Deformed chick. Legs leaning backward. Can't stand, lays on back.

[PioneerChicks]

I have a chick that hatched on Thursday. Eggs were shipped from a breeder. She (just gonna say she) is still in the incubator, though I took her out a couple times for pictures and to observe.

She hasn't been able to stand since she hatched. She lays on her back. Whenever I place her on her feet she rolls back onto her back.

Her legs appear to be leaning backwards. Not facing backwards, just angled backwards. They are also sort of splayed.

I don't want to feed her or give her water because I'm afraid her crop will press on her windpipe and choke her.

I want to breed this chick. I don't think this problem is genetic because she's from a trustworthy breeder. I'll be home for a couple weeks and am willing to invest time in her. But I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff. Only two others have hatched so this chick is worth $30.

Can this be fixed? Will this be a problem or cause her chicks to have problems? Should I just cull?

 

[Thunder344]

Poor baby!
You can try and make a splint, and maybe why she is rolling onto her back is because her legs are messed up? Hope somebody else can help you more than I can.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Poor baby!
You can try and make a splint, and maybe why she is rolling onto her back is because her legs are messed up? Hope somebody else can help you more than I can.

Okay what do I make the splint out of? It's almost like she needs a full body splint.

 

[Thunder344]

This is what I was thinking of. Though it might not work, because it might just be her hole body or something else, not just her legs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-we-correct-splayed-legs-on-new-chicks.72873/

 

[MadamContrary]

Have you tried using a cup, like treating splay leg? Was it an assisted hatch?

 

[MissE]

I have a chick that hatched on Thursday. Eggs were shipped from a breeder. She (just gonna say she) is still in the incubator, though I took her out a couple times for pictures and to observe.

She hasn't been able to stand since she hatched. She lays on her back. Whenever I place her on her feet she rolls back onto her back.

Her legs appear to be leaning backwards. Not facing backwards, just angled backwards. They are also sort of splayed.

I don't want to feed her or give her water because I'm afraid her crop will press on her windpipe and choke her.

I want to breed this chick. I don't think this problem is genetic because she's from a trustworthy breeder. I'll be home for a couple weeks and am willing to invest time in her. But I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff. Only two others have hatched so this chick is worth $30.

Can this be fixed? Will this be a problem or cause her chicks to have problems? Should I just cull?



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Poor little guy. If it were me, I would probably cull him. Deformities will only get worse with age.

He may have cost you $30, but he is not worth $30. There can be defects and genetic issues even if the breeder is reputable. This chick should never be bred, even if you are able to save it. Breed the best, eat the rest (or keep as a pet if that's your preference).

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a chick that hatched on Thursday.

I don't want to feed her or give her water because I'm afraid her crop will press on her windpipe and choke her.

Her legs appear to be leaning backwards. Not facing backwards, just angled backwards. They are also sort of splayed.

I want to breed this chick.

Is this the only chick that hatched?

She hatched on Thursday. It's now Monday. Has she not had any food/water at all?

Put the poor little thing out of her misery.
Even in your title you say "deformed chick". I agree, your chick looks to have leg deformity, it's been 5 days or so with no improvement.

I'm sorry about the chick, it stinks, but if you are wanting to breed birds, you want to start with robust healthy chicks for your breeding program, not ones that you have had to coddle or try to fix. You start with weak birds, you will continue with weak birds.

 

[PioneerChicks]

This is what I was thinking of. Though it might not work, because it might just be her hole body or something else, not just her legs.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-we-correct-splayed-legs-on-new-chicks.72873/

Have you tried using a cup, like treating splay leg? Was it an assisted hatch?

Thank you two! I have never heard of using a cup for splayed leg. I always used yarn, but it was a real pain trying to tie it off.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Poor little guy. If it were me, I would probably cull him. Deformities will only get worse with age.

He may have cost you $30, but he is not worth $30. There can be defects and genetic issues even if the breeder is reputable. This chick should never be bred, even if you are able to save it. Breed the best, eat the rest (or keep as a pet if that's your preference).

Is this the only chick that hatched?

She hatched on Thursday. It's now Monday. Has she not had any food/water at all?

Put the poor little thing out of her misery.
Even in your title you say "deformed chick". I agree, your chick looks to have leg deformity, it's been 5 days or so with no improvement.

I'm sorry about the chick, it stinks, but if you are wanting to breed birds, you want to start with robust healthy chicks for your breeding program, not ones that you have had to coddle or try to fix. You start with weak birds, you will continue with weak birds.

I do only breed healthy chicks but if they have a problem that is not genetic (like a broken leg in adult birds) I see no problem in keeping and breeding them. But if this could mean the bird is weak, than you are right and I won't breed.

Even just for pets, I feel terrible knowing they had a chance but I didn't help. But if this can't be cured, I will cull. Today.

Thank you both!

 

[casportpony]

I do only breed healthy chicks but if they have a problem that is not genetic (like a broken leg in adult birds) I see no problem in keeping and breeding them. But if this could mean the bird is weak, than you are right and I won't breed.

If you were able to fix this, you should not breed it.

Even just for pets, I feel terrible knowing they had a chance but I didn't help. But if this can't be cured, I will cull. Today.

I know how you feel. Unfortunately, the prognosis on this one is poor. To try to save it you will need to figure out how to splint the legs, make a chick chair, and it will need to be tube-fed.