Chicks walking in backs of their knees???????????

[NancyinAlaska]

I just hatched a bunch of sex-linked eggs, these are the ones I forgot to turn the turner on for a week.
ANYWAY........... some of the blacks 4 of them are walking on the backs of their knees, sitting on their butts when they walk and are getting sores at the leg joint, I guess from the weight being on it. It's not that the legs won't extend, they will. Healthy chicks are pecking at their feet. It's pretty strange looking and I don't expect them to live, I can't cull..................
The hatch was a good one, only 3 eggs didn't hatch. I start chicks with vitamins and minerals and medicated chick starter.
Has anybody ever had this happen know what it is or know why?? THANKS!!

 

[bantybev]

Have you looked up achilles tendon problems? It sounds like that may be your problem. I'm by no means an expert, but kinda sounds like what I was reading about chick leg problems the other day.
You might find something of interest on this site:
http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/problems/

Sorry I can't be of any more help. Hopefully someone with more experiance will chime in .

 

[redrocketrooster]

Photos? Because I am having a hard time seeing this...Maybe use Popsicle stick to force them up?

 

[bantybev]

Here's another post about leg problems that might help:

http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces