Does my chick have a claw foot?

[Avonshire]

SO my chickie(only one so far) hatched yesterday between 5 and 9 PM. It has not fluffed up yet and seems to have trouble walking. Here is a shot of its foot. Is this normal? It is my first chick hatching. Also I am reading all kinds of conflicting info on the type of light bulb to use. Should I just go get a red regular bulb from walmart? I bought a 250W red infrared light bulb yesterday but the shop light says not to use anything over 100W. I don't want to start any fires! Thanks for your help!

 

[rebeccakeesee]

He should have fluffed up already for sure. Just like humans chicks can be born with birth defects. Heres my special needs chick. lol. it was eating berries. have you handled him and tried rolling the foot over? Poor lil guy.

 

[Avonshire]

No because I had a pip so I was afraid to open the bator. You think I should go ahead and get him out? I am worried about my pip too--I think it may have died. It has been so long since it pipped. Ughhhh--this is so hard!

 

[Goblnfvr]

In my incubator once a chick hatches it gets about 15/20 minutes of drying time and out it comes.
I have not had any problems with eggs that have pipped or are half way zipped in removing a hatchling quickly from the incubator.
I just had a very successful hatch again over the weekend with no issues.
As you can see in the pictures the first one has two hatchlings and in the second picture the first two are gone and the third is hatching about an hour later.
The biggest thing is GET IN AND GET OUT as quickly as possible.

 

[rebeccakeesee]

I would get him out. Clean him up. take a good look and try n see whats going on .

 

[Avonshire]

OK I got him out. I can make his claw go right but when I let go, it just goes back to the way it was. It is fluffing up in my brooder though AND now that its chirpy self is out of my incubator I can hear more chirps coming from the incubator! So maybe my fear for the other egg/s was a bit premature and maybe it really does take 24-48 hours to hatch and I JUST have to be patient. I just hate for it to die because I am doing something wrong!! Thanks for your help and encouragement to get it out.

 

[Avonshire]

Oh and its fur it not wet. It is dry and sticky. Is this a problem? I have read to give them a warm bath--more of a wipe down. Not sure if that is necessary or not. I may just wait a bit more and see if it continues to fluff up.

 

[rebeccakeesee]

I would clean him up. See if he learns to walk on that leg. Best of luck with him and the rest of your hatch!

 

[Avonshire]

Thanks! Someone also suggested I work with it to turn it right so I am doing that! He does not really like for me to mess with his feet though. He gets around just fine as far as I can tell though.

 

[rebeccakeesee]

I agree thats a great idea. He is lucky to be in your care. A lot of people wouldnt bother. lol. I have to pull mu special guy in twice a day and feed him seperate. what should take ten min to eat takes him an hour. Keep me posted on how this lil guy dose. Have you tried to sex him useing the feather technique? just wondering.