Newly hatched chick, sick, neurological issues possible...

So this chick is not in my care, so I will explain it as best I can, but I'm hoping for possible advice for an odd chick. It was just hatched a few days ago, and is a Green Cheek Conure:

"The eggs were fine & both were very healthy when they hatched. I never chased her out of the box, just waited til she left to each, then quickly looked in on them and they would just be sitting there looking like normal full chicks. Now when I look in there, the one's always on his back & when I try to upright him he just stretches all the way out & keeps rocking his head until he falls on his back again.....parent have been feeding them ever since. I don't know what is wrong but the younger one is still ok. Both have normal beaks & nails. The legs on the older one are always stretched out & feet are clutched. "

Parents have raised several clutches before over a span of a few years and have never had any issues like this. He is much much too young to bring to a vet at this point. Parents are still feeding so he has not been pulled for hand feeding.

Breaks my heart. Parents are fed very well IMHO, some seed, always fresh fruit, veggies, seed mix, and sometimes eggs. This lady keeps a great clean indoor enclosure for them. Any advice appreciated....

There might be an issue but wait until the chick is a bit older. The parents feed their chicks on their back when young. Just leave 'em be until a bit older then observe again to see if any issues still.

I had advised her similar, gave her videos to compare chicks, but he seems to be getting worse she told me.

I am just hoping it is not genetic, and that this is a one-off. I'd like to diagnose w/vet later if he makes it, but that's just the problem, he's only a few days old

The parents would usually abandon any chick that have a issue. Just tell her keep an close eye on them and remove him to hand feed if necessary.

Poor baby passed away.

That's unfortunate but it is nature's way of eliminating unhealthy chicks.

So sorry to hear the little one didn't make it!


For future reference though, the chick probably could have been taken to an avian vet as long as there was a way to keep the chick warm to and from the avian vet. A simple solution is turning a lunch pail into a brooder complete with a heating pad, towels (preferably without any loose threads or anything to get caught on) and perhaps a few other items.