Baby chick not standing up

[Millie Fleur]

Hi! Im wondering if it’s normal for a baby chick to be unable to stand up soon after it has hatched. There are some things a bit weird with his hatching, he only started chipping on the 22nd day so I had to help him get out, also he is the only chick in the entire batch. I moved him today to a brooder with his foster-mum. When we put him on the ground he just kind of layed there and seemed unable to get up. Is this normal in newly-hatched chicks? Thanks

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get a video of him? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

I would give him 2-3drops Poultry Nutri-Drench twice a day. If the chick is not able to get up and move around, I think I would put it in a brooder by itself instead of with a broody hen.

 

[Millie Fleur]

Can you get a video of him? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

I would give him 2-3drops Poultry Nutri-Drench twice a day. If the chick is not able to get up and move around, I think I would put it in a brooder by itself instead of with a broody hen.

Hi, I’m sorry but I am unable to upload to yt with a link. Thanks for the advice I’ve just removed the hen as she was stepping on him and kicking him, though I did replace her with another broody who is a lot calmer I’ll send a pic

 

[Millie Fleur]

she is just sitting on him now she is a lot calmer

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, I’m sorry but I am unable to upload to yt with a link. Thanks for the advice I’ve just removed the hen as she was stepping on him and kicking him, though I did replace her with another broody who is a lot calmer I’ll send a pic

While the broody may be able to keep the chick warm, if he's not able to walk/move she will be unable to "take care" of him. The chick needs to be hydrated, once drinking, then you need to see if he can eat something. This is where you come in. It's easier to take care of a chick that is failing when you have them inside in a brooder. The hen is going to want to get up and attempt to get the chick to come to food/water - if he can't keep up, he'll get cold and possibly trampled accidentally just because hens are not that careful where they step.

 

[Mellowmalt]

they should be able to stand within a few hours, if not then it is very weak and needs high vitamin food to boost its energy. Sugar water can help too.
The fact that most didn't make it and this egg hatched late already indicates that conditions for incubating was not ideal and although this one made it he is the only one to make it where all his siblings did not. He might turn out completely healthy or he might have suffered a bad development which can lead to health problems.
A lot of times on weak chicks that won't make it they have curled toes. It can be fixed but it is already an indication that the chick has not developed as it should have.

There is also in my opinion based on my experiences a very high chance that the only survivor to hatch a bad incubation to be a male, maybe I've just been unlucky every time as it should be a 50/50 chance but I have found the females croak it sooner when conditions are not right.

 

[Millie Fleur]

she is just sitting on him now she is a lot calmer

While the broody may be able to keep the chick warm, if he's not able to walk/move she will be unable to "take care" of him. The chick needs to be hydrated, once drinking, then you need to see if he can eat something. This is where you come in. It's easier to take care of a chick that is failing when you have them inside in a brooder. The hen is going to want to get up and attempt to get the chick to come to food/water - if he can't keep up, he'll get cold and possibly trampled accidentally just because hens are not that careful where they step.

thank you for the advice! We do already have some of the nutri-drench you mentioned and we have been giving some to him as well as putting apple cider vinegar in his water bowl, we find this encourages them to drink and he has been drinking. He now has the strength to stand up but we think he still may need a bit more attention as he still can’t walk yet.

 

[Millie Fleur]

they should be able to stand within a few hours, if not then it is very weak and needs high vitamin food to boost its energy. Sugar water can help too.
The fact that most didn't make it and this egg hatched late already indicates that conditions for incubating was not ideal and although this one made it he is the only one to make it where all his siblings did not. He might turn out completely healthy or he might have suffered a bad development which can lead to health problems.
A lot of times on weak chicks that won't make it they have curled toes. It can be fixed but it is already an indication that the chick has not developed as it should have.

There is also in my opinion based on my experiences a very high chance that the only survivor to hatch a bad incubation to be a male, maybe I've just been unlucky every time as it should be a 50/50 chance but I have found the females croak it sooner when conditions are not right.

Hi! Thanks for the advice, we do think conditions for incubating may not have been right as there were two broodys on the nest, we did try to separate them but we eventually let them both sit as we didn’t think anything would hatch. We do think this chick may be ok but he is still only standing and may need some special attention. He is drinking ok with some nutri-drench and apple cider vinegar in his water. ( we are also pretty sure it’s a male )

 

[Anime2lover]

she is just sitting on him now she is a lot calmerView attachment 2647571

I'm in agreement with those above honestly. That chick should be getting more specialized care.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

she is just sitting on him now she is a lot calmer

thank you for the advice! We do already have some of the nutri-drench you mentioned and we have been giving some to him as well as putting apple cider vinegar in his water bowl, we find this encourages them to drink and he has been drinking. He now has the strength to stand up but we think he still may need a bit more attention as he still can’t walk yet.

Hi! Thanks for the advice, we do think conditions for incubating may not have been right as there were two broodys on the nest, we did try to separate them but we eventually let them both sit as we didn’t think anything would hatch. We do think this chick may be ok but he is still only standing and may need some special attention. He is drinking ok with some nutri-drench and apple cider vinegar in his water. ( we are also pretty sure it’s a male )

I would get the PND into him twice a day. Get him hydrated and offer wet chick starter.
Standing is o.k. but if with a broody hen, the chick needs to be mobile. At least take him out every hour or so and get him drinking/eating.
Mama hen is going to want to be moving very very soon.

While it seems nice to have 2 broodies on 1 nest, it usually doesn't work out very well. Next time, move a broody to her own nest and housing.