Help! Chick Hatched with LEGS Straight Back!

[Lazy Farmer]

Try some chick vitamins such as Poultry Cell, NutriDrench, given orally a couple of drops, or SaveAChick in the water. Try placing it in a cup with some padding so it can get it’s footing.

 

[MichyA]

I think there is hope. Baby chicks bones are very soft and if you do something manual with it early enough it is surprising what chicks can recover from and grow up to be normal chickens. Of course it could be a symptom of an underlying deficiency or something serous but the chick seems very alert and active to me.

Yes the chick is very alert and really wants to move. I’m hoping the cup helps...maybe I can figure out how to make some splint...not sure how to go about doing it.

 

[chuckachucka]

@casportpony @sylviethecochin @Wyorp Rock can any of you help on this?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

@MichyA This article is a good read ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

Shot glasses can also work to get those legs in the correct position.

Good luck with your chick

 

[MichyA]

@MichyA This article is a good read ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

Shot glasses can also work to get those legs in the correct position.
View attachment 1368079

Good luck with your chick

I guess now would be a good time to put it in a cup too since the chick is surviving on the yolk it absorbed...but what do I do about food and water in a day or so?

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

It will be a case of hand feeding/watering the chick often or you could try and make a little table in front of it so it can stand to eat and drink in the cup. I will see if I can find a pic of something similar for you.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

This baby is a silkie polish cross... I have nutridrench that I can give and I just placed her in a small cup inside the incubator. I tried to tuck the legs forward under her so she’s sitting upright. They keep going back unnaturally. Thank you so much everyone for all the advice.

You will need to dip it's beak into the liquid solution. Periodic intervals. It needs to be propped upwards to start building strength in it's legs. Brace maybe.
Looks like a humidity related problem in the last few days of incubation.
I will be honest, it doesn't look very good.. More than just a splay. Sorry, but the odds are stacked against the poor little dude.
It needs LOTS of nutrition right now. And TLC. Here is a banding method you might want to try but you will need to prop up the chick. In a cup or something like the educator said previously.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-we-correct-splayed-legs-on-new-chicks.72873/
It may come down to making a hard decision to cull. Sorry to sound negative. But these things happen too often. It's not easy for me either.

 

[Sylie]

Hi, I couldn't really tell by the video but do the toes move or do they just stay curled? I think the cup idea is good but make sure those toes will straighten out in the cup or they could be curled permanently as the bones and ligaments develop and cause walking issues even if you get the legs into correct position. Does that make sense?
Poor baby, that vid was hard to watch lol. I completely agree with the vitamins etc already suggested.

 

[mike1970]

almost looks backwards no ideas here

 

[MichyA]

Ok so the chicks toes are also curled. I carefully spread the toes and put bandaids on to hold them in place. Chick is now in a cup. Going to find a shot glass so she will fit better. Also gave her some nutridrench. Hope this helps!

Thank you so much for all the advice. I’m going to try my best to help save it.