Hatched chick?

Question

A chick has hatched from the incubaor and its foot is sticking out at a funny angle-as though someone snapped it. Its just as noisy and loud as the others but movement is limited. Is there anything that can be done or is it worth ending its life?

Answer 1

We had a chicken farm and I have had many yard hens... and also wild birds with this problem. They will get along very well. No need to euthanize or anything else. You might try a ball bandage on the foot if you feel it necessary. You will be amazed at how that little chick will adapt. Just watch that the others do not consider it an outcast which is often what happens in the younger chickens. I raised a little newborn Mourning Dove that had the same problem. After 6 months of raising it and taking care of it.. My Feepie flew right off and joined the flock with no problem.

Answer 2

That is normally referred to as sproddled leg.  There are normally two causes:

1. The chick was weak before it ever even hatched

2. The flooring might be a little too slick

There is very little you can do for sproddled leg other than give the chick a little less slick flooring to stand on and if the chick already has sproddled leg that might not help.  It is probably best to put the chick out of its misery.

It is a somewhat common occurrence in a small percentage of chick hatchlings.  Unfortunately groups like PETA try using instances such as sproddled leg to make chicken farms look bad when there is really nothing much that the farmer can do about it.

Answer 3

I am a chicken breeder.This would be called spray legged and it happens from a flooring that has no grip or texture.The best thing to do is take a regular band aid cut it in half length wise.Then have some one hold the chick while you take off the paper that is covering the adhesive. Now you will take and put the pad of the band aid in the center of the it's legs.Then you will wrap one end around one leg ans stick the sticky part to the pad part.Do the same for the other leg. Leave the band aid on for 2 days then remove the band aid.

Please make sure that you have add some thing to the bottom of what ever you have them in.If they are still in the incubator you can use the rubber stuff that you buy to line your cabinets and kitchen drawers. This is also be washed in the washer and be reused.This is what I line my brooder incubator with.It works well and makes for easy clean ups.

Answer 4

sounds like splayed legs.  I'd talk to the vet and see if they have a hobble of some sort

Answer 5

hi there i got a link that will help you....

http://www.parrotparrot.com/splay/

hope it helped

Answer 6

Well it is very plyable right now and may straighten out on its own. But if not you can make a homemade splint to help straighten it out. It all depends just how bad its leg really is. I would have to know more about the leg, but if it just sticks out sideways then chances are it will be fine all on its own. But if not then try consuting a local expierenced breeder and see if they can help. But one thing I do know is it is NOT  worth ending its life, would you end your childs life if they were different?

Answer 7

Oh, sounds like it could be splayed, or maybe the humidity wasn't right and it broke its leg trying to get out.  What are the others like?  If the others aren't hatching or if they look similar you have a big problem!

I've had a chick with splayed legs before, you have to hobble them.  Its done by tying their legs together with wool to force them to stand up, you leave the hobbles on for about two weeks and when you take them off it should be perfect.  Tie each leg seperately or the wool will slide off, its careful work and you'll have to stay nearby because he needs to learn how to walk.  

Good luck!  And also, do not take the hobbles off too soon!  I made that mistake and his leg gradually went back and I couldn't fix it again so he had to be put down.  Keep them on until you are absolutely sure he's strong enough!

eidt - I tried the sponge method and that didn't work, its too fiddly for smaller birds, and the band-aid was also too fiddly and seemed to hurt him.  The wool is the easiest method, and once its on that all you need.