Is this normal?!

yeah, That's normal. It could be a little too warm under the light.

 

How old is your chick? Is the chick eating and drinking? I have 4 brooders going right now and sometimes all the chicks are spralled out like you described. As long as it is doing normal things while its awake and it is a small chick it should be O.K.

If its not eating and drinking, let us know.

Sara

 

It's normal. They sprawl out when they're little.

They just kinda drop over in whatever position they used to be standing in, it's quite funny IMO.

They learn to sleep "like proper chickens" as they grow up.

 

Our new wellie chicks were doing what we were calling the "fainting chicken" thing for the first couple days. It was funny as all get out. They would be walking and just fall over sound asleep. They stretch out all the time. Even the 4 week old ones out in the coop will lay on their sides and stretch their wings out under the heat light to warm up occasionally. I wouldn't worry.

 

I can't tell you how many heart attacks I've had this week. My (first) chicks are 8 days old, and every time I walk in and see one stretched out like that, I freeze until I see breathing...

 

They do that as adults also, especially on a nice warm deck on a sunny day. On such days I can look out and see 7-8 of my flock all thrown down like rag dolls, feet askew and happy as can be. It's crazy. Wait'll you see them roll themselves upside down while dusting.

 

All of mine do this at night to sleep. When I first checked on them I was appalled. I thought they were all dead.