Hatchling On Its Back

[eandrews]

Hi All! My first polish hatched this afternoon. I’ve never had a chick get stuck on its back as frequently as this one is right after hatching. It’s only been a few hours since it hatched but it is spending considerable time like this. How would I tell if this is neurological or just the chick “finding its feet”? Only asking because I’ve never had it happen before quite like this.

 

[50-45-1]

I would reach in and right him, and see if he stays upright.
Hatching is pretty exhausting!

 

[Susan Skylark]

If it is a chronic problem several hours after hatching it is likely a balance or neurological issue and prognosis is not great due to likely congenital defect, had one in a batch of shipped eggs, left in the incubator overnight and was dead by morning.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Put it in a small cup or bowl in the incubator and leave it there 24 hours. If it isn’t mobile by then give it poultry cell. I have had both ducklings and chicks go from flipping on their backs to running with the rest using poultry cell when they look like this.

 

[eandrews]

Thank you all for your input! It seems as though I was way ahead of myself. This baby righted itself after a few hours and is perfectly fine now. Comparing online pictures to this one, I’d guess we have a rooster… which is very fitting for how he started out.