3 chicks with problems, what's up and what can I do?

[Haviris]

I hatched 3 chicks, and all seem to be having problems. First one, I call this one Soap, she's actually doing fairly well except for a problem with one of her legs, I am going to post a pic, but I'm not sure you'll be able to see what's up so I will describe it. One leg seems perminately fussed in a bent possition. So what can I do?

This next one I call Forrest, I have no idea what is up with this one, but the pics should pretty much explain it. Basically it won't stop looking up, until it falls over backwards, I am constantly having to flip it back over.

And the last one, I had to assist this one, it was upside down in the egg. First problem one of it's legs sticks out behind it, and it can seem to pull it up under it. I'm figuring this could be becuase of it's possition in the egg, but what can I do for it now? The other problem is the feathers on it's back, any idea what's up with that? I'm not sure how well you can see in these pics, but it looks like their singed! I know that's not what it is, but what is it?
Anyway first pic is the leg,

And his back,

 

[fallenweeble]

yikes!
i don't know what to tell you. i hope someone with some experience comes along shortly to give some advice.
hang in there!

 

[hcammack]

My personal Decison would be to euthanize them but other people treat for this kindoff stuff and juding from them already having names you would want to treat them.
Hope you get someone too help you
Henry

 

[silkiechicken]

Hmm, well, don't know what to do about the first one as the leg is bent in and it's not quite splayed leg. Almost like it is a slipped tendon... but since you say it was from hatch.. don't think that's quite it. If it can eat and drink, it may be able to just grow up on one leg.

Second one is a neural problem, if you can get it to eat, vitamin supplements in water may be able to clear it up. There are more specifics to this but I don't remember them. A search for "crooked neck" or "bent neck" might gather some results. It is very common in silkies and other birds with vaulted skulls. (They are prone to brain injuries)

Third the feathers on the back are just probably sticky, as for the leg on that one, if you can get it to line up with the other leg, treat as if "splayed legs." Basically use a bandaid and lightly tape the legs together in a "natrual position" and spacing and see if it can learn to use the muscles.

Leg problems are often due to incubation problems, but since you have three like that, and one seems to have a neural problem, I am leaning towards that the breeders had a nutritional defficiency or are still not strong enough after a harsh winter to put all the required nutrients into eggs to hatch chicks from. If these are from your birds, might want to look into giving the breeders vitamins and a higher protein feed supplement to boost their systems.

Personally, I would euthanize them, but, if these were your only three, and have the heart/time to try to treat them, AND are willing to put them down if they do not improve after a week of care, you can try to treat.

And, I am moving this to "emergiencies" for more views on how you can help, since the window for help is rather short for chicks if they can't do chick things like eat and drink well.

 

[sammi]

I agree with Silkiechicken.
could be genetic.
could have been the incubation wasn't right..(wrong humidity, or wrong temp)
problems while in the egg or during hatching.

the flip over chick needs vitamins..asap.
this one might be able to be saved IF you can get it to drink.
give vitamin drops on beak if possible.
and keep warm at proper temp.

the "fused" legged chick..could be in the hip..or a tendon problem.
sometimes it can be popped back in..
the "singed" back chick...also looks like hip joints.
(it doesn't always work out well for chicks that have to be helped to hatch)

I'm kind of new here and haven't seen all the boards or info..but I can send you a pm for a web site for someone who especially deals with these things, if you're interested.

can the poor things even eat or drink?

if you choose to euthanize..might not be a bad decision.

 

[Haviris]

I would prefer to try and treat them, I can always euth later and as long as they aren't suffering. These are the only three (one egg left, but I don't expect it to hatch). This is the first time I've had so much trouble, in fact until now I had one guinea keet with messed up legs (it didn't make it), but other then that I haven't lost any that I've hatched. I had two others hatch, one had it's innereds on the outside (and died, obviously), the other came out of the shell and died.

What types of vitimins do I need for the neural one?

For the one with the fused leg, should I try to force it straight? Or would I do more harm then good?

As for them being able to eat and drink, the first one (w/ the fused leg) hatched yesterday and is doing fine other then the leg, eating and drinking no prob. The other two hatched today, the one with the neural problem hatched this morning, I've dipped it's beak into the water a few times, but not sure it's eating yet. The other one has only been out of the incubator for a few hours, not sure how it will do yet, but I'm going to treat it for splayed leg and hopefully that will help.

And Sammi, please do send me the website, I can take all the help I can get at this point.

I know it's possible it's an incubator problem, I've had alot of trouble with this one, and I'm thinking it's going to retire after this.

And thank you everyone for all the help! I really appriciate it!

 

[sammi]

you could use chick vitamins..but for the neural chick..maybe some of those Polyvisol baby vitamins..
also check that crook neck information that was mentioned by another poster.
I will pm you the address.