poorly new chick

[clucking chicks]

Please can someone help?
My little boys nursery has just successfully hatched 4 chicks in an incubator. They hatched this morning but one chick seems to have a problem with it's leg. It drags one leg behind it as it walks / shuffles and doesn't seem to put any weight on it . The nursery doesn't know what to do about it and the farmer suggested they should put it in the incubator where it is light and warm. Realistically I don't think Hoppy has much hope but can you suggest anything that may have caused this injury or anything we could do to make things a bit easier for the chick? I wondered if maybe he has a broken leg?

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

I doubt it's broken, it's probably deformed. I've had a few like that in the past. Usually I put them down I'm afraid. I don't like to see them suffer too long and I don't think it's fair to get myself attached to them and try to play doctor.

 

[chrismahon]

It may be underdeveloped, have minor damage, major damage or be deformed in some way. Give it another day. At least it can stand up so it may improve. Are the toes able to spread to hold it up, as that is the usual problem if the parent hen had a vitamin deficiency? Unfortunately if it doesn't improve the kindest thing is to put it to sleep as it is a major handicap for a chicken.

 

[foxy]

Without seeing the little chick it is hard to tell. More common defect is splayed leg caused by a slippery surface. Check the flooring an old tea towel for the first few days can help.
If they were hatched in the morning..how soon were they transferred to the brooder?

 

[Chuck]

Don't mess around, get attached or let the chick suffer. From your description it's clear there's something badly wrong.

 

[clucking chicks]

That is what I didn't want to read.
I don't know any of the background to the story but I can see that it is a major handicap for the poor little thing. I will pass on your messages to the nursery when I ring up to find out how the chick is this morning. Thank you for your help and advice.

Katy

 

[Bertie & The Chooks]

Don't mess around, get attached or let the chick suffer. From your description it's clear there's something badly wrong.

tact, chuck. lol :lol: I agree though. you have to think about how it is for them and not humanise them. they are chickens. sad, but if you can't cope, you shouldn't have chickens.

I know they are children in the classroom, but maybe this might be a nice time to bring up Darwin? 11