Help! Chicks hatched later than other eggs and are walking on their hocks

[humblehillsfarm]

I had two assist two chicks which had halted progress on unzipping long after the other eggs have hatched. Now both of them have slightly curled feet and are walking on their hocks. They’ve both been out of the shells for about 3 hours or so. What can I do to help? Their feet are ever so slightly curled in as well. I’ve already moved all remaining chicks under hens and am hoping to do the same with these two, but the clock is ticking.


Edited to add resolution: I determined the inability to walk was due to swelling in the feet and ankles. The swelling in both chick’s feet went down overnight. They are walking normally, but the ankles are still a little puffier than normal. I imagine this is due to a prolonged stint in the egg.

 

[FeatherTay]

I had two assist two chicks which had halted progress on unzipping long after the other eggs have hatched. Now both of them have slightly curled feet and are walking on their hocks. They’ve both been out of the shells for about 3 hours or so. What can I do to help? Their feet are ever so slightly curled in as well. I’ve already moved all remaining chicks under hens and am hoping to do the same with these two, but the clock is ticking.

Chick shoes?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Chick shoes?

I’ve had a chick with curly toes before, and it could still walk. These guys can’t even get onto their feet.

 

[FeatherTay]

I’ve had a chick with curly toes before and it could still walk. These guys can’t even get onto their feet.

Is it a spliced tendon? I’m not real good with this stuff.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I finally just put them under mama hen and am hoping for the best. I tried a sling to allow them to extend their feet but they kept pulling their legs through. I compared their feet to those of the other chicks, and it appears the feet are pretty swollen. I don’t know if it’s a tendon problem or related to them being in the egg for too long. I am just hoping it’s swelling that will go down.

 

[Blue Raptor]

@Eggcessive @Pyxis @azygous @WVduckchick

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’ve tried searching online and BYC for stories about chicks hatching with swollen feet. I only found one old thread in here and in that case the swelling had subsiding. Pictures looked exactly like my chicks feet. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fat-feet-on-new-chick.1162454/

 

[Eggcessive]

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is valuable with curled under toes and walking on hocks. That is found in human B complex 1/4 tablet daily and in some chick vitamins (not poultry nutridrench.) Tape the toes in a natural position on bottom and top. If the chick cannot stand, putting them in a small glass or padded cup for periods of time to see if the legs get stronger. I have had to cull a couple of chicks who never could stand.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) is valuable with curled under toes and walking on hocks. That is found in human B complex 1/4 tablet daily and in some chick vitamins (not poultry nutridrench.) Tape the toes in a natural position on bottom and top. If the chick cannot stand, putting them in a small glass or padded cup for periods of time to see if the legs get stronger. I have had to cull a couple of chicks who never could stand.

I tried a cup with a sling and they kept pulling their legs out of the sling. I think time is the only thing that I can do. I’ll put vitamins in the water but until mama hen goes to the water (and the chick can make it there too) I’m not sure how much it’ll help. I’ve syringed water into adults but never chicks. I tried to encourage it to drink earlier and it wouldn’t.

 

[ElizaMay]

I have seen pictures of those folks who tape the chick feet -- a small bit of (not super-sticky, sorta cheap type) )duct tape on the bottom of the foot, another small piece on top, making a 'sandwich' with the foot in the middle. Then it is very carefully trimmed in a triangle shape of the foot, sort of like a webbed duck foot. The tape can be carefully removed in a couple days.