One of our chicks?

Question

has bad legs. he is always falling over and falling into his water. we dont know what to do with him?

Answer 1

hello =)

by the way you have described it I'm assuming the chick has a problem called "spraddle" or "splayed" legs

unusually though it's not too common at 3 weeks atctcually very rare ........ normally only a few day old chicks but still. .

Oh has it been like this since birth??

this happens to young chicks especially becausee while they are still young their hip bones and hip sockets are very flexible because they have to grow into place

and so they also easily pop out

j.w was the chick kept in or on an area of newspaper/magazines becaus if so .. that is the main reason .. newspapers give no grip at all..

that's why sawdust and chippings (never cedar) is best .. it gives lots of grip and is more comfortable.

fortunately for the chick it is a relatively easy problem to fix/cure .... all is need is a bit of

pipe cleaner and you simply tie around the legs in a figure of 8 position if that makes sense to you.

here's a link which might make it easier for you

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

Answer 2

Check with your vet. Cause if there is somthing seriously wrong it could stay like that and hurt him when he grows. Vets the way to go.

Answer 3

Is he really young? Was he raised on newspaper or a slick surface? If so he may have splay leg and if it does you need to fix it so its bones don't set that way.

Answer 4

whats wrong with hem? is they are just too far apart then you can splint them,ill look up info...

http://www.cagenbird.com/splayed_leg.htm

Answer 5

If it is both legs, it is probably spraddle leg as was mentioned above. If it is only one leg, it could be that it was born with a tendon or ligament on the wrong side of the leg. This is not reparable.

If the bird does not improve,  you can euthanize it with engine starting fluid (eather). Spray it onto a cotton ball and but both it and the chick into a closed container and it will go to sleep. Use too much and it will go into spasms, so take it easy.

Recommendation for a great non-slip surface: rubberized shelf liner!

1) cheap

2) I cut them to fit into the sections of my hatcher so they won't get their feet stuck between the wire

3) I put one on the aluminum tray in my incubator in case one hatches early and falls to the bottom

4) I put them in the translucent plastic boxes I use for brooders

5) No one tries to eat it

6) Best of all, they are completely washable, and can be dried in the dryer with towels. Just soak them first for about 15 minutes to get most of the droppings off first, and you can use bleach in the wash as well. I got a bunch of them so I have many to use and then wash them all at once.