Neck deformity? Belly up!

[Partyfowl]

So 12 hours ago I hatched out a Ameraucana chick and he can not stand up, and actually prefers to lay belly up. His neck is pointed straight up with the back of his head touching his back. He acts as if it is extremely painful to put his head in the normal position. He did have a saddled air cell. In wondering If he is deformed or ..? My hubby thinks I should cull him. ?

 

[echosrevenge]

I've seen a similar neurological problem/deformity in a couple of chicks we've hatched out here. If they're not culled, they usually die on their own within a day or so, sorry to say. Fortunately it seems to be fairly rare - only 2 out of the 200+ we've hatched this year, and one of them was in a really BAD hatch - all sorts of incubator issues, so maybe a result of environmental rather than genetic problems?

 

[Partyfowl]

Darn. The sad thing is that besides being stinking adorable he really is a happy lil thing, he just can't stand up.

 

[echosrevenge]

it could be something different - you can always help him to eat & drink for a couple of days and see if it sorts out. Sometimes it does. If you do give him a go, make sure the water he gets is warm, maybe with a drop or two of raw Apple cider vinegar OR (not and) blackstrap molasses in it, the calories will help and so will the probiotics and enzymes...i can't imagine the poor wee thing is having much success eating on his own. Making a warm, very wet soupy mash of the chick starter/whatevr food you're using and helping him to eat some of it may help as well. I wouldn't leave him unsupervised with it if he can't raise his head, though, as he might drown (learned that one, ask me how!)

 

[Partyfowl]

Yes, that is my plan. I do not have the will power to cull a chick. . So sad. I have been dipping his beak in vitamin water and he'll drink a little. But can't put his head down far enough to eat. He won't even sit, he can only lay on his back. ;( when I try and roll him over he freaks out and rolls back.

 

[Apriljc]

There was a wonderful video recently on PBS about elephants. One was born with a foot deformity and couldn't stand for quite a while. When it finally did, it had to walk on its knee. Eventually, it learned to walk upright, dealing with the deformity and finally, the leg straightened out and it grew up to be normal and healthy. My point: there is always hope!

Personally, I'd do what I could as long as there wasn't too much suffering.

Nature will take its course one way or another. I'm sorry he's struggling ;(

 

[echosrevenge]

if he's not eating, definitely try some molasses water. Not a lot of molasses in the water, just enough to give it a slight brownish tint. The sugars and calories (and iron, b vitamins, and other good stuff) will help to replace nutrients as his yolk wears off and he needs oit-of-the-egg foods. You may also try whipping up an egg yolk with a bit of milk and seeing if you can get him to drink that - it is nature's perfect food for chicks after all!

 

[Partyfowl]

Thank you all for your responses.. unfortunatly, I had to put him down. His eye wouldnt open, he couldn't drink and had bubbles coming out of him mouth. I'm completely saddened.

 

[drlcb]

You did the right thing. He was suffering. I've tried to help similar chicks but they always ended up dead within a few days. I've had runts surprise me too. The ones that I was sure wouldn't make it beat the odds! I've also had perfectly normal looking "healthy" chicks dead in the brooder for no apparent reason. Sorry for your loss.