[pandora]

After my incubator disaster I got just 2 chicks from 11 expected to hatch. The pekin is looking well now, but the silkie is still struggling to stand. It is 3 days old now. It tries to stand but keeps doing the splits. It can get about, just, but I suspect it really should be culled. As a last shred of hope for it, has anyone kept a chick that was wobbly at 3 days that strengthened up?

Which brings me to my second question. The chicks go beserk if I remove one from their box to inspect them. If I cull the silkie then the pekin will be left alone, and I can't do that. Does anyone know of anyone in the Newbury/Reading area who has any newly hatched chicks available?

[Aunt Sally]

If your chick does the splits it may have spraddle leg !  See if this link may help you:

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

[Foxy]

hi pandora, just a couple of questions to add to aunties post -it does sound like spraddle leg -but also to help build strength how warm are they? are they warm enough? I am presuming to have them under a heat lamp. What do the droppings look like? if they are a bit pasty and sticking to its botty it might be a little chilled.
I would be tempted to add a little finely chopped egg into warmed chick crumb(just a add a little warm water) as a little boost for the little chap, my new chicks go mad for chopped eggs! In addition you could also add poultry vits to their water diluted to around half strength. Good luck with the fella!(or hopefully girlie)

[pandora]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! It does look like spraddle leg, so the little mite is now wearing an elastoplast. Will give them some chopped egg (not short of eggs!) They are under a heat lamp and sitting just a little bit away from the warmest part of it, and their poo looks fine so I am assuming they are warm enough. I have given them an old-fashioned style mop head as a surrogate mummy. Now it is looking better I will get pics.