Splayed leg???

[Eva_P]

Hi. This little quail came out a few hours ago. It's the 16th day of incubation so he was a day early and I was wondering if it looked like he had splayed legs or/and curled toes. He seems to be struggling to get along.
This is my first time hatching quail however I have hatched chickens in the past.
Thanks.

 

[Eva_P]

 

[BjaJra826]

Well, maybe. I have never done quails (torally on my bucket list though) when my chickens hatch, the first few hours they are exhausted. For example, this is a chick a hour after hatch, and then again the next day.

Try giving it a day. If by tomorrow it us still not quite right, then it may be splayed.

 

[Eva_P]

Thanks for the advice. I did think that it could be that he was just tired but I wasn't sure. After looking at that chick, I'll definitely give it a day.

 

[BjaJra826]

Yeah, they have a hard day that first day, poor little things. Hatching is such a rollercoaster, but I love it. My husband says we have enough birds though lol!

 

[Eva_P]

I'm just a kid and I hatch them in my bedroom. Sometimes we have to give them away but I've managed to convince my parents with keeping the quails.
I've had a chick with splayed leg before but it was a while back and I sort of forgot what it looked like.

 

[Eva_P]

So, it turns out that, yes, he does have spraddle leg. I've put a band around his legs but they just stick out behind him now. It shouldn't matter too much right now since he is so young but soon he'll need to get up to eat and drink and I wasn't sure wether that would happen. Will the legs still heal if they are in that position? If not, is there a way of fixing it?
He isn't weak which is good, but he just can't get up.
Thanks, hope someone can help.

 

[BjaJra826]

Can it stand at all with the help if the rubber bands?

 

[BjaJra826]

If it can stand, I would say it will work itself out. If not, you might need to put him in a cup... looking for a pic now

 

[Eva_P]

No, he can't. If I hold him up he kicks a lot but he doesn't seem to be able to stand at all. He did once when his chin was resting on my finger but that was all.