Chick with Splayed Legs and Possible Deformities

[Athenaeum]

I have a less than day old chick that hatched last night. The issue is that they have splayed legs, a possible deformity on both the stomach (which I am hoping is just leftover egg) and on the back of the metatarsus/knee, and may not have drank anything yet.

The chick, also known as Scooter, is a mix between our Easter Egger, Artie, and our White Leghorn rooster, Mr. Snowflake. They had, after hatching, been stuck on their back for a bit, which is what we suspect caused the splayed legs.

We are attempting the Cup Method to try to correct it.

If anyone has help, suggestions, or even well-wishes, that'd be appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you start them on Poultry Cell 2-3 drops daily or give them 1/4 tablet daily of human super b complex vitamins crushed into a tsp of water? The cups look too big. I would let them spend time in the brooder most of the day, and you can stand them up (for short periods) in a shot glass or small wine glass, but they need to be standing and supported. Are their toes curled under?

 

[Athenaeum]

Can you start them on Poultry Cell 2-3 drops daily or give them 1/4 tablet daily of human super b complex vitamins crushed into a tsp of water? The cups look too big. I would let them spend time in the brooder most of the day, and you can stand them up (for short periods) in a shot glass or small wine glass, but they need to be standing and supported. Are their toes curled under?

I don't know if we have the human vitamins, but I'll check. The toes are curled under, and I'll work with my husband to find a smaller cup. The thing he had read had said to not make it too small, so we went with that for this time. We did have them in the brooder pretty much all day, minus this bit of time.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can tape the toes flat on the bottom and top in a normal position for a few days, retaping them each day. A chicken sling would be good as well. Here is a link for many examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
Here is a good article on how to tape toes when curled under:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/...L15SpYSJtfCEB6MMRDvPB2zMTuzM34CGpym7f7UYIGAer

 

[Athenaeum]

You can tape the toes flat on the bottom and top in a normal position for a few days, retaping them each day. A chicken sling would be good as well. Here is a link for many examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
Here is a good article on how to tape toes when curled under:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/...L15SpYSJtfCEB6MMRDvPB2zMTuzM34CGpym7f7UYIGAer

Thank you so much! I will admit, I should have just searched the forum, but I'm half a brain cell short and four peeps away from a tiny panic, so my research skills have... decreased.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you so much! I will admit, I should have just searched the forum, but I'm half a brain cell short and four peeps away from a tiny panic, so my research skills have... decreased.

That's totally understandable. When trying to help an ill chick, time is of the essence so it's better just to ask and let someone who knows answer and find you the threads you need.

If it's any comfort at all, I hatch several dozen silkie chicks each week, and every now and then I'll run into one similar to yours. It's got the best chances because you're helping it this soon. It'll wind up being okay.

 

[Athenaeum]

That's totally understandable. When trying to help an ill chick, time is of the essence so it's better just to ask and let someone who knows answer and find you the threads you need.

If it's any comfort at all, I hatch several dozen silkie chicks each week, and every now and then I'll run into one similar to yours. It's got the best chances because you're helping it this soon. It'll wind up being okay.

It does help, honestly. I have turkeys I'm hatching for my husband's aunt (egg-sitting, basically, along with chick-sitting her chicks), so now I'm flustered thinking about how that could go wrong, too.

 

[Debbie292d]

Just in case you didn't know, we have an Incubating and Hatching Eggs forum should you have any questions, but I'm sure you're doing fine!

I don't know how long after they hatch you'll be babysitting the turkeys, but here's our Turkey forum. Should you have any questions about them, you could post there and turkey people would help you.