Deformed feet in incubator!!

[Esc_Quaily]

Help me please BYC!!

I'm new to quail-keeping. We're on day 17. One gorgeous little Coturnix bird hatched 12 hrs ago. The chick has clear eyes and a nice looking beak. It's feet however are very curled. I haven't been able to get a picture of the deformation but it looks bad.

What do I do? Chick1 is the first hatch but other eggs have pipped so I really don't want to open the incubator but I don't want C1 to suffer either. How do I help without risking the other eggs?

I've had the incubator at 37.5°c since the start. Humidity was 30-45% for first 15 days. Now upped to 55-60%. I didn't have any curled feet or splay leg with the first hatch. What have/would you do? Any advice greatly appreciated.

EDIT: to add Coturnix

 

[catesquire]

Generally they're all born with slightly wonky feet (from being stuck in an egg), and walking around firms them up into the right shape. AKA: no need to worry yet, just leave the little guy to stumble around! If any still have significantly deformed feet tomorrow or the next day, you can google how to make shoes for them.

Edit: Just noticed you said 12 hours post hatch. Which IS a bit long for the wonky feet to persist, but it's still not an immediate concern, especially if it was an overnight hatch (aka it might have been sleeping instead of walking). I had one in my last hatch that had curled toes most of the first two days but sorted itself out (I briefly tried it in cardboard shoes, but that got it picked on so much by the other chicks that I only kept them on for an hour.)

 

[Nabiki]

You can make "shoes" out of painter's tape. Gently tape the toes straight and leave the tape on for 12-24 hours. If they're going to get better, they'll get better in that short a time.

 

[Esc_Quaily]

Thank you both for your replies. I removed the little chick from the Incubator and once in the brooder seemed to perk up. I've got little quail sandals cut and waiting. I'm going to leave the bird a bit longer and see if the toes sort themselves if not I'll attempt to add the "shoes".