Chick hatched very late and toes/feet are curled up

[micmse]

I am a classroom teacher and have been hatching for 6 years. Today my teammate and I went in to clean out the incubators to find a chick peeping! The eggs had finished hatching by Wed. and we didn't hear this little one over the cheeps of all the others. I very slowly and carefully freed him from his shell as he was supper glued in there. It has drunk some water and it sitting up on its own. The problem is it feet. They are all curled up, I guess from being in that position too long, and can't really walk.

I was going to try and clean more stuff off him to see if that helps or should I contact a local vet and take it in to make sure its feet are ok?

Thanks,
Stephanie

 

[TwoCrows]

These things happen sometimes with hatched chicks. I have found that chicks that are perky and moving around, even if they have curled toes will eventually fix themselves. The feet and toes are a bit weak, but usually they do heal up as long as the chick itself seems healthy.

Good luck with your baby!