2 MAJOR ISSUES!!!

[LuisaD]

I incubated eggs, and being the girl I am, got INSTANTLY attached... 2 of my 18 hatches won't put one of their legs down, they're trying to balance on only that one leg.... I did all my research and the only thing that adds up is a slipped achilles tendon but i have continuously tried popping it back in place and I'm not getting a result.. when I try putting a splint on them they get very worked up, and I think they only do harm to themselves not good... I brought the babies to the feed store with me today and they said they had never seen anything like it... HOW REASSURING!! Anyways, I'm not sure how to fix them or if there is a way at this point but any ideas would be greatly appreciated as I am not emotionally attached and willing to try anything, becuase the way I look at it, I brought them in this world, so I have to give them the best chance I can!

Second, I have a late hatcher, who hatched last night 4 days later than he was supposed to... I helped him out because he couldn't get out on his own, and he's walking just fine but his skin is EXTREMELY scabby and dry... What can I put on to help him?!?! Please HELP!

Thanks!!!

 

[hollyk]

I don't really know what to say, but I wanted to bump your post up. Time may make it better. The dry skinned chick could be helped with a little olive oil.

 

[tec27]

I don't really know what to say, but I wanted to bump your post up. Time may make it better. The dry skinned chick could be helped with a little olive oil.

I agree with the olive oil. Water will dry out too fast. For the first question, i have honestly no idea what your talking about. Ive never heard of that before. Post a pic.

 

[LuisaD]

The first 3 is of 1 chick, last of other.. they both hold their legs up but one is much more twisted then the other, and the hocks are very swollen, but they don't rotate legs they are always holding up the same leg!! Let me know! Thanks!

 

[LuisaD]

anyone...? any ideas?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Here's a link on leg issues:
https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

You will need to make a chick chair and get it off it's feet - it will not get better on it's own.

 

[mandelyn]

With the 2nd issue, is it the fluff that's gunked up and dried up hard? If so, warm water on a paper towel with a tiny bit of mild, natural soap. Gently wipe the areas. The water will soften it and the soap will loosen it. If that isn't what it is... then I don't know.

For the leg issues, if splinting isn't working, then time to see if they straighten out or not. Sometimes the leg doesn't form correctly if it's bent weird in the egg, or humidity issues during incubation, or some other issue. I've seen splints combined with a sling in a cup, to immobile them further while splinting... I've seen some odd methods for leg issues. You'd have to do a search for specific threads on that. There's some really creative methods around on this forum somewhere.

I usually give the chick 4-5 days while I try everything I can. I have a small wire cage top I use to separate the chick during treatment in the brooder where it can see and hear the others but not get pecked at. I have a giant brooder to give room for that, or for mixing ages with a barrier.

Keep trying all you can, I had one with double splay leg learn to walk and move around, one leg healed perfect, the other not as well, but he used it as a kick stand. So we named him Kick Stand and he went on to be a pet in a small flock. I used tooth picks and band aids for splinting, then wrapped him in a wash rag for support to keep his feet under him properly and reduce movement. I cut the top off of a plastic cup to make a tiny water bowl, and sprinkled food right in front of him. Set him up in a corner of the wire cage nearest to where the others gathered to sleep.

I'm not familiar with the leg issues your guys are having, I haven't seen that one yet. I only have experience with splay leg.

 

[LuisaD]

the soap and water worked like a charm! I saw someone write on here about a chick hatching with one foot forward one backward, just got another one that hatched with a weird leg I'm guessing the guy I got my eggs from was not feeding the mommas the right vitamins... but how can I fix that? or is that something it will have to fix on its own?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm sorry, but that leg will not correct itself - you need to make a chair and get the weight off of it. I have experienced a slipped hock tendon in a chick I hatched, and ended up having to put the chick down two weeks later. I massaged, stretched, and did everything but the chair and it only got worse. The chicks body ended up so torqued trying to compensate for the bad leg.

 

[LuisaD]

I made a chair but it keeps getting really stressed, and getting one foot out of there... i can't leave her alone...? Is the most humane thing to let her go? her hocks are getting really swollen