Weak Lethargic Chick

[Krosfyre9838]

The chick is over a day old. Not quite sure if we are at the 48 mark. But this little guy should be standing and waddling right? The other 9 are walking and some are running and jumping. I put him in back the incubator by himself but he can't stand, if I flip him on his back he wiggles his legs.

Is he injured? Will he be a special needs chicken?

Again it's not just that he's not holding himself up, he is lethargic.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you gotten the chick to drink sugar water or some electrolytes by dipping its beak? Is there any pasty butt? I try using a small wine glass or padded cup to get them standing and strengthening the legs. Some chicks unfortunately just do not survive. I had a couple hatched once that did not ever stand or eat/drink.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Is he injured? Will he be a special needs chicken?

Again it's not just that he's not holding himself up, he is lethargic.

Sometimes there's a deficiency in the hatching egg.. very often a dose of poultry nutridrench, if you're in the US and can get it, is highly recommended for THIS purpose according to my personal experience. But in a pinch even the sugar water/electrolytes suggested above is better than nothing add in a B complex if you have it..

Dripped just below the nostrils with the chick held in your hand beak facing the forefinger.. and use the bend in the forefinger to help direct the drip and beak together. The chick will gobble and swallow when it senses it roll into the mouth.

Did it fully hatch on it's own without assistance? Is it's naval healed and normal looking? Were the eggs from your own flock?

Without you taking some measure.. it is unlikely to start thriving.. which is just to say that I agree with your assessment that it's not completely normal.

Of course there may also be internal things that no amount of your measure taken will change the outcome.

Congrats on the rest of your hatch!

I hope this baby starts to thrive!

 

[Krosfyre9838]

Sometimes there's a deficiency in the hatching egg.. very often a dose of poultry nutridrench, if you're in the US and can get it, is highly recommended for THIS purpose according to my personal experience. But in a pinch even the sugar water/electrolytes suggested above is better than nothing add in a B complex if you have it..

Dripped just below the nostrils with the chick held in your hand beak facing the forefinger.. and use the bend in the forefinger to help direct the drip and beak together. The chick will gobble and swallow when it senses it roll into the mouth.

Did it fully hatch on it's own without assistance? Is it's naval healed and normal looking? Were the eggs from your own flock?

Without you taking some measure.. it is unlikely to start thriving.. which is just to say that I agree with your assessment that it's not completely normal.

Of course there may also be internal things that no amount of your measure taken will change the outcome.

Congrats on the rest of your hatch!

I hope this baby starts to thrive!

He wasn't assisted. I believe your right with the deficiency. He's not injured, OOH he is holding himself up standing now. Just seems to be taking him a little longer than his brother and sisters.

If I had a syringe I'd give him some liquid vitamins.... But I don't believe it's dying, and it is advancing. Went from not being able to lift itself, to lift it head, to now kind of standing
.

 

[Krosfyre9838]

Most of my eggs are from my own flock. That's why I am saying he or she with a chick that can't be sexed yet. My flock the yellow biddies are mostly male and the brown ones are mostly female, definitely female if the brown color is accompanied by eyeliner.

And it's naval is fully healed, well looks really good

 

[Krosfyre9838]

Still not walking, but lookout my little man has got standing down pat.

 

[Krosfyre9838]

You know what..., this chick did not come from my flock. It's an Easter Egger egg I hatched from my nephew. Is it possible that these chickens grow/advance slower than my flock?

 

[Krosfyre9838]

He's taking baby steps!!!

 

[Krosfyre9838]

He is thirsty! I sat him beside the water and he saw the other ones drinking so he tried it out, drinking on its own.

 

[Eggcessive]

So glad that he is doing better. Good luck. Let us know how he gets along.