One of my chicks can't seem to move one of its legs below the thigh. When it moves, it lands on the hock with the foot pretty much sticking up. It just hatched this morning, so I'm leaving it in the incubator for now and trying to move the other chicks out as soon as they're dry and able to hold their own in the brooder to reduce the times he gets stepped on and/or pecked at. This is my first hatch, so I have no clue what to do besides hope that he gains enough strength to stay out of the way of the more vigorous chicks.
UPDATE:
Things have gotten worse for the little guy. I had to put him in the brooder without any protection for an hour or so and all the moving around caused open wounds to develop on both hocks, though the one on his bad leg is by far the worst. I've got him back in the brooder, this time in a small bowl, inside a larger bowl that the others won't be climbing over. I've tried to give him some water with a medicine dropper. He drank a little but not much. Getting him to eat may be harder, but at least he's still living on his yolk. We'll see how he's doing in the morning.
UPDATE 12/20:
While I was online last night posting the previous update, he died.
UPDATE:
Things have gotten worse for the little guy. I had to put him in the brooder without any protection for an hour or so and all the moving around caused open wounds to develop on both hocks, though the one on his bad leg is by far the worst. I've got him back in the brooder, this time in a small bowl, inside a larger bowl that the others won't be climbing over. I've tried to give him some water with a medicine dropper. He drank a little but not much. Getting him to eat may be harder, but at least he's still living on his yolk. We'll see how he's doing in the morning.
UPDATE 12/20:
While I was online last night posting the previous update, he died.
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