thought wouldn't make it) is going strong. I put on the hobbles, as suggested, and that seemed to stop it tipping over so much (one leg (the right) was doing all the work).

In the photos you can see the left leg is always forward, and the left wing is hanging, and it is turned towards the left, with a head tilt.

The last photo shows it with its hatch mates - it is smaller (has not eaten as much) but isn't being picked on (I've only been letting it be with the others when supervised). It is now up and walking, started grooming itself, still very tottery on its legs and struggles to eat without falling over. I am syringing water a couple of times a day into its mouth just to make sure it has some liquid. The left wing is not hanging as much and its legs seem more even.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that the chick is doing much better, and hopefully, she will keep improving. Are you giving b vitamins? As she grows, it may be easier to see a leg bone deformity in her left leg in pictures. But hopefully, she is just getting her feet under her.