Newly hatched chick laying on its back!

[Anonymous]

Hi there

Can anybody tell me why a newly hatched chick doesn't seem to be able to right itself once it falls on its back?! It just lays there, floundering around, until we pick it up and put it back on its feet.

We had one like this in our last batch and, unfortunately, it died after only a few days and we don't want this to happen again.

 

[snifter]

If it isn't able to stand and falls over a lot then I'd think there is something wrong with it.

Are its feet or legs mishapen?

Unfortunately its the down side to poultry keeping. There are always going to be some losses, its just nature. The fittest survive and the weaker or unwell ones maybe not.