hatchling can't stand

[granmama]

Hi, I am new to the forum for questions but find everyone's input so helpful. I am a new chicken lady, and just finished the incubation for 4 eggs. Today is day 21, 2 eggs not hatched, first chick great shape, second chick seemed in respiratory distress during pipping, so I intervened and peeled a small part of the shell back, the membrane seemed to dry though my humidity is registering at 65%, I was concerned as it didn't seem able to turn. I eventually finished peeling back the shell so chick could get out. Since that time it has been floundering, it can't stand though it can move its legs. It is awake, breathing ok. I hope that my intervening I didn't create more hazard. It is now nearly 12 hours, it lies on its back and can't get turned over and if I set it over it flounders all over the place. any suggestions? should I give it time? Should I euthanize it? Please help. thank you

 

[nivtup]

try standing it in a small cup with a bit of something like a paper towel added to the bottom for traction.

It might get its bearings.

 

[granmama]

So this morning I had to do an errand and came back late morning prepared to euthanize the little one and it looked bright, could stand, but legs are still bent. It is about 36 hours old at the time of this post. It legs are wider stance than normal but it seemed stronger and brighter, so I am giving it another 24 hours to see if it will eat. I tried the bandaids for splaying and it just freaked and rolled all round the incubator so took it off and tried again later with the same result so have left it off. Is there an age when it is better to apply than other, ie waiting until it is 5 days old or 4 days old or ?? Thanks

 

[dandydoodle]

Well I wouldn't euthanize yet because, it won't eat. Remember chicks absorb the yolk sac before birth for food. They can go 3 days without food. So if it isn't eating it might not be hungry. I would gently dip its beak in the water, watch not to get its nostrils in the water. It will probably start eating and drinking on its own within the next couple of days. If it is standing now that sounds like a step in the right direction. Do you have pics of the little one and its legs. We might be a little more helpful if we could see pics.

 

[granmama]

it is now day 4 and the little chick is on her legs, a bit wide not splayed. She is eating and drinking, hopping, but is still wobbly and does end up going backwards a fair bit. She is able to hold her own with the other strong willed chick who learns everything the first time. I have a feeling that her oxygenation may have been compromised during hatching. So I was thinking to give her some vitamins but our local feed store doesn't have any, are there options? I thought the Vitamin B might help her nervous system. any thoughts?

 

[LanzaroteSteve]

Hi all, I have the same problem as "granmama" here, after hatching 8 chicks my hen walked away and left the remaining 3 eggs - I put these under a lamp as I have no incubator, and helped them hatch out, they are 1 day old now, and are very wobbly on their feet, sometimes sitting on the haunches, they have perked up but wondered if anyone knew of anything I could give them to help them on? Thanks in advance!

 

[granmama]

Hi Steve,

I am the one who had a similar problem and this is what I learned. I also "helped" to hatch the chick that had this problem and what I would change about this is to not interfere in the hatching process, in other words what is meant to be is meant to be. My chick ended up doing ok in the end without doing anything other than letting her exercise the legs, ensuring that water and food was accessible and in the end she was able to stand upright but it took at least a week or so. She (though I think really she is a he) is now 3 months old and is different than it's sibling. She spends a lot of time still hunched and is less gregarious than the other one. I am glad she was company for the other chick as they are very close and dependent and really good buddies but she is not what I would call the best of her breed. I took her to the Wildlife Rescue here for the man there to check her out as I questioned whether she had a splayed leg and whether it would be worth taping, he was against this and was the one who recommended letting her use it to get strong. I also gave infant liquid vitamins to the chicks for about a week. I would put a drop on the table and put its beak in it and it would get a bit of it. I did this a couple of times a day. I thought maybe the B vitamins would help the nervous system develop. I think in the end they will stand and be ok and while I worried and worried another backyard chicken lady gave me the same assurance and it did help to ease my concerns. All the best. Granmama