Have a mix of chicks that hatched about a week ago. First time hatching and got a hatch rate of roughly 50%, so happy.

The problem is that all the chicks were fine for the first few day's. Then a couple of them were having problems with there legs, leg dragging. The problem progressed, and now both legs are at 90 degrees to the body, and the chicks are on there stomaches, and legs pointing out from there bodies. Reminds me of a fiddler crab, sick sick... poor things.

Is this due to the newspaper on the bottom of there box, as the hatchery said, or is this a sickness?

I now have wood chips on the bottom and have one more chick that is showing signs. They are now one week old + - 1 day.

Gregg-
Sometimes "heavy" breeds develop these problems when paper bottom is not removed after the first days. I have never seen the problem occur with lighter breeds. Are yours "heavy"? If not,I would look to disease or malnutrition for an explanation.

Hi Bill,
Thanks for the reply, please take a look at the thread under the Health heading. Can't recall his name but he had mentioned that there is a malnutrition problem with the hens that produced the eggs.

These are light breeds, bantie and believe the other two were also light. These eggs were purchased from Murry McMurry, and were part of the Rarest of the Rare, and the Bantie Rare assortments. I am not blameing McMurry, just wanted to know. The other chicks are all fine and a very nice assortment.

I can see were the Heavy Breeds would develope leg problems. From now on I will start the newly hatched chicks right in wood chips and try to avoid the paper.

Thanks again for your feedback,
Gregg

I think it might be an overheating problem at the end of the hatch and the chicks are exhausted, especially if its a big body in thin legs, they likely could use a boost, try to get some calcium and riboflavin into them ;- in some milk and marmite in the drink every day for a week maybe and make them drink it whatever happens they need fluid to survive usually when they get the messege theyll manage.