Injured Coturnix chick

[ReiLossefalme]

My eggs hatched 3 days ago, only 9 out of 25 produced chicks, and one seemed to have trouble getting up in the incubator. I figured if he was sick or weak he'd just die off, but now 3 days later he's still flat on the ground. His legs move fine, don't seem to cause any pain, and he's able to push himself around the brooder using his feet, but he is unable to stand. He seems alert and healthy, is eating and drinking, but is having problems with the other chicks nibbling his feet, although he kicks them soundly and so hasn't been wounded yet from their inspections. Is this something anyone's heard of? Is he likely to grow out of it? I hate to cull him if he's likely to grow to a mature size, but don't want him to suffer a gruesome end at the beaks of his cohorts, or some wasting disease either.

 

[Fat Daddy]

It sounds as if your bird may have leg or hip issues. Its fairly common. If its leg is held at a abnormal angle, and or straight out. It will likely not get better on its own if he has not walked at this point. Some call it splay leg and it can be caused from slick footing in the brooder or even the incubator. Sometimes it happens when they roll into a weird position right out of the egg too. Some have had luck with putting said chick inside a small yogurt cup where his legs are forced to be close together for a period of time. Some use band-aids and make small "shackles" if you will, to hold the legs in a natural position. As a rule, they will not be "fixed" after they are a week or so old. Their bones and joints "set" after that... When I get a bird that has this ailment, I usually cull it, I would guess the chance of it growing up as a normal bird at less than 50%. But then again, I raise a large number of birds... I wish you and your birds the best, Good Luck, Bill

 

[ElizabethChau]

I say give it a chance. A string of yarn tied to each "ankle" and a 1.5 in Wide strip of fabric about 20 inches long with two holes made at the half way point the size of a number 2 pencil Should look like this: ________o_o_________
Place his legs through the holes, then place the yarn on the ankles (should be 1 inch at most between his feet) and then finally hold the two ends of the fabric in your hand and keep him upright and slightly raised so he can get his feet under him and "help" him walk. I call it a Button Sling. its physical therapy for your button give him two weeks and if he still doesn't walk, then cull him. But at least then you can feel that you gave him the best of a chance first.

 

[ReiLossefalme]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, I woke up this morning to a dead chick. I guess despite him seeming healthy and alert, there must have been something else wrong.

 

[ElizabethChau]

Aw what a shame. Sorry to hear he didn't make it.