Newly hatched chick hard to hold head up and moves backwards

[Ihall26]

Hi! I just hatched my first eggs ever and the last chick I had hatch about 3 1/2 hours ago just isn’t perking up. It is 21 days as of 5:45 pm yesterday and it pipped yesterday afternoon and then hatched earlier. It looked good and came out easily but it just isn’t progressing like my other 7 did. He seems to have a hard time holding his head up and when he gets to a seated position he move backward and not forward. I just gave him a little bit of sugar water in hopes to maybe perk him up if he isn’t just tired and weak but I wanted to ask some of you with experience your thoughts about what to do or not do? I read perhaps feeding some raw egg yolk as well but haven’t tried that yet. Just one thing at a time for the moment.

 

[FarmInProgress]

Might be wryneck, could u posts photo please?

 

[Ihall26]

Might be wryneck, could u posts photo please?

Here are a few. Let me know if other angles would help. Thanks!

 

[FarmInProgress]

So when it walks does it’s head tuck under?

 

[Ihall26]

So when it walks does it’s head tuck under?

Not really. It’s more like it just can’t get itself coordinated and will take a few steps and then just lay down forward. Or it will just go backwards. I can’t get a good video of it.

 

[rascal66]

If you have any poultry nutri drench, or any of the save-a-chick vitamins, you can have it drink some to see if it helps? If I'm correct, I believe issues related to that could be a deficiency. It happens every now and then. For the first time I had a chick hatch with wry neck, and some rooster booster vitamin and electrolytes helped fix her right up. Took about 2/3 days though, so patience is a must.

 

[rascal66]

Not really. It’s more like it just can’t get itself coordinated and will take a few steps and then just lay down forward. Or it will just go backwards. I can’t get a good video of it.

However, check the legs? Does it appear to move its legs okay?

 

[Ihall26]

I have the Durvet probiotic powder to add to water and that has multiple vitamins in it, including vitamin E but not selenium. I could get the nutridrench at tractor supply I believe.
It’s legs seem okay and it moves them just fine. Just like it can’t get up easily and tires out after a few steps and just lays down with its head to one side like in the above pictures.