r/poultry

Hi, I really need advice about a chick.

I have 13 chicks, all hatched almost at the same time. Except the last two. The one of the last two hatched was fine on day 1, walking normally.

After about a day in the brooder with others, it got weaker. Other chicks were stepping on it and flipping it over (I saw this on camera).

Since then (now when I'm writing this it's day 5 from hatch), it cannot stand on its legs at all. It tries to move using wings and has good energy, reacts to stimuli, and now it is eating and drinking (with help, sometimes on its own).

The legs seem weak or uncoordinated. One leg was going sideways, so I used a tape hobble (about 0.5–1 cm spacing).

I noticed the chick is:

- very active mentally
- flaps wings and tries to move
- eats and drinks
- cannot stand, falls immediately
- legs feel “loose” and not responding properly

Also I’m worried about poop:

- it doesn’t poop normally
- when it tries, it strains a lot and makes small sounds
- it looks like bubbles or watery stuff coming out, not normal solid poop
- sometimes it looks like just liquid little amount of water

I tried:

- hobbling legs (with breaks)
- short standing exercises 3–4× a day
- keeping it warm (~30°C)
- giving chick starter and water

Questions:

1. Does this sound like splayed leg or something more serious (nerve damage)?
2. Is it normal that the poop looks watery/bubbly and the chick strains like that?
3. Is recovery still possible after 5 days like this?
4. What else can I do to help it start walking? I’m willing to do any exercises, I just don’t want to harm it.

Thanks for any help like a LOT!

My first time having a hen go broody. Can I see you brooder pen set ups for moms and babies?

I BAKE my chicken and it tastes just as good as fried chicken. The healthier alternative to fried chicken. Preheat the oven to °400. I use the Corn Flakes method, you may have heard of it. I pour some Corn Flakes into a Ziploc freezer bag. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to the bag. Close the bag, crush them up but not too fine, leaving some small chunks. Shake it up. I get boneless chicken breasts, and slice them into strips. Then I do the whole egg flower method. So one dry hand, one wet egg hand lol after the 3rd egg dip, while it's dripping with yolk, I drop it in the bag of Corn Flakes and shake it up until it's completely covered. Repeat. Cook for 30 minutes flipping halfway.

ENJOY!!!