12 week old spraddle legs & panting issue

[Eggcessive]

Here are a few links about what ingredients are found in chicken feed around the world:
http://www.poultryhub.org/nutrition/feed-ingredients/

https://articles.extension.org/pages/68432/common-feed-ingredients-in-poultry-diets

https://www.thespruce.com/make-chicken-or-poultry-feed-3016558

 

[EggSighted4Life]

1 cup Pearl Millet (Bajra)
1/2 cup Corn
1/2 cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 cup Sesame Seeds
1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds

Along with this I am also gicing her 1-2 scrambled eggs daily

Way too much over all fat IMO... you need a leaner source of protein. Are those seed you're giving whole or hulled?

Sprouting those, if you are able will maximize your benefit from any of them.. and wouldn't take too much effort for just a couple birds... which In see you already say you do sometimes anyways.

Seems like I remember reading that millet was high in something undesirable.. might consider oats as another alternative?

I also am no nutritionist... But most feeds I have seen aim between 16-22% protein, under 4% fat, and about 5-7% fiber. With her being a broiler breed and aiming for long life, in addition to age... I personally would aim for 18%-20% protein, 3% ish fat, and slightly high in the fiber end of things... *maybe* up to 10%.

Eggs are a great supplement.. but too much of a good thing is not, long term. They are 34% protein and 64% fat by energy count.

It's true that teenage birds will go through mini molts while getting in their adult plumage. And feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids. Some of which must be derived from animal sources. I don't know the exacts of which ones have what.. but thinking yes eggs are one, and maybe bugs, tuna or other cooked fish, or other lean cooked meat. A nut you don't mention which can be another good source of omega's is walnuts, I believe. And what I mean by saying that is that seems like variety is best if possible.

If you can... maybe look up the ingredients you are using and right down their major nutritional values... aka protein, fat, and carbs including fiber... then add them up in your mixed amounts and divide (blah blah )... and get YOUR basic analysis of what you are feeding. So you can know the truth about where you stand nutritionally.

Just brainstorming... because I can tell you care!

 

[Saaniya]

Yes, she has! My girls have gotten better, especially Tooki and I myself have gained some confidence in feeding them all thanks to @Saaniya

Awwww no need of thanks dear

 

[Tanya22]

Way too much over all fat IMO... you need a leaner source of protein. Are those seed you're giving whole or hulled?

Sprouting those, if you are able will maximize your benefit from any of them.. and wouldn't take too much effort for just a couple birds... which In see you already say you do sometimes anyways.

Seems like I remember reading that millet was high in something undesirable.. might consider oats as another alternative?

I also am no nutritionist... But most feeds I have seen aim between 16-22% protein, under 4% fat, and about 5-7% fiber. With her being a broiler breed and aiming for long life, in addition to age... I personally would aim for 18%-20% protein, 3% ish fat, and slightly high in the fiber end of things... *maybe* up to 10%.

Eggs are a great supplement.. but too much of a good thing is not, long term. They are 34% protein and 64% fat by energy count.

It's true that teenage birds will go through mini molts while getting in their adult plumage. And feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids. Some of which must be derived from animal sources. I don't know the exacts of which ones have what.. but thinking yes eggs are one, and maybe bugs, tuna or other cooked fish, or other lean cooked meat. A nut you don't mention which can be another good source of omega's is walnuts, I believe. And what I mean by saying that is that seems like variety is best if possible.

If you can... maybe look up the ingredients you are using and right down their major nutritional values... aka protein, fat, and carbs including fiber... then add them up in your mixed amounts and divide (blah blah )... and get YOUR basic analysis of what you are feeding. So you can know the truth about where you stand nutritionally.

Just brainstorming... because I can tell you care!

This is really good advise! I have been looking up recipes online for chicken feed and made this using one of them. Of course I couldn't find all the ingredients so I had to figure it out on my own. But I will look up the values of all the seeds I am using and then see if I can create something better for my girls.

 

[Tanya22]

Way too much over all fat IMO... you need a leaner source of protein. Are those seed you're giving whole or hulled?

Sprouting those, if you are able will maximize your benefit from any of them.. and wouldn't take too much effort for just a couple birds... which In see you already say you do sometimes anyways.

Seems like I remember reading that millet was high in something undesirable.. might consider oats as another alternative?

I also am no nutritionist... But most feeds I have seen aim between 16-22% protein, under 4% fat, and about 5-7% fiber. With her being a broiler breed and aiming for long life, in addition to age... I personally would aim for 18%-20% protein, 3% ish fat, and slightly high in the fiber end of things... *maybe* up to 10%.

Eggs are a great supplement.. but too much of a good thing is not, long term. They are 34% protein and 64% fat by energy count.

It's true that teenage birds will go through mini molts while getting in their adult plumage. And feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids. Some of which must be derived from animal sources. I don't know the exacts of which ones have what.. but thinking yes eggs are one, and maybe bugs, tuna or other cooked fish, or other lean cooked meat. A nut you don't mention which can be another good source of omega's is walnuts, I believe. And what I mean by saying that is that seems like variety is best if possible.

If you can... maybe look up the ingredients you are using and right down their major nutritional values... aka protein, fat, and carbs including fiber... then add them up in your mixed amounts and divide (blah blah )... and get YOUR basic analysis of what you are feeding. So you can know the truth about where you stand nutritionally.

