Help New Chick Can't walk Correctly

[flgardengirl]

I have a chick that was hatched late last night who is now in the brooder with the others. He sitting on his behind with his legs out in front of him. He does not lift himself to walk but acts very alert and everything otherwords. When he tries to walk he doesn't lift his body up, instead he sits on his behind with his legs straight out in front of him and acts like he is scratching at the floor. He moves them well but doesn't stand up right. His legs feet and toes do not look deformed as far as I can tell. Is there a treatment or way to fix this?? Or will he walk correctly on his own? All the others walk right for baby chicks, anyhow lol. .

 

[chickenzoo]

He may get better as he gains strength or he may need help. You could put a paper towel down in a small shallow coffee cup and put him in it. The narrow sides would give him something to push up on. I have also taped their legs to the middle of a cardboard square with shallow food & water in front of them( like in soda bottle caps), so they could keep trying to scoot up and exercise their legs and gain strength from pushing themselves up w/o sliding.

 

[flgardengirl]

Thank you. Do you think this is the same as splayed legs? His seem to go straight out in front of him as opposed to the side. I tried taping a bandaid like with the splayed legs and it still didnt help him get on his feet any. He does seem a little stronger tonight. I kept picking him up just a little and balancing him on his legs. He has gotten to where he can stand and balance for about 5 sec before sitting down again. I will try your coffee cup method. Maybe his muscles are really weak for some reason.

 

[chickenzoo]

The more he/she can exercise those muscles the better it will be. They are just weakened, it happens from time to time. Every so many chicks I hatch I will get one. Feel so bad for them, they want to get up and play but just scoot until they get stronger.

You can also cut a sponge into a long strip and sit him on it with a leg on each side. Kind of a booster seat, hehe