Is it normal for chicks to get stuck on their backs???

[gumbita]

So I had an interesting night last night. . .

At around 2am, I started hearing the loudest, squawking peeps. In my half awake state, I actually was not concerned because I recognized the obnoxious voice as one of my chicks who will randomly make lots of noise. But it continued and didn't stop. So I peeked in and saw all the chicks at one end of the brooder freaking out and one chick under the heat lamp not looking right. As I got closer, the chicks wings were spread out, its head was off to the side and it was on it's back with one foot in the air, one on the ground. It wasn't moving and looked completely dead. So I did the natural thing and poked it. It started flapping its wings furiously and could not turn over!! So I picked it up and put it on its feet and it ran to all the others and they very gently started picking the shavings of of it and cleaning it. The loud peeping stopped, so I guess it was trying to tell me something wasn't right.

But so I guess the chick got knocked over on its back, couldn't get up and then fell asleep??? The chick seems fine this morning. Maybe I should give some electrolyte solution because I don't know how long it was stuck like that? I had a different one of my chicks get knocked over on its back the first day I got the chicks but I was right there when it happened so after seeing it couldn't get up, I flipped it over and it was fine. This doesn't seem normal, because otherwise not many chicks would make it to adulthood I would guess!

They are silkies and are between 2-3 weeks old. I've had them now for 4 days, and I've never had chickens before, so I have no idea what's going on!

 

[3 NH reds]

So I had an interesting night last night. . .

At around 2am, I started hearing the loudest, squawking peeps. In my half awake state, I actually was not concerned because I recognized the obnoxious voice as one of my chicks who will randomly make lots of noise. But it continued and didn't stop. So I peeked in and saw all the chicks at one end of the brooder freaking out and one chick under the heat lamp not looking right. As I got closer, the chicks wings were spread out, its head was off to the side and it was on it's back with one foot in the air, one on the ground. It wasn't moving and looked completely dead. So I did the natural thing and poked it. It started flapping its wings furiously and could not turn over!! So I picked it up and put it on its feet and it ran to all the others and they very gently started picking the shavings of of it and cleaning it. The loud peeping stopped, so I guess it was trying to tell me something wasn't right.

But so I guess the chick got knocked over on its back, couldn't get up and then fell asleep??? The chick seems fine this morning. Maybe I should give some electrolyte solution because I don't know how long it was stuck like that? I had a different one of my chicks get knocked over on its back the first day I got the chicks but I was right there when it happened so after seeing it couldn't get up, I flipped it over and it was fine. This doesn't seem normal, because otherwise not many chicks would make it to adulthood I would guess!

They are silkies and are between 2-3 weeks old. I've had them now for 4 days, and I've never had chickens before, so I have no idea what's going on!

If it is back up and behaving normally I would not worry. The only time I had this was a hatching chick and it had a long hatch and its feet were crooked. It spent one day walking funny and would flip on it's back and squawk at me but it got better and lived.

 

[rachlore]

First of all when I read this post I internally freaked out- I have silkies too!!!

Right now they are a month and a 1/2 old but I haven't encountered your problem with my babies so it's probably crooked feet as 3 NH reds suggested. Good luck with your flock!

 

[gumbita]

If it is back up and behaving normally I would not worry. The only time I had this was a hatching chick and it had a long hatch and its feet were crooked. It spent one day walking funny and would flip on it's back and squawk at me but it got better and lived.

Hmm, I'll need to take a look at their feet - you'd think that being over two weeks old they would have mastered walking and getting back on their feet by now! I just worry if I'm not there to flip them back over in a timely manner, they will get dehydrated or overheated or something. Hope they grow out of it soon! Interestingly they are the smallest two of the bunch - they were all about the same size when I got them 4 days ago, but the others have gotten bigger literally overnight - I guess they're runty.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I was going to laugh and say "oh, you have Silkies- that explains everything"! Then I read your last post.

I've had a couple of newborn Silkies get stuck on their back (we cal it "turtle-ing"). I'd have to flip them over once or twice, but they'd eventually find their legs and start zooming. I've never had a two week old do it though. Maybe one of the bigger chicks jumped on it and knocked it for a loop. I've seen that happen in the brooder alot. Everyones sleeping, except for that one chick who has to jump right in the middle of everyone and be a butthead.

 

[gumbita]

\Maybe one of the bigger chicks jumped on it and knocked it for a loop.

Ha ha, and then it just decided to fall asleep like that! I had read that silkies were not the brightest crayons in the box - now I guess I see what they mean!!