Chick with weak legs and soft feet. Not walking much.

[LaynaDon95]

I had a horrible hatch yesterday. They were supposed to have hatched Saturday and nobody even tried until Saturday afternoon. By the time I got up yesterday he hadn't made any progress. By last night 1 out of 5 eggs had hatched on her own and I had helped one out. (The one who was having a hard time.) I wouldn't have helped, but if (s)he had died, the hatched guy (Thor) wouldn't have had a friend. So, when he was almost out of the egg, I noticed his feet and legs were really soft and he hadn't absorbed all of his yolk. I felt horrible. I got a tip from an old thread online and wrapped him up in a warm, wet paper towel and plastic wrap. By 3:00 he had absorbed his yolk and was able to fully hatch. He is now in the brooder with Thor but he peeps constantly and LOUDLY. His legs and feet are still really soft and he has a hard time walking. I guess he didn't develop properly or fully or both. I've mixed some electrolytes/vitamins, vitamin E, banana and softened chick feed to dropper feed him, so that I can ensure he gets enough nutrients. Should I be making him walk to build up strength? I have bone meal I could feed him. I read that that could be bad for chicks and cause problems, but is this an exception? He can walk, but doesn't if he can help it. In every other way he seems okay. He's really cute and full of life. I would hate to lose him if there was something I could do to prevent it.

I've nicknamed him Loki. He's very opinionated, as you can see. Let me know if I should move this to "Raising Chicks" I've posted a couple of things there recently and gotten almost no response, so I thought I'd try here first.

 

[3LilBirds]

I really hope someone can give you advise! BUMP (That chick sure is super cute!)

 

[LaynaDon95]

Thanks. I like him.

 

[HenFriend]

Maybe you could use splints on its legs? Had a chick with twisted toes once that couldn't walk very well. Someone told me how to set the toes. You cut a circle of card, we used a beer mat, then spread the toes to correct position and taped to card, like a pair of flippers. The chick was up and running with the others very soon. Just replace the flippers often, the tape falls off after a while or you can soak it. Once the bones had hardened we removed the flippers and she was fine.

Good luck, your chick is really cute.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Well, his toes are a little curled. I tried taping them, but he had a hard time walking and I found him stuck, with his head between the wall of the brooder and the feeder. If I hadn't found him he would have suffocated, and it was because he couldn't get out with his feet taped. I have taped a 3 chicks before and been successful each time, so I know how to do it, His legs are just too weak for the extra weight of the tape, I guess. Mostly I'm just concerned about how soft his legs and feet are. I don't know how else to describe it, other than they feel like they didn't fully form. His scales aren't as prominent as Thor's, or any other chick I've hatched. (which add up between 40-60) He's just soft. It's weird. I don't have any idea what is is. I know chicks' bones don't harden until about a week after hatching, so I'm keeping up hope for him.

 

[AmyLM]

are the bones in his legs themselves soft? or is it soft tissue that is soft? If its the bones its likely that he has other issues as well. If its just loose connective tissues they should tighten up fairly quickly. If its bones... it probably wont end well

 

[madi99]

keep us posted on how he's doing! i'm rooting for the little guy

 

[LaynaDon95]

This is how he was standing this morning. He still stands on his hocks some, and more so as the day goes on and he gets tired. Still, I'm glad his strength is picking up.

 

[3LilBirds]

Oh that's wonderful news! I hope the baby keeps improving!

 

[madi99]

yay! he looks great! he's improved so much already