2 day old chick with spraddle leg?

[TheBirdLady2001]

He can’t get around very well. He just lays on his belly with his feet out to the sides. I tried making him a brace with a bandaid but he couldn’t get up. Any ideas?

 

[sylviethecochin]

He doesn't have to get up. Use a chick "high-chair" for that (Image below is not mine). The most important thing is that his bones have to grow straight.

Good luck. I hope he makes it.

 

[theoldchick]

He doesn't have to get up. Use a chick "high-chair" for that (Image below is not mine). The most important thing is that his bones have to grow straight.

View attachment 1293247

Good luck. I hope he makes it.

Love this high chair! Great work!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would use the bandaid or a strip of vet wrap and tape the legs within 1 1/4 inch apart. Then work with it on standing, holding, and trying to balance. Leave the hobble on for at least 3 days to 5 days, but it can be removed and replaced. Placing it in the chick chair or in a sling may also help, but the hobble should be in place. The little bottle caps in the pic are used for food and water.

Make sure their is a non-slip surface such as pine shavings, paper towel, or similar so they can grip the floor. Start some chick vitamins as well, since they can help with leg and foot problems.

There are some good sites to read about leg problems in chicks, such as TheChickenChick.com, and Poultry Pedia Podiatry, and FreshEggsDaily if you Google those.

 

[sylviethecochin]

If you do nothing, he'll never get the muscle to support himself and will continue "wiggling around." Worse, his bones will grow in that position, and you'll never be able to fix it.

The chance of his "growing out of it" is nonexistant. He simply can't move his legs into a position in which they can grow properly.

I'm sorry, but sometimes you really do have to be cruel to be kind. Have you considered wrapping him in a towel to immobilise him while he's wearing the splint?

Four days is generally considered the limit for easily healing a chick with spraddle leg. After that, it just gets more and more difficult.

 

[TheBirdLady2001]

 

[BantamAshley]

I just had a chick hatch 3 days ago with spraddle leg, I used this method, and it worked beautifully. I took it off after 2 days, and though her gait is still wider than normal, it improves every day, as she builds strength.
If you do this, just make sure that you check it a few times a day to make sure it didn’t tighten, twist, or slide out of position. My elastic ended up twisting and probably would have made a sore on her leg had I not caught it.

 

[Eggcessive]

The problem with leaving him alone wiggling around, is that his legs will not ever come together. Splay leg in older chicks cannot be fixed. His legs look wider than most, so he might not improve if he has hip problems. But vitamins, trying to work with him, and whatever you can do may help eventually. Handling him under the heat and trying the hobbles is what I would do. My only chick with this really had a tough time at first, but eventually could walk normally.

 

[Eggcessive]

Google splay leg treatment for chicks, and look at FreshEggsDaily and TheChickenChick.com for pics. Vet wrap strips are easy to use and can be replaced if they are not in the right place.

 

[BantamAshley]

I just had a chick hatch 3 days ago with spraddle leg, I used this method, and it worked beautifully. I took it off after 2 days, and though her gait is still wider than normal, it improves every day, as she builds strength.
If you do this, just make sure that you check it a few times a day to make sure it didn’t tighten, twist, or slide out of position. My elastic ended up twisting and probably would have made a sore on her leg had I not caught it.

Ps, I used a small elastic hair tile, and tape in the center. I’ve heard of people using bandaids as well. You could get creative.