Here at Cheeky Chicken Hobby Farm we like to share our experiences and day-to-day activities for others wanting to know how others do it.
Video Link to 2 Weeks Later.
https://fb.watch/hIrqxgQRg5/?mibextid=qC1gEa
What is Splay or Spraddle Leg.
Splay leg is when your chick looks like it’s doing the splits, either one leg or both legs out to the side, or one leg or both legs facing forward. Sometimes a leg can also be behind the chick but this is when slipped tendon could be more of a possibility.
How to treat.
Add some poultry multi vitamins (available at most pet produce stores) to your chicks water for 24-48 hours to assist with development and healing. However, this is not essential, so do not feel the need to run out and buy some, rarely it’s a vitamin deficiency that causes splay leg.
1. Get a Band-Aid and cut in half long ways. Do not pull the protective paper off yet as this will stop the Band-Aid going haywire.
2. Wrap one end around the chicks leg. Make sure it is just below the hock (knee) joint.
3. Bring the chicks legs to the correct position, which is generally just as wide as the non adhesive bandage part of the Band-Aid.
4. Wrap the other side around the other leg.
5. The chick will struggle, I like to hold/support it on the ground for 30ish minutes (like in the photo) to help it get its balance.
Your chick will struggle to walk and get to food and water until it gets used to it. You will need to assist every hour with food and water until it gets used to it. Depending on age, my 1-2day olds I’m not worried about as they can survive the first 48 hours without food and water, (but I do dip the beak a couple times a day to make sure). 3 days plus it takes at least 3-5 hours for them to get used to being taped and then they can manage to eat and drink.
How long do I do this for?
Once again it depends on age, the younger the better. I had a week old that stayed taped for 48 hours, gave him a couple hours brake but noticed there was still a slight issue. He got taped for another 24 hours and was then fine. He is now 4.5 weeks and you wouldn’t be able to tell.
This little one is 24 hours old, so the plan is to leave for 24 hours, give it a couple hours brake and re-assess. Update: I reassessed after 24 hours and re taped for another 48 hours. He is all good now and running around.
I helped a colleague with their first splayed leg and the chick was 1.5weeks and had been this way for a couple day. This one took 5 days to correct.
Chicks grow so quickly, the longer you leave it, the longer it will take to fix, the younger they are, the quicker it will fix.
Causes.
9 times out of 10, the floor is slippery and causes this issue.
Incorrect hatching, for example, hatching at the wrong end and foot getting caught will turning to zip can be a factor.
Poor parent nutrition.
Large fluctuations in temperatures while incubating, primarily cooler temperatures.
Vitamin deficiency.
Prevention.
Make sure the floor of your brooder has a non slip surface. However, if you have a chick that was injured during their hatch or has a vitamin deficiency it will only prevent further issues and treatment with vitamin water will be necessary.
2-3 days before collecting your eggs for incubation, provide additional vitamin supplements (I do it in their water) to reduce the risk of vitamin deficient issues in your chicks. Provide the supplement each day for the 2-3 days and you can continue until you stop collecting. For me this isn’t viable as I am pretty much always collecting. So I just do it for 3 days out of a month. I have only had 2 splay legs so far, one was due to slippery flooring, the other was a hatch assist that was pipping at the wrong end.
Update
He is now 2 weeks old and running around with his friends like nothing happened (see attached photo).
Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.
Video Link to 2 Weeks Later.
https://fb.watch/hIrqxgQRg5/?mibextid=qC1gEa
What is Splay or Spraddle Leg.
Splay leg is when your chick looks like it’s doing the splits, either one leg or both legs out to the side, or one leg or both legs facing forward. Sometimes a leg can also be behind the chick but this is when slipped tendon could be more of a possibility.
How to treat.
Add some poultry multi vitamins (available at most pet produce stores) to your chicks water for 24-48 hours to assist with development and healing. However, this is not essential, so do not feel the need to run out and buy some, rarely it’s a vitamin deficiency that causes splay leg.
1. Get a Band-Aid and cut in half long ways. Do not pull the protective paper off yet as this will stop the Band-Aid going haywire.
2. Wrap one end around the chicks leg. Make sure it is just below the hock (knee) joint.
3. Bring the chicks legs to the correct position, which is generally just as wide as the non adhesive bandage part of the Band-Aid.
4. Wrap the other side around the other leg.
5. The chick will struggle, I like to hold/support it on the ground for 30ish minutes (like in the photo) to help it get its balance.
Your chick will struggle to walk and get to food and water until it gets used to it. You will need to assist every hour with food and water until it gets used to it. Depending on age, my 1-2day olds I’m not worried about as they can survive the first 48 hours without food and water, (but I do dip the beak a couple times a day to make sure). 3 days plus it takes at least 3-5 hours for them to get used to being taped and then they can manage to eat and drink.
How long do I do this for?
Once again it depends on age, the younger the better. I had a week old that stayed taped for 48 hours, gave him a couple hours brake but noticed there was still a slight issue. He got taped for another 24 hours and was then fine. He is now 4.5 weeks and you wouldn’t be able to tell.
This little one is 24 hours old, so the plan is to leave for 24 hours, give it a couple hours brake and re-assess. Update: I reassessed after 24 hours and re taped for another 48 hours. He is all good now and running around.
I helped a colleague with their first splayed leg and the chick was 1.5weeks and had been this way for a couple day. This one took 5 days to correct.
Chicks grow so quickly, the longer you leave it, the longer it will take to fix, the younger they are, the quicker it will fix.
Causes.
9 times out of 10, the floor is slippery and causes this issue.
Incorrect hatching, for example, hatching at the wrong end and foot getting caught will turning to zip can be a factor.
Poor parent nutrition.
Large fluctuations in temperatures while incubating, primarily cooler temperatures.
Vitamin deficiency.
Prevention.
Make sure the floor of your brooder has a non slip surface. However, if you have a chick that was injured during their hatch or has a vitamin deficiency it will only prevent further issues and treatment with vitamin water will be necessary.
2-3 days before collecting your eggs for incubation, provide additional vitamin supplements (I do it in their water) to reduce the risk of vitamin deficient issues in your chicks. Provide the supplement each day for the 2-3 days and you can continue until you stop collecting. For me this isn’t viable as I am pretty much always collecting. So I just do it for 3 days out of a month. I have only had 2 splay legs so far, one was due to slippery flooring, the other was a hatch assist that was pipping at the wrong end.
Update
He is now 2 weeks old and running around with his friends like nothing happened (see attached photo).
Good luck, and feel free to ask any questions.
