HennyPenny Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 I teach in an Infants School and our Reception Class have hatching eggs at the moment. On Thursday, the chicks hatched but there was one with very curled feet who was really struggling to stand so they came and got me - I am definitely not a vet but as a chicken keeper they thought I was the next best thing! I suggested taking him out of the incubator and putting him into the brooder box as his brothers and sisters were taking turns to stand on him and peck at him and then I ended up bringing him home. His feet are very crooked, despite the use of plasters to try and straighten them out, and although he is moving about, he is 'walking' on his hocks (think that's what they're called) so they are all sore and red and his feet kind of stick up in the air. He's eating and drinking a tiny bit (mostly when I hand feed him) and seems very loud and lively (although he looks very weird!) Despite telling my colleagues on Thursday that I didn't think the prognosis would be good, they are all asking for regular updates on his progress and are talking about making him a school pet when/if he survives! I have to admit that I am finding it very hard to be sensible and realistic as he is just so cute and I am already very attached to him. Tell me you wise chicken keepers -is it still possible that he could improve? Can a chicken have any quality of life if he can't walk? Should I put him out of his misery? Advice please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 The chick sounds like such a sweetie. I don't have any answers apart from maybe massaging it's feet and see how it goes. I'm always up for giving things a chance. I'm sure someone will come along who knows what to do, but massage might help for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Bless the little dude,he is a fighter. Can you get him to vet tomorrow to see if splinting would help. Am sure little bones are soft and maybe mouldable. Keep us updated. I would be like you and go with my heart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 No you are not. The chick is suffering from curled toes because of a lack of vitamin B in the breeding hens, so bad breeding stock management; they should be on an enriched diet for at least two weeks before eggs are collected. The condition can usually be corrected by splinting the toes flat using stiff card (cut into claw shapes) and plasters, I've seen photographs and does look very fiddly to do. It has to be done early though before the bones set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 He's loud because He's either in pain or hungry or both. quiet and loud chicks that don't interacted with the rest of the mob are the ones that need to be watched more than the others. it's not an easy or nice thing but you need to consider the chick's welfare short and long term need eating properly at this young stage will or could have an effect on it's development latter on if your certain it's a boy that is also a consideration I'm assuming it's a hybrid as You've said He's (got a problem). the only part of the equation that is low down in the list of things to consider are your colleagues the chicks welfare is all that matters I don't envy you and your task one bit! I can cull 20+ week old cockerels for the table but not day old ones, luckerly I've not had a chick with a problem that survived hatching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 I think you either need to intervene asap and splint him/her (there are plenty of pix on the Internet on how to do this) or you need to dispatch. It's not fair to the chick to allow it to hobble about as it may be in pain, it will not get better left to its own devices, and it won't survive life in a flock with such a disability. It's definitely worth a go, and I wish you the best of luck. If you do have to cull, then at the risk of coming over all hard hearted, remember it is physically easier than trying to deal with a large cockerals. I also remind myself that the bird has not yet developed months of personality and endearing traits, which I find makes it easier, for me at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny Posted May 14, 2017 Author Share Posted May 14, 2017 Thank you for all the helpful advice and support. We have splinted his/her legs and got some poultry vitamin drops which seem to have given him a bit of an appetite! I'm glad that other people weren't suggesting giving up just yet but I am realistic enough (at least in theory) to set a deadline (inappropriate word?) of a week from hatching for any signs of significant improvement and then we know we will have to send him on his way as gently as we can (assuming that Mother Nature doesn't beat us to it, of course.) Our school has been hatching chicks for years but we've used a different company this year and I think that may have been a mistake. Only 8 of the 10 eggs hatched and one was our Rocky (we think he's a fighter) and another one was a pretty weak specimen. Thanks again x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 8 from 10's not a bad hatch rate, 2 from 8 poor quality ones through would make me think twice about buying from a supplier again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HennyPenny Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 Sad news - Rocky is no more. Yesterday, he really seemed to have perked up - actively pecking food from the spoon instead of being fed and starting to look better...but, as suspected, if was just a final rallying before the inevitable and today he is gone. I will miss his cheeping and cuddling his little feathery body but I know he would not have survived in the long term. We will be feeding back to the company the eggs came from in the hope that this is avoided in the future if possible, although we all know that these things can happen, even with the best hen keeping. The two unhatched eggs were opened (by staff with stronger stomachs than me!) and one chick was full formed but not breathing while the other was just never fully formed. I know that 7/10 is a reasonable success rate, but apparently the eggs supplied by the previous company have yielded 9/10 over the past 5 years. We may be returning to them next year. I still believe that we did our best and it was better to give him a few days of (relatively comfortable) life than to do nothing and let him die (potentially in front of our youngest children!) and I would like to say Thank You to everyone for the valuable advice and support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Hmm, sounds more like perosis than just curled feet... Sometimes they hatch with the ligament down the back of the leg displaced from the groove it runs through. I am afraid that it will need to be culled, I have had a couple hatch like that over the years and they never thrive, best to do it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Uhm... DM... I think he's already dead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Sorry, am away, and on a titchy screen, so can't see all the text Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 You gave the little chick a chance but obviously nature decided differently. I'm sorry he didn't make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millie-Annie Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Well done for all your efforts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Yes, you did your best, but it wasn't to be, unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...