I recently hatched 5 Silkie Chicks (Spraddle leg?)

[justin742]

I recently hatched out 5 silkie chicks and 2 of them are displaying what i would consider spraddle leg (they do the splits and spin in place). See the picture below. They are 2.5 days old. Ten minutes ago I put a ruberband as a type of splint so they could stand upright and replaced the make shift straw splint on the left chick to just a rubber band. They are eating and drinking just fine. I’m unsure as I have never hatched any bantams myself. Any advice or recommendations appreciated! Thanks for reading!

 

[nchls school]

I recently hatched out 5 silkie chicks and 2 of them are displaying what i would consider spraddle leg (they do the splits and spin in place). See the picture below. They are 2.5 days old. Ten minutes ago I put a ruberband as a type of splint so they could stand upright and replaced the make shift straw splint on the left chick to just a rubber band. They are eating and drinking just fine. I’m unsure as I have never hatched any bantams myself. Any advice or recommendations appreciated! Thanks for reading!

Incubator hatched? If the incubator floor does not have any traction at hatch time, spraddle legs often are the result. With the next hatch put a nonslippery material under the eggs at hatch time.

 

[justin742]

Incubator hatched? If the incubator floor does not have any traction at hatch time, spraddle legs often are the result. With the next hatch put a nonslippery material under the eggs at hatch time.

Yes it was an incubator hatch. Future hatching I’ll line the incubator with paper towels, I appreciate it. The 4 that don’t have spraddle legs hatched during the daytime and I put them into the brooder with paper towels as flooring, and the 2 that do have spraddle legs hatched between 11pm-5am, and I’m usually asleep by then.

Thank you for your help!

 

[nchls school]

Yes it was an incubator hatch. Future hatching I’ll line the incubator with paper towels, I appreciate it. The 4 that don’t have spraddle legs hatched during the daytime and I put them into the brooder with paper towels as flooring, and the 2 that do have spraddle legs hatched between 11pm-5am, and I’m usually asleep by then.

Thank you for your help!

You're welcome. Keep their legs fixed in the correct position and you will have two more nice chicks. Good luck.

 

[justin742]

You're welcome. Keep their legs fixed in the correct position and you will have two more nice chicks. Good luck.

As of writing this, they have finally figured out their balance and are walking and keeping up with the others. Keeping the “splints” on and will check to see how they do without them in a week or so.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Paper towels, even those rubber non skid shelf liners are too. I use dog potty pads in the brooder; keep an eye on their poops, traction & easy clean.