Help. My chicks are getting weak and their feet are curling up

[keesmom]

Well The problem was found and I am posting so that any other new chicken person can avoid this. I learned the hard way that chicks need a gripping surface, not smooth paper or other smooth surface. My chicks were spraining their ankles and knees. Simple solution that nobody mentioned when I looked for help. Switched to pine shavings and no more trouble. I feel really stupid for my error so pass this on to any other new feathered friends. Nobody mentioned this key piece of knowledge that everybody else seemed to take for granted.

How old were the chicks when you started having problems?

It is not recommended for day old chicks to be put on newspaper because of the slippery surface, and the possibility of the chicks developing spraddle leg. In your first post you said they were 2 weeks old. Chicks of that age should not develop that same problem as they are more muscled and coordinated.

 

[Mehjr10]

There was another post a couple of nights ago about chickens legs sticking out and feet curling.. They started them on a vitamin drop, poly visol and at the last post they seemed to be improving..