Chick with Bowed Thigh Bones

[Weetamoo93]

My hen recently hatched 5 lovely babies, but I noticed one having mobility issues from the start. It's been 4 days and it still "flounders" behind the mom and siblings, who are doing excellent. I picked it up and realized it's thigh bones are bowed out in a "U" shape. Would malpositions in the egg cause this? Or do I need to be concerned about bad genetics?

I'm going to monitor and see how it does, but I'm not really big on special needs birds.

I'll see about going back out and getting photos to share.

 

[MysteryChicken]

My hen recently hatched 5 lovely babies, but I noticed one having mobility issues from the start. It's been 4 days and it still "flounders" behind the mom and siblings, who are doing excellent. I picked it up and realized it's thigh bones are bowed out in a "U" shape. Would malpositions in the egg cause this? Or do I need to be concerned about bad genetics?

I'm going to monitor and see how it does, but I'm not really big on special needs birds.

I'll see about going back out and getting photos to share.

Sounds like rickets.

 

[Weetamoo93]

Sounds like rickets.

That was my thought. Didn't know chicks could get rickets.

But I've hatched 18 so far this year, all under broodies, and none of the others have had issues.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That was my thought. Didn't know chicks could get rickets.

But I've hatched 18 so far this year, all under broodies, and none of the others have had issues.

It more common in fast growing Cornish breeds.
I'm not totally sure it can be corrected, but it's linked to calcium deficiency. So the hen may have been deficient, & passed it to this chick.