New chick cannot stand up

[luckylefty]

We hatched chicks in an incubator at school, and one chick that has hatched cannot stand up. It just scoots around on its bottom and kicks its legs out beside its face. I am not sure what the cause is, and therefore do not know if there is any way to treat it. I am attaching a picture. I made a video but it would not upload. Please let me know if you have any advice for what we can do to help this little guy. We've separated him from the others and gave him his own heat lamp, food and water.

 

[Avonshire]

My chick can't hold its head up and it can't really get up on its legs. I hope you get some answers!!!

 

[luckylefty]

Well, I haven't heard back from anyone yet, but we did use thin cardboard to make boots to straighten out his feet and give her more surface area to stand on. We also cut a popsicle stick into fourths and used two of the sections, one on each leg, to create braces. At first the chick still did not want to stand properly, but by this morning is at least sitting on top of both legs and attempting to stand. We are still very hopeful. Any advice on what else we can do would be much appreciated!

 

[Avonshire]

Well I am using band aids to get it to walk correctly on its toes. I had to buy a different kind of band aid because the ones I tried first she was easily able to peck right off. Are you doing both legs/feet at the same time? I ended up culling my one chick who could not stand at all. Now I am working on the one that has trouble walking--curled toes. I am soooo proud of the hard work you are doing for your chick!! Keep it up!!! Sounds like you are doing everything right.

 

[luckylefty]

Yeah, I am doing both feet at once. I was planning to cull this one, but my kids at school named her "Hope" and said that if she survived, we'd call her "Miracle." With that kind of support, I just couldn't face not trying. As of this afternoon, she's standing on her own some, but not often. We've trained her to keep her legs underneath her when she sits, so hopefully that will become the norm for her. I am just worried about the future and whether or not it was a bad gene that caused the problem. I don't want to pass on bad traits through my flock at home. Good luck with your chick too. We use band-aids to secure the cardboard "boots."

 

[CrazyChickens09]

Hi i just saw this. I would get her off the news paper ads as they are really slick and put either paper towels or shavings. Most new chicks don't stand right at first because they are worn out and it takes time to get their tendons and ligaments going. Good luck and thank-you for helping her.

 

[CorinneP]

It is really important not to have a smooth surface, Riboflavin's can help with curled feet and weakness if you do it young enough. if she standing with your clever braces you are off to a great start usually doesn't take more than three days with a good diet to get strong and fix things like splayed legs or curled toes ! Way to go helping her. I would recommend changing her braces regularly and giving her a chance with out them some Chicks are very weak the first 24 hours and perk right up.. Good luck .

 

[luckylefty]

Thanks! We put an old towel under her now. I appreciate the advice.

 

[luckylefty]

What is the best way to get riboflavins into a chick's diet, CorinneP?

 

[Avonshire]

This would be good to know. I bought some powdered vitamins for chicks today. I am wondering if I should put in its water give it separate or what!