Day Old Assisted Hatch Chick...need some advice...still wobbly...systemic or structural?

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay...I ended up assisted hatching this little chick as it was "shrink wrapped" and part of an expensive (to me) batch of shipped eggs of a breed I cannot get locally (Buckeyes). I pulled it out from my broody after it had been "stuck" in the same hatching position for over 12 hours with no progress, and mom was beginning to move on to caring for the other siblings.

This little guy was about 1/3 to 1/2 exposed in the shell, chirping madly, but not furthering even though the beak had pierced the membrane...things were so dry and it had been laboring long enough that I assisted hatched....all blood vessels and yolk sac had been fully absorbed.

Assisted hatching appeared to go well...it had a short, undried umbilical cord stump which I treated with Chlorhexiderm...but again the yolk sac was fully absorbed and the abdomen appeared closed, in the correct location, with anus also in the correct location.

I eyedroppered it with some Chick Saver/Sulmet (only liquid antibiotic I had on hand) and placed it in a mini-incubator (as a "sterile" ICU unit). After 8 hours, it appeared vigorous as it chirped and complained about being in the ICU, so I attempted to place it with the broody again, but it failed to succeed in that environment yet..after an hour with her (though she was accepting and had it under her at first), it was laying on its back limp outside the nest looking limp but responding to touch.

I returned it to a makeshift brooder and have been hand eyedroppering it about ever hour to hour and half with Chick Saver/Tetracycline solution in case of bacterial infection due to the umbilical cord exposure (which is now completely healed, sealed, and dried and dropped off).

I think it is having trouble motating. It had one leg that was a bit splayed in the hatching position...I think from the hip level...possibly not fused yet as assisted in hatch (Help me here with my chick anatomy and physiology). However it doesn't look splayed.

Is it simply still wobbly from weakness, or wobbly from structural defect? (It appears upon manipulation to be weak on that right side...the leg that was a bit "kitty wampus" at hatch.
Can anyone tell?

Any advice appreciated. My goal is to nurse to health and return to the broody, or cull if I realize this little one is simply not going to become self sufficient.

Photos below.

Thanks
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

UPDATE: This afternoon the chick started to eat and drink on its own! I put in a waterer with the Chick Saver/Tetracyline solution and some dry chick starter because it was starting to peck at the bedding...and it is eating!!!! and now drinking!!!!

Still wobbly but walking more and more. Can't tell if the one foot is right yet or not...it does curl some, but then at times looks normal.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well time answered my question. I kept the chick on Chick Saver and Sulmet for several days. It got stronger each day until I was able to reintegrate it with mom and siblings.

It is a little behind in feather development, not surprising after its "preemie" rough start, but it looks like all is well. It appears keeping the chick on antibiotics has done the trick of removing infection and giving it a chance for survival.

Saran is the chick on the far right.

Lady of McCamley