I have a 6 day old baby and its always on its back lying down....I put it up right but always goes to same position...the other yonger chicks are always upright....

 

Is this normal and can it lead the splayed legs?????

Is there anything to do about it or leave it ???

Edited December 4, 200915 yr by KAZ

I have a 6 day old baby and its always on its back lying down....I put it up right but always goes to same position...the other yonger chicks are always upright....

 

Is this normal and can it lead the splay legs?????

Is there anything to do about it or leave it ???

 

 

It depends..............if the time you are looking at it is just after its been fed ( parents feed them on their backs ) its normal. If you notice any displacement of legs or hips and any redness on the limbs then it has an issue. Might be too soon to be anticipating a problem.

Edited December 4, 200915 yr by KAZ

Thanks Kaz,

 

It's always on its back constantly...others are upright, I realise mum puts them on their backs to be fed but this one ( the oldest ) is always on its back like a dead position with legs spread out. I put it upright and it's legs seem strong but it looks like it can't stay up....it's head keeps falling back, and is only comfortable on it's back it seems.... i looked and there no redness on its legs or joints, so don't know really..

 

Has anybody seen this before...

You need to watch it for awhile and try and figure out the issue. I had one once that had a broken neck and it kept falling over or not able to stand...I euthenased it

I had one that was on it's back like that all the time too but it was splayed legs really bad, and I had another baby in another nest that all of a sudden had it's neck in a funny position kinked sideways, I kept trying to straighten his neck but it kept returning back to the same kinked position I was going to put him down but decided to it it be and see what happens and after a couple of weeks it was normal again.

He was only 6 days old when I first discovered it but he is totally normal now and he is about 12 weeks old.