[pandora]

My 2 chicks are 11 days old now. They are both feathering up and growing well. The spraddle legged one has been having it's legs supported with plasters, and was moving around happily. Then yesterday I looked at them and one of it's legs was pointing backwards It is having real trouble now moving about at all, and if truth be told I would have put it out of it's misery at birth if I had had more than just the 2 hatch. They are best friends now. I just don't know what to do with it.

I am even more down about it because the healthy chick is looking distinctly cockerel-ish. That would be just my luck - a whole incubator full of eggs and all I get is one cockerel.

BTW, the healthy bird had it's umbilical cord still attached after hatching and it was mentioned that it could be due to lower than optimal humidity. I have since read that Spraddle leg is due to too high a humidity. How did I get one of each, then  :?

[Vember]

Hi Pandora

Really sorry to hear about your chicks problems

Chicks with rough Navels could be that the hatching temp was too high, which I think would then also mean that humidity was too low? Which could be why you have these problems :?

A high temp drys up the air so moister level is low basically :?

Really not sure what course of action to take, apart from  keeping a close eye on the navel and trying to straighten leg.

Like you say its more difficult as you only have the 2


Sarah

[Vember]

Hope this will explain things better, I get all jumbled  




 
  No blood vessels at candling Eggs
not fertile  
 Check flock management

Embryo died very early  
Check egg holding conditions
Check incubation operation
 
  Many dead embryos
Temperature too high or low
Check incubator and accuracy of thermometer
Improper turning   Turn at least 3 times per day  
Poor oxygen supply   Increase ventilation
Poor nutrition   Check breeder flock diet
 
  Piped eggs not hatching
Low humidity   Have correct wet bulb temperature
 
  Hatch too early
High temperature   Check temperature
 
  Hatch too late
 Low temperature   Check temperature
 
  Shells stick to chicks
High humidity  early
or low humidity late   Check humidity
 
  Cripples
Temperature problems   Check incubator
Humidity problems   Check incubator  
Improper turning   Correct turning
Smooth hatching trays   Provide better traction
 
  Large, soft-bodied weak chicks
Low temperature    Check temperature
Poor ventilation   Improve air flow
 
  Mushy chicks, dead on tray
 Navel infection   Improve sanitation
 
  Rough navels  
High temperature or wide temperature fluctuations   Check temperature
Low moisture   Check wet bulb temperature


Hope that explains things a bit better


Sarah

[pandora]

Thanks for that Vember. I have been really saddened by this go at incubating. I am absolutely certain that the fact that my incubator broke and I couldn't get another one for 12 hours, then that took another 10 hrs to get stabilised has led to my problems. The poor eggs couldn't have been messed around any more if I'd tried. On candling at day 16 I had 11 moving chicks, and only 2 made it out. In a way I almost wish I had got none, as I wouldn't have the quandry of what to do with one good chick and one not so good. The umbilical cord chick is now looking mega healthy btw.

Broodies only for me from now on!

[Vember]

Broodies only for me from now on!

They really are the best, take all the worry out of it ( well most of it   )



Glad the other chick is doing well


Sarah