Help!!! Chick can't stand!!!

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HorseMadWhovian

HorseMadWhovian

Chirping
6 Years
Dec 12, 2013
125
2
71
On my horse ;)
I have a day old Silkie X chick who has a seriously splayed leg. When she tries to stand up she flails around and falls. We think she slipped while standing up in our incubator. She's very weak but won't eat or drink. Her foot is also turned out, so clubfoot and splayed.
Please help!!!!
 
Also check to be sure no leg bones are broken. We had day old chicks shipped in, and we thought one just had splay leg. Well, it didn't. We made hobbles for it, which didn't help much, and by a few days later, one foot was permanently turned out. The cause was a fracture of the femur (thigh bone). We could feel the callus that formed over the break, which set the foot permanently sideways. Before then, it wasn't that obvious. I humanely euthanized the chick because it wasn't able to eat or drink properly, and I did not see an acceptable quality of life for her. I hope your chick responds to treatment. If not, don't beat yourself up. It happens. Hang in there.
 
It's hard when they're that small, but you can use your thumb and index finger to feel as much of the thigh and lower leg as possible. If a callus hasn't formed yet, you can feel the break or hear bone on bone if broken. A broken leg may also look shorter than a normal one. If the callus has formed, you will feel a large bony bump. That is how I knew for sure. Since you hatchef this chick yourself, it is less likely to be fractured than a shipped chick.
 
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