Wobbly chicks!

[trixiecheeto]

Hi! I had two silver laced polish chicks to hatch out about eight hours ago. They're both really wobbly on their little legs still. This may be a stupid question but is this normal? Also, even though they've fluffed up a little bit they still have a slicked down look to them. I went ahead and took them out of the incubator and put them in the brooder about three hours after they hatched hoping maybe the humidity was just too high for them and keeping them damp. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Cynthia12]

Yes, being wobbly on their little legs is normal at first. They wobble around more on their bellies in the beginning. You will be soo surprised at how well they are walking by morning. They will fluff up too. Just takes some time.
Congratulations on your new babies!

 

[drumstick diva]

Hatching from eggs is hard work, it really wears them out. When they do pop up and run around, you will find in the middle of doing something, they fall asleep and tip over. That's normal for them. They can also fall head first into feeders or water pans. You need to be put clean pebbles or glass chips in the waterer so the water level is very shallow - chicks have been known to drown in them.

If they don't find food and water you can tap on the container (like mama hen) would do to show them where they are. You may even have to dip their beaks a tiny bit in water so they know to drink it.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join the flock! Congrats on your new hatchers I too agree, they sound completely normal and with more time and rest they will soon be up and running about.

Wishing you the very best of luck with them, enjoy your new babies.

Be sure to ask any other questions that you may have, everyone here to help and very friendly

 

[trixiecheeto]

Thanks so much for the info.!!! I'll try to post some pics ( if I can figure out how to on here...I'm fairly new). I'm beginning to think one is deformed because it tries to stand up but just mainly sits on its rump with its legs all splayed out in front of it. If there is something wrong then I'll figure out something. I'll make it some splints for its little legs or try to help it walk until its better. I'm not giving up on these two. Thanks again for the information...y'all are great! Yes, here in Georgia y'all is a word lol!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[trixiecheeto]

Thanks! I'm sooo glad I found this site! I think I finally figured out that the one little chick wasn't deformed I was just using the wrong thing for it to walk on ( too ashamed to mention what it was on here that I was using). It's true that both chicks are weak but I bought some polyvisol, put down paper towels over pine shavings, both are doing a lot better. Hugs to whoever posted that link on here for the poultry podiatrist. Dear hubby is a vet but does not deal in poultry at all so all he could do was give them physical therapy and order their vaccines. I don't think I'll try to incubate anymore shipped eggs. Out of seven fertile eggs I only had three to hatch and one died shortly after hatching. Back in the day when my husband was a kid he had a one hundred percent hatch rate using only a light bulb incubator and a mason jar lid filled with water for humidity... or so he likes to brag. I've figured out I think how to post pictures on here so I'll take a few when they wake up and post them on here.

 

[N F C]

Welcome to BYC!

Congrats on your new chicks, I'm glad to hear things are looking better now. That must be handy to have a vet in the family.

If you would like to meet other members in GA, you can find them here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/121387/yo-georgians

Good luck to you, it's nice having you here!

 

[sagebrush1961]

Just make sure they can get traction on the surface they on. I ended up putting a towel on the floor of my brood box for a few days until they got a little Moore sure footed.

 

[nj2wv]

welcome to BYC !!