Background: we gave 4 chicks to my sister's broody hen and pulled the 4 eggs she had been sitting on. One was an early quitter, another showed no development at day 13 when we transferred the eggs. I hatched the two remaining eggs in my makeshift incubator. One hatched day 20. The other pipped day 22 (yesterday) and hatched this morning.
I suspected something was wrong because only 1/4 zipped after 12 hours, so I helped a little with the zip. She pushed the cap but seemed unable to push hard enough. An hour later, she was out, with part of the yolk still unabsorbed. Two hours after that, she still isn't standing and appears to have only one leg moving easily. She's trying to stand, but always flops toward her weak leg.
Any ideas, suggestions? Prognosis? I suspect there are other problems.
I suspected something was wrong because only 1/4 zipped after 12 hours, so I helped a little with the zip. She pushed the cap but seemed unable to push hard enough. An hour later, she was out, with part of the yolk still unabsorbed. Two hours after that, she still isn't standing and appears to have only one leg moving easily. She's trying to stand, but always flops toward her weak leg.
Any ideas, suggestions? Prognosis? I suspect there are other problems.
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