Pheasant chick keeps laying on its back

[robert41]

I have just hatched 3 dozen pheasant chicks between Sunday and Monday morning. All are doing fine except 1, it was fine all day until about 8:30 this evening. It keeps pecking at itself and rolling on its back and lays also on its side legs straight out. Has anyone ever seen this? Looking for some advise.
Thanks for any input.

 

[Gingerwood]

What species of pheasant? Ringnecks? Is this a constant or intermittent behavior since hatch? Was it hatched early or late for the set or do you know this?

Regardless of the type, they do this sometimes. Just hatched chicks will start preening and get off balance and then just lay there like their stunned, stretching and fall asleep in that position momentarily. Give it till morning, more than likely more will begin preening and fall off balance as well. By morning any actual issue should be visible.

If he does have an issue get him out away from the others especially if they are goldens or ringnecks, so they dont start and learn pecking. And congrats on a fine hatch.

 

[robert41]

Thank you, it is a ringneck pheasant, and it just starting doing this around 8:30 pm EST. Before that it was fine. It was hatched lat, It just hatched sometime late in the night Monday. Most hatched late Sunday night into Monday morning.