3 day chick weak with limp wings

[Hoppelchen]

One of my chicks was not in a good shape this morning and getting run over by the others, so I've put him back into the incubator at 35C and 60% humidity so he has a bit of peace.

He's not produced feces yet (he ate a little and drank a sip, but not much at all) in the past hour, and he is just lying there quietly with both his wings hanging down limply. He does protest a bit when you pick him up, so there is a little spirit in him. He was one of the later hatches it seems, as he is considerably smaller than the others.

What, if anything should I do?

 

[JJMR794]

You Can Try Supplimenting His Water With Vitamins, But I'm Affraid He Likely Wont Make It Despite Your Best Efforts... Its Just A Chick Thing... The Weaker Ones Go First If You Know What I Mean?

 

[Hoppelchen]

Many thanks JJ,

he is still around and looking at him, he looks somewhat flat-frog shaped when you look how his leg and foot are placed:

Could he just be splayed and in need of a splint? I don't want to inflict it if this isn't the case. He does not appear to be suffering, just that he doesn't get his butt off the ground.

 

[pringle]

Well as long as he doesnt look in pain then you can keep him but once you start noticing him in pain I would cull him.Just make sure you dont use him for breeding later on..

 

[Whitehouse Quail]

Quote:
I don't know about this one. I cull mine straight away so they aren't trampled, but that's just me. If it has unfixable splay leg, deformities, or any other thing that looks detrimental, I cull just because it is most humane to the chick, rather than be hungry/thirsty for all two days of it's life then die because it can't get out from under a pileup, or gets trampled.

But that's just me.

 

[Omniskies]

Try a little honey and vitamins mixed in his water. Honey is a natural energy booster, which may give him enough of a jolt to eat more and keep his strength up.

Unfortunately when they start out weak it's never a good sign. Odds are he won't make it, but you can always give him a fighting chance. Against my better judgement I always do. Every once in a while it pays off.

 

[Hoppelchen]

Many thanks again to everyone for helping me to make an informed decision.

I've decided put him to sleep in the end, I just didn't want to be too hasty -- my curled toe chick was tough enough to survive (and feet are straight now after treatment, yay!) so, it's not so easy to know what to do!

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
VERY GOOD ADVICE. IF HE'S SPLAY LEGGED AT 3 DAYS OLD ITS TOO LATE TO FIX. THE JOINTS ARE ONLY FLEXIBLE FOR 48-72 HRS OR SO. IF HE'S 3 DAYS OLD THEY ARE ALREADY SET