New Hatchling Can't Stand Up?

[somanyofthekids]

I'm just wrapping up my first ever hatch, and I have a hatchling I'm worried about.

It pipped late Saturday afternoon and had unzipped it's shell by Sunday afternoon, but this morning, about 40 hours after it started, it was still struggling. I was really reluctant to interfere, but the membrane was starting to look really dry and leathery, so I gave in and gently helped break away half of its shell before putting it back in the incubator. The yolk was totally absorbed, no blood in the shell, but the membrane was pretty dry.


The baby managed to flop it's way entirely out of the shell, but it's been 3 and a half hours, and it's still laying on its side. Is it just tired? Or did I totally screw up? There's another freshly hatched in there with it now, and they're chirping back and forth, so I know it's breathing.

Any thoughts would be helpful!

 

[scflock]

I'm just wrapping up my first ever hatch, and I have a hatchling I'm worried about.

It pipped late Saturday afternoon and had unzipped it's shell by Sunday afternoon, but this morning, about 40 hours after it started, it was still struggling. I was really reluctant to interfere, but the membrane was starting to look really dry and leathery, so I gave in and gently helped break away half of its shell before putting it back in the incubator. The yolk was totally absorbed, no blood in the shell, but the membrane was pretty dry.


The baby managed to flop it's way entirely out of the shell, but it's been 3 and a half hours, and it's still laying on its side. Is it just tired? Or did I totally screw up? There's another freshly hatched in there with it now, and they're chirping back and forth, so I know it's breathing.

Any thoughts would be helpful!

That one had a tough time hatching. You didn't do anything wrong. She has curled toes, and possibly splayed legs. Both of those issues are correctible. I would try to keep her off her back as much as possible. See if she will stay on her stomach. If her legs squirt out to the side when she tries to stand, she's splayed. I would definitely dip her beak in water and get her to drink some, too. There is some great info on here about correcting splays and crooked toes if you find that's what it is

 

[somanyofthekids]

Thanks so much! I dipped her (? maybe, I don't know) beak in water and put her on her stomach (I actually leaned her up against the wall of the incubator because she kept falling back over) and she seems much better now. Her legs aren't splayed, and she's actually been walking around a little bit. I definitely look for that information on curled toes, thank you!

 

[scflock]

Thanks so much! I dipped her (? maybe, I don't know) beak in water and put her on her stomach (I actually leaned her up against the wall of the incubator because she kept falling back over) and she seems much better now. Her legs aren't splayed, and she's actually been walking around a little bit. I definitely look for that information on curled toes, thank you!

Great to hear that she is walking. The toes may uncurl on their own. If they are still curled tomorrow, just google "culed toe chick". There's a "shoe" that is simple to make, and it works. I've done it twice.
Someone here may also know a thread to link.
Looking back at that picture, her toes may be curled because she is so newly hatched. What kind of floor do you have on your brooder? You need to get her on something where she can get a grip, even if it's just a paper towel, and maybe she will straighten them out on her own