Sleepy chick with wonky toes

[RaffDae]

Hi there, this is my first post on this lovely website so do tell me if I'm doing something wrong ^^

Two weeks ago I hatched 4 mixed Orpington chicks that all seemed quite healthy except for a rather quiet one with curled up feet and bent toes.

After reading a post here about someone with a similar situation, I did what was recommended and made it shoes out of fabric plasters. Now it's feet are as straight as I think I can get them, but I noticed that the wee chick has gotten even quieter and less active the past few days.

I took them all out in the warm weather for a bit today to have a dust bath and explore in a small pen. While the other three were active and sun bathing, little wonky toes was falling asleep constantly.

I kept an eye on it, but I'm almost certain now that it sleeps most of the time unless I incourage it to eat and drink or the other chicks disdurb it.

Do you think there might be something else wrong with it? Maybe its something related to it deformed feet?Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might get it more active? Or am I just getting worried about nothing? Haha

 

[azygous]

The deformed feet are a visible sign of genetic defects that probably affect the wee chick's internal organs and ability to utilize nutrients efficiently. These chicks are referred to as failure-to thrive".

Sometimes extra feeding with vitamin supplements can help a chick such as yours. Poultry Nutri-drench is a good supplement as it goes directly into the blood stream without requiring processing through a possibly immature liver.

I had a chick such as this survive with the Nutri-drench sprinkled over crumbled tofu. Think of tofu as a predigested form of soy meal.

These chicks are also very prone to pasty butt and constipation so watch for signs that it's having trouble pooping. It will squat while peeping loudly without much of a result. Oil will usually unstop it.

 

[RaffDae]

Thanks for the advice , will give the poultry Nutri-drench a try. Now that you mention it the chick does peep very loudly when pooping, I will keep a close eye on the wee fellow ^_^ thank you

The deformed feet are a visible sign of genetic defects that probably affect the wee chick's internal organs and ability to utilize nutrients efficiently. These chicks are referred to as failure-to thrive".

Sometimes extra feeding with vitamin supplements can help a chick such as yours. Poultry Nutri-drench is a good supplement as it goes directly into the blood stream without requiring processing through a possibly immature liver.

I had a chick such as this survive with the Nutri-drench sprinkled over crumbled tofu. Think of tofu as a predigested form of soy meal.

These chicks are also very prone to pasty butt and constipation so watch for signs that it's having trouble pooping. It will squat while peeping loudly without much of a result. Oil will usually unstop it.

 

[azygous]

If your chick is peeping loudly as it tries to poop, it's constipated. Give it about a half teaspoon of coconut oil or olive oil or mineral oil orally. Even if you aren't sure, the oil won't hurt and it could save its life as constipation can kill a chick quickly.

 

[RaffDae]

If your chick is peeping loudly as it tries to poop, it's constipated. Give it about a half teaspoon of coconut oil or olive oil or mineral oil orally. Even if you aren't sure, the oil won't hurt and it could save its life as constipation can kill a chick quickly.

Thanks again! Im glad to know that the oil won't do any harm. I have given it some olive oil, if I don't see any changes in the next couple days how often would you recommend giving a chick oil?

 

[azygous]

If the chick doesn't poop within a couple hours, give it another dose of oil. The oil usually works pretty fast. You shouldn't need to continue beyond a couple days. But if it gets constipated again, you will know to give it oil to relieve its discomfort. Oil works wonders for impacted crop, too, but be sure you offer chick grit when you begin feeding treats beyond its crumbles.

 

[RaffDae]

Thought I should give an update to this post. The wee chick is now a healthy young hen! Although she still has deformed feet; she's socialising with the other hens, eats and digests fine and gets about just fine with her crooked toes.