Newly hatched chick

[rancher hicks]

Ive got a newly hatched chick that seems to be waddleing. It appears to be walking on it's elbows. Anyone have this happen. Chick is less the 48 old. Hatched all by itself. Delaware pure. No stiffeness in the leg. I can stretch them both completely out. Any ideas what could be wrong?

 

[speckledhen]

May just have had those legs cramped up in its egg in a weird way. I'd give it time. You mentioned a smudge on its head. Some Delawares just have those spots/smudges. Doesn't have any real significance (some say you can sex them by that and it is not true).

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I intended to give it time just the same. I thought that may be the case. I hope that is the case. I just don't want to have to cull it. I candled the other eggs and they looked like quiters but I don't know why. Of them all a few were either early quitlers or infertile. I've tagged a web page that gives the reason for why eggs don't hatch. It didn't say anything about the person doing the hatching being ugly so I'm good.