chick has legs pushed to the front

[corrae]

I have a 24 hour old chick who hatched in the incubator. It is relatively bright and lively, but its legs are pushing out in front--it is sitting upright on its bottom and hocks. I've read about spraddle leg--is this the same thing? I have it in the brooder on shavings, but am considering removing the shavings in favor of the rubbermaid shelf liner. Any suggestions???? Please help--I'm very concerned about this little guy and want to do all I can to help it!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

do you have any pics? What kind of flooring is in your incubator/brooder?

 

[corrae]

Thanks for responding...

I've got pix, which I'm uploading here. I've put rubbermaid shelf liner on top of the shavings in the brooder, and I'm thinking that he's just weak because he had such a rough time hatching yesterday--it seemed to take a long long time for him to hatch from the first pip. he is bright and alert, though sleeping a lot, and he's drunk a bit of sugar water.

 

[corrae]

I'm sorry, getting the images to upload and then trying to post them here has been challenging.

Here's what I've got:

I don't know how to make the image appear....obviously I'm technically verrrrrrrry backward.

 

[corrae]

and, finally, here's another pix:

 

[patyrdz]

I had a little Favorelle like that! He was a little weak so I hobbled his feet like he was spraddle legged, and in just a couple of hours he was up and around! He may just need a little help! Good luck!

 

[corrae]

Thanks, Patty. Should I hobble him, do you think, or give him some more time to rest and regroup. And of course, I am leaving tomorrow before dawn to visit my folks 2000 miles away. Mom said to bring him with--If I could sneak him on the flight (s) with me, I would. DH is NOT going to like this.....;

 

[JanieMarie]

Check for a slipped tendon on the back of the hock joint. Here's a link with hopefullLey some helpful info in it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=136083
Good Luck

 

[robin416]

Yeh, that's a typical slipped tendon position. The sooner you deal with this the better chance the tendon has for staying in position.