Foot deformity :( How to help it?

[QuackerOats]

My chicks started hatching on April 24th, which was the 21st day. The last one hatched today around 11am ( April 26th, 23rd day). He was very slow to hatch, it took about 24 hours. When I took him out of the incubator, I noticed both of his feet were deformed. The toes are all curled inward, flat against his body. So I flipped him upside down and massaged them into a straighter position, but they just go right back.

I can't get him to eat or drink. He mostly sits and does a LOT of peeping! Occasionally he waddles with his feet, so he does have control over them.

Is there any way I can help him? Thanks for any help.

The other six chicks are all doing well.

 

[Imp]

Here's some info about curled toes. It can be fixed

Good luck

Imp

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=51112

 

[sgtmom52]

One of my 3 week old chicks had a tough time hatching and had curled toes. I cut little circles from card stock and taped them to the bottom of her toes with athletic tape ~ 3 days later the "shoes" fell off and her toes are fine now.

You might want to give him some electrolytes in water or polyvisol vitamins. Good Luck!

 

[MissJenny]

Does he drink when you put his beak in a shallow cap of water? Give him a little while -- don't leap to anything just yet. (Somebody's going to come on here and insist that you cull him right now. Someone always does.) One of the things you can do for him in a day or so if it appears that his feet are not straightening out is to make "shoes" for him by taping his feet to popcycle sticks. But for right now just focus on whether he is getting around at all -- hopping, waddling, rolling, whatever and that she wants to eat and drink. They don't need to do either for a day or so. Give her a minute -- she's been busy.

Jenny

 

[QuackerOats]

Thanks very much for all your help, I put shoes on the chick using tissue box cardboard and band-aids. Except for the awkwardness of the shoes, he seems better with them.... he can stand a bit better. He is in a separate box now, because when I put him in with the others they all pecked like mad at the shoes. :S I guess they were jealous.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
If he is alone and seems lonely, you can give him a stuffed toy or feather duster to calm him down. Good luck

Imp

 

[QuackerOats]

If he is alone and seems lonely, you can give him a stuffed toy or feather duster to calm him down. Good luck

Ahh.. I didn't think of that. Will do.

Because the chicks are in my bedroom, they woke me up 2-3 times last night. He dunked his feet in the water ( which is a very shallow water dish ) and the shoes fell off. But I already see improvement in the toes from the few hours they were on. I will put more on again this morning.

Problem - I can't get him to eat or drink anything. It has only been about 22 hours since hatch, but still a bit worried about it...

Any way I can get him interested in food?​

 

[Imp]

I've seen people post that they dipped the chicks beak into the water to get them to drink. I've also read that people will dribble water down the beak, into the beak. You can add a little sugar to the water for energy. Not sure about the eating. Have you tried soft scrambled egg? I don't think they need to eat for a couple days after hatch, but am not certain about that.

Imp