we have a problem with our chicks this year & I wondered if anyone has experienced similar? In all my years of poultry rearing i have not seen this before  we have 3 out of the 5 day- olds doing the splits....they seem unable to get their legs under them, they just splay sideways  A. wants to knock them on head & be done with it (says they will never be viable) but i want to give them a chance as we lost both parents to fox so nothing to continue our line now. Any thoughts?

could it be Mareks disease ? - not sure if it shows up this young though - ask at www.practicalpoultry.com their forum is great for any chicken questions.

Good luck

Yvonne