freshly hatched chick throwing its head backward and on its back.help!

[joyous]

I have a chick that hatched a day later than the others. It throws its head back and lands on its back. It kicks out and is strong, but just doesnt stand right. I put it in a sling in a tall thin container so it has to rest on its feet in a normal position. I am hoping if I try this for a day, it will pull out of it. otherwise I will have to cull it because it can't eat or drink when it doesnt stand normally. Any suggestions???

 

[joyous]

Anyone??? What causes this?

 

[birdbrain5]

i am in the exact same boat as you, my chick just flops over, legs seem strong enough to be kicking but something is either wrong in the hips or its neurologic. it cant eat or drink without assistance, and even then it doesnt care to. its really awful. i tried the container trick too but it falls over or flips out and burries its head, prob because it wants to scratch itself. i hate watching it suffer or starve im almost ready to throw in the towel. i am going to get some poly vi sol drops tho and try those for one more day. i suggest maybe you could do the same, people seem to have luck with that. i sure how both of them pull thru

i've never had to cull a chick and i do not want to nor know the best way, im kind of a softy i cant do the scissors like people say...

 

[joyous]

I am going to get the drops on the way home. I have had it in the sling all day, so I will have to find a way to feed it. I am with you on culling, my husband has to do it for me when it is the only humane thing to do. I will give it a few more days unless I thing it is suffering. Funny , I had chicken for lunch, but I can't stand the thought of loosing a chick!

 

[naakte]

I cant even eat chicken anymore. it grosses me out and chicken used to be my fav meat
Donna in branson

 

[Jeneane]

I am having the same problem with a chick I got the other day. It hatched later then the others. I am new to raising chicks. It seems to be getting stronger and it peeps all the time. It seems like it is trying to climb the wall, then falls over backwards and needs help getting turned over. Hope it gets better. What is the poly vi sol drops and where can I get some. Thanks.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Okay==poly vi sol without iron for your babies. It is an infant vitamin. You can get it at any drugstore. There is a condition known as wry neck that can present the way you are describing. Not saying thats what it is just sayin. Anyways, I had the same issue with one of my silkie chicks. I gave all of my chicks poly vi sol for a few days and even added it to their water (just a drop or two). Within 24 hours it was much better and all the chicks were running around and doing chick things. Its worth a shot to try it to save a life. I think that sometimes some chicks just need that extra boost to help them. I put the drop on my finger and rubbed it on the beak until it swallowed. Let us know how you made out.

 

[joyous]

My Husband culled my little chick for me. I think is was a birth defect...nothing seemed to work and I had to keep her in a sling just to stay upright, otherwise she was on her back. I wonder if this is genetic as I got two chicks last breeding from the same two parents, and I have never had it otherwise. So sad.....

 

[pips&peeps]

Usually this is a B1 vitamin deficiency, a B complex drop should help them recover.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/216/vitamin-bi-deficiency

 

[TinkyPinky]

My chick does it to. I am pushing his head down gently every time he throws his head backwards. Now. My chick is not throwing his head back. He will take a longer time to learn to walk, but he is improving fast. Yet again, I think he has Wry neck or some sort of Nerve problem since hes also shaking a bit.I am not using any vitamins on him. I am only gently holding his head to the floor when he throws his head up to go on his back. Everytime he goes on is back I put him on his feet to calm down. He can wobbly walk now.