Just brainstorming... because I can tell you care!

I am sending this pic of all the ingredients that I am using for them. I haven't added Barley yet as it is not hulled. Also, Pearl millet is not in this picture.

Way too much over all fat IMO... you need a leaner source of protein. Are those seed you're giving whole or hulled?

Sprouting those, if you are able will maximize your benefit from any of them.. and wouldn't take too much effort for just a couple birds... which In see you already say you do sometimes anyways.

Seems like I remember reading that millet was high in something undesirable.. might consider oats as another alternative?

I also am no nutritionist... But most feeds I have seen aim between 16-22% protein, under 4% fat, and about 5-7% fiber. With her being a broiler breed and aiming for long life, in addition to age... I personally would aim for 18%-20% protein, 3% ish fat, and slightly high in the fiber end of things... *maybe* up to 10%.

Eggs are a great supplement.. but too much of a good thing is not, long term. They are 34% protein and 64% fat by energy count.

It's true that teenage birds will go through mini molts while getting in their adult plumage. And feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids. Some of which must be derived from animal sources. I don't know the exacts of which ones have what.. but thinking yes eggs are one, and maybe bugs, tuna or other cooked fish, or other lean cooked meat. A nut you don't mention which can be another good source of omega's is walnuts, I believe. And what I mean by saying that is that seems like variety is best if possible.

If you can... maybe look up the ingredients you are using and right down their major nutritional values... aka protein, fat, and carbs including fiber... then add them up in your mixed amounts and divide (blah blah )... and get YOUR basic analysis of what you are feeding. So you can know the truth about where you stand nutritionally.

Just brainstorming... because I can tell you care!

I have made this chart of all the ingredients that I am using and the percentage of protein, fat, carbs and fibre in them.
I am thinking that I should increase Pearl millet or add oats and also increase corn to balance out the excess fat. Please let me know what all of you think and if the nutritional facts are wrong anywhere.

 

[Tanya22]

From what I am understanding, I will have to reduce sesame, Pumpkin and sunflower seeds and lower their ratio to about 1/4th or 1/5th to go to 3% fat. I will calculate the exact amount and post it then.

 

[Tanya22]

Hello everyone! I have made the following for my Tooki to improve her legs. I saw a video that @Saaniya suggested and some pics and created this.

Tooki is able to stand on one leg in this. Her right leg which is badly damaged is hanging midair. It is folded and bent from the joint and bends inwards. I am hoping that it will improve in time.
She is able to poop freely without the cloth blocking her vent and I even saw her trying to preen her leg! She is fidgeting a lot as she is not used to standing these days. Poor girl just drags herself to reach her food and sits to eat it.
But I hope that this helps her. Any suggestions would be helpful regarding her leg.

 

[Saaniya]

@staceyj @casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @connectdave

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello everyone! I have made the following for my Tooki to improve her legs. I saw a video that @Saaniya suggested and some pics and created this.

View attachment 1617242

View attachment 1617243
Tooki is able to stand on one leg in this. Her right leg which is badly damaged is hanging midair. It is folded and bent from the joint and bends inwards. I am hoping that it will improve in time.
She is able to poop freely without the cloth blocking her vent and I even saw her trying to preen her leg! She is fidgeting a lot as she is not used to standing these days. Poor girl just drags herself to reach her food and sits to eat it.
But I hope that this helps her. Any suggestions would be helpful regarding her leg.

She's so cute!
Do you have updated photos of what Tooki's leg looks like?
From your description of folded and bent at the joint and with it bending inwards, I still have to lean toward it being a leg bone deformity which probably will not get better over time.
I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe in speaking the truth as well. It does you nor Tooki any favors by saying otherwise.

The only think I know for you to do, is to continue doing what you have been - the sling is a good idea.
Keeping her eating/drinking. If you have been giving her intensive vitamin therapy for a few weeks, depending on what that consists of, it may be time to slack off on those so she is not overloaded. Some vitamins are not as readily excreted from the body as others and can build up over time.

Thank you for the photos. I hope others have better suggestions than I do.

 

[Tanya22]

She's so cute!
Do you have updated photos of what Tooki's leg looks like?
From your description of folded and bent at the joint and with it bending inwards, I still have to lean toward it being a leg bone deformity which probably will not get better over time.
I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news, but I believe in speaking the truth as well. It does you nor Tooki any favors by saying otherwise.

The only think I know for you to do, is to continue doing what you have been - the sling is a good idea.
Keeping her eating/drinking. If you have been giving her intensive vitamin therapy for a few weeks, depending on what that consists of, it may be time to slack off on those so she is not overloaded. Some vitamins are not as readily excreted from the body as others and can build up over time.

Thank you for the photos. I hope others have better suggestions than I do.

Thank you so much!

I understand what you are saying. For me it's like.. I have to try every option and hope for the best.
As for the leg deformity... could you tell me if in the case of such a thing a chicken's leg is deformed from day one. Or does it show overtime?

For now I am not giving her any vitamins as she is on a 5 day course of Trepin Powder.
And I have put her on a Pearl Millet diet only and since then her panting has almost completely stopped. I think she was having trouble digesting other foods and that might have also been a cause of her panting.

I will continue with the sling. Can you tell me how long I should keep her in the sling in a day?

Also, I will send pics of her leg soon. Somehow, I am unable to forward it right now but I will try again.