1 day old chick acting weak

Nov 20, 2024
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first time hatching chicks, and very worried 🥲
Hello! I need help. Yesterday, a 2nd chick hatched. She was kinda flopping around but i assumed it was normal, (the first chick hatched that day, but i woke up and she was already there. Unsure how long she had been there.) The first chick, Temmie, was stepping on her so we took her out. She had been in there for about 8 hours i assume, and still hadn’t dried. We put her back in because i read you’re not supposed to take them out until they’re fluffed and I fell asleep. I woke up and my mum had put them both under the brooder. Kiwi-fruit, the second chick is still acting weak like she just hatched and can’t lift her head up or walk. I’m worried it’s early wry neck, or something from Temmie trampling her.

Little kiwi-fruit can’t stand up on its own and her head is always facing down. Hoping vitamins will help but too early to tell as she hasn’t started eating or drinking yet. could this be my incubator’s fault? i always had it running on 37.5°C but when chicks were hatching i put temperature gauge in and it was only at 35. Incubator is a cheap little thing, and i have to spray water manually to manage humidity and was turning the eggs upwards of 4 times a day until lockdown. Also notably didn’t have a humidity gauge.

I don’t know what to do, can someone help please?
attached photo is chick, fully awake. Ignore mess in background i have 5 other 2 week old chicks and pet rats.
 

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It's hard to know if she is just weak or got injured. I would guess she was already weak before getting stepped on. Also, if the floor of the incubator is slippery they can slip and end up with splay leg. It can also happen due to temp and humidity issues in the incubator.

If it were my chick I would try a little sugar water to give her some energy even though she technically doesn't need to eat yet. You can make a small amount 1/4 tsp sugar, maybe a pinch more in 1/4 cup of water. I would use my finger or a Q-tip and just swab it along her beak. If you have Save a chick or maybe a little Nutridrench that might help but I would just start with a small drop.

I would also take a wash cloth or small towel and make a depression to sit her in with her legs under her as they should be. It will hold her upright and she might be able to start using her legs a little to build strength and she also won't have to work to hold her head up.
 
It's hard to know if she is just weak or got injured. I would guess she was already weak before getting stepped on. Also, if the floor of the incubator is slippery they can slip and end up with splay leg. It can also happen due to temp and humidity issues in the incubator.

If it were my chick I would try a little sugar water to give her some energy even though she technically doesn't need to eat yet. You can make a small amount 1/4 tsp sugar, maybe a pinch more in 1/4 cup of water. I would use my finger or a Q-tip and just swab it along her beak. If you have Save a chick or maybe a little Nutridrench that might help but I would just start with a small drop.

I would also take a wash cloth or small towel and make a depression to sit her in with her legs under her as they should be. It will hold her upright and she might be able to start using her legs a little to build strength and she also won't have to work to hold her head up.
thank you! i’ll try this :)
 
It's hard to know if she is just weak or got injured. I would guess she was already weak before getting stepped on. Also, if the floor of the incubator is slippery they can slip and end up with splay leg. It can also happen due to temp and humidity issues in the incubator.

If it were my chick I would try a little sugar water to give her some energy even though she technically doesn't need to eat yet. You can make a small amount 1/4 tsp sugar, maybe a pinch more in 1/4 cup of water. I would use my finger or a Q-tip and just swab it along her beak. If you have Save a chick or maybe a little Nutridrench that might help but I would just start with a small drop.

I would also take a wash cloth or small towel and make a depression to sit her in with her legs under her as they should be. It will hold her upright and she might be able to start using her legs a little to build strength and she also won't have to work to hold her head up.
She hated me using a q tip on her beak while she was [trying to] sleep, but today she is walking around instead of dragging herself, and is much louder! Thanks for your help :)
 

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