Turned out hips

[Corzean]

I have a chick, three days old today who I have just noticed was walking funny. I took photos next to the other chicks for comparison and you can see its hips/legs seem kind of turned outwards making it look extra wide. It’s eating and drinking ok. Just kind of has a wobbly/shuffly walk. I was wondering if it could be slightly splayed legs and if so should I try to fix it or will it self correct?
Ps excuse the dirtiness, I literally cleaned them out this morning.

 

[Corzean]

Update: I tried wrapping the hips in the correct position but when I did the chick couldn’t walk and its legs crossed. Since it’s eating and drinking I’m going to leave it for now and if there’s not improvement over the next few days I’ll have to look at culling it, otherwise as it gets bigger and heavier I don’t think it’ll be able to walk at all.
If anyone has experienced something similar let me know.

 

[farmer90]

I'm no expert of what might be the cause. I had a chick earlier this year who had one hip like this. Since he showed no signs of having pain and he had a good appetite, I decided to let him grow up and cull then for food. He was also moving slightly wobbly and sideways. Later when I processed him I noticed it was his spine that was crooked not the hip.

I usually don't rush with culling the chicks. I hatch them for future eggs and meat. So the chicks with minor defects that doesn't bother them too much I prefer to keep as long as possible and then cull them. But it all depends on certain circumstances and personal preferences.

 

[CliftonQuail]

Those look like normal paper towels on the bottom of the brooder. Most things I've read recommend using the blue paper shop towels because they're a bit rougher and give the chicks more to grip. I've even used a bit of artificial turf in the bottom of my brooder on occasion to help a bird with splay legs. If you have a piece of scrap carpet, that could also work. Basically, trying to give the bird more traction might help it to strengthen its legs. Even putting it in a shot glass (with something grippy in the bottom) for a few minutes every few hours can help.

 

[Corzean]

I'm no expert of what might be the cause. I had a chick earlier this year who had one hip like this. Since he showed no signs of having pain and he had a good appetite, I decided to let him grow up and cull then for food. He was also moving slightly wobbly and sideways. Later when I processed him I noticed it was his spine that was crooked not the hip.

I usually don't rush with culling the chicks. I hatch them for future eggs and meat. So the chicks with minor defects that doesn't bother them too much I prefer to keep as long as possible and then cull them. But it all depends on certain circumstances and personal preferences.

Thanks, I’ll see how it does and make my decision on its quality of life.

 

[Corzean]

Those look like normal paper towels on the bottom of the brooder. Most things I've read recommend using the blue paper shop towels because they're a bit rougher and give the chicks more to grip. I've even used a bit of artificial turf in the bottom of my brooder on occasion to help a bird with splay legs. If you have a piece of scrap carpet, that could also work. Basically, trying to give the bird more traction might help it to strengthen its legs. Even putting it in a shot glass (with something grippy in the bottom) for a few minutes every few hours can help.

It’s a puppy pad, is that ok for grip? I heard they would try to eat any bedding I put them on. I’ve got pine bedding, which I was going to introduce them to at a week. There are 26 chicks total and nobody else seems to be having any problems. I’ll try and see if improves any with a shot glass.

 

[Nabiki]

I use grippy shelf liner on top of pine shavings for the first few days then remove it.

I would guess that your chick has a minor deformity, so I wouldn't keep it for breeding, but as @farmer90 said, I would keep it until it's big enough to eat, then cull it.

 

[CliftonQuail]

It’s a puppy pad, is that ok for grip? I heard they would try to eat any bedding I put them on. I’ve got pine bedding, which I was going to introduce them to at a week. There are 26 chicks total and nobody else seems to be having any problems. I’ll try and see if improves any with a shot glass.

I'm not sure about puppy pads and how much grip they may give. Others may weigh in on that.

 

[Nabiki]

I was given a bunch of puppy pads. I don't think they're grippy enough.