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URGENT: Wobbly Chick! Photos/Video Included UPDATE: losing ground

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ItsAZOO32

ItsAZOO32

Crowing
13 Years
Mar 6, 2011
1,327
13
261
Titusville, Fl.
Hi there! I just had my first hatch (3/17 and 3/18) and one chick is having issues standing/walking. He's legs are under him so it doesn't look like "spraddle leg". He's more wobbly like he can't straighten his legs out. He kind of scoots around the brooder with his wings and beak to get food etc. Since this video I have put him in a large Tupperware container with bedding food and water so he is still and close to his nourishment/hydration. Can you please see if you know what I can do to help him? He is very strong and quite a fighter. He's even starting to sit back on his butt like a dog to sit up right and see around him. I know that time is of the essence if I am going to save him. He is eating and drinking (that I can tell) and cheeps like the others. Just the odd leg issue.. thanks!


Jessica
 
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After more research I found this site:

https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

It seems to have a lot of info on chicks with leg problems and what to do. By the description, it seems to me this chick has both legs with slipped tendons
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I made a chick chair for him (BOY was THAT hard) and tried straightening out the legs and tying little bandages on them. I then secured them with tape. This is NOT easy!! Hopefully, I will see some recovery in a few days. I will be taking the bandages off in two days and re-doing if necessary. His joints were really swollen and starting to look infected. I am assuming that if the infection doesn't kill him, I will have to reset the tendons in a day or two when they have a chance to relax and reduce in size. I will let you know how it goes.
 
Well, here he is in his chick chair I fashioned last night.

81805_chickchair.jpg


He does seem to have some pus at the joint from scooting around on his haunches.
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This is not good but I will continue to fight for this baby because he is a fighter!
 
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Yeah I am doing my very best. I have another that seems to have one leg that is kind of splayed out to the side. I have that one in a hobble with a sponge and a band-aid. SIGH... I know most people would just cull them but that's just not my nature. I figure if there is something I can do and it be normal-ish, it's worth a try! I know it isn't ideal but since I'm not a breeder what would it matter to have a hen in my back yard with slightly strange legs?
smile.png
 
I did a lot of research on this last night as I had one with a bad leg. After googling hock joint, I found an old post from 2009 on byc, got to see what a chick looked like with a bad achilles tendon and was able to do more research and help correct. I tried just pulling his leg back in a stretching positon and pinching the hock joint. That didnt work so we made a splint out of a straw. cut it the long way so it wouldnt be tight on him, no tape needed, just have to adjust till you find a good length. She is doing well over 50% better today, she is actually getting around. Drinking water, but not eating yet that I have seen. I put her in with 2 of the other chicks for company and she seems much happier.
You are doing a great job, very creative on the chair, is she eating ok? I have learned so much in the past few weeks, so differant from just buying the chicks a few days old. I hope yours get well quickly
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Yes this little one is eating and drinking fine
smile.png

I made some splints out of q-tip pieces this morning. I straightened out the legs best I could and wrapped gauze and the spints around the tendon area. Her's are so swollen that I couldn't easily correct the tendon. I figure a day or two in the chair with the splints eating the medicated food and drink vitamin water and she should be somewhat better. I will take the splints off and see how they are healing. Maybe I can reduce the swelling and infection, fix the tendon and it will be better.. We shall see
smile.png
 
I'm the person who has the webpage on chicken leg problems, posted at https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/ and https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

It sounds like you are really putting in the good fight for this chick. Can you take any photos of the its legs up close? Maybe we can help figure out things better with some.

I had one that sat & didn't straighten legs much. I think it was just because she needed a little extra time to develop & build strength. However, her hock got scraped scooting against wire & that caused a HOST of problems. So I'd caution: be extra careful to keep your chick on soft-ish flooring.
 
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WOW!! Thanks! I really do find that site super super helpful. This is my first hatch so I am totally new to this.

Here is the chick today.
smile.png



and my other that I have hobbled for a splayed right leg


I don't have any good pictures of the legs just this one before I really knew what the issue was. I feel rather confident that it's the tendon due to the description on your site and others. It was fine and then just couldn't stand up.
sad.png


81805_legproblem.jpg


I know this picture isn't very good but basically it couldn't straighten either leg. It was scooting around on the haunches. It did get some scraping and a bit of pus/irritation from that so I'm hoping I caught it early enough to prevent serious infection.
 

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