2 Week Old Chick--Problems

[labpac4]

I have a new flock of 11 different birds. They have been growing like crazy and seemed quite healthly. Tonight I realized one of the little yellow ones can't walk. In checking her over, I think somthing is wrong with her leg or legs. She just can't seem to stand up on them. Is there anything I can do; should I isolate her from the others? Thanks; I feel so helpless.
Cindy

 

[MissJenny]

First of all --

Has she been like this all along? Did you ever notice her using her legs normally? Is it possible she has splayed legs (spraddle legs) and you simply hadn't noticed? Unless the others are running over her quite a lot I would avoid separating. I think it's better to keep her in a nest of sorts -- a wound up dish rag of finger tip towel, a small box with two sides cut off (two sides left for support and two sides cut off so's she won't hurt herself hopping out of the thing)

Do a search here to see examples of spraddle leg. If you think that's it then make hobble with a bandaid (which doesn't stick so tight, so permanently as masking tape). Give her some children's liquid poly-vi-sol vitamins WITHOUT iron. When chicks are very little I mix vitamins with water in a cap or jar lid -- dip her beak in it, make sure she drinks. Have food available.

Can you take pictures so we can see what her issue is?

Jenny

 

[labpac4]

She's been fine up until today--growing, flapping and looking healthy. When I picked her up she didn't resist, but when I set her back down she just lays flat as if she can't stand on them.

 

[MissJenny]

Make her a nest and get her some vitamins... It isn't likely that she got her legs broken.... Are there children handling the chicks?

Jenny

 

[labpac4]

No children handling them--I'll make the box as you suggested. What kind of vitamins do I give her?

 

[labpac4]

I've taken some photos of my "limpy" chick and uploaded them but now what? How do I get them into the message so you can see them?

 

[MissJenny]

In the pharmacy or grocery store you will look for the children's vitamins -- you need Poly-Vi-Sol WITHOUT iron. Some people put two drops on the top of the beak -- others put a few drops in a very small container of water, like a bottle cap or a small jar lid.

As for pictures: Go to "Uploads" about the middle of the blue bar above. Choose file. A box with your pictures will open. Click on your picture. Click on "Open". Click "Submit". There are now two choices: "Thumb" and "Image". Highlight the information in the "Image" box. Hit Control C to copy. Bring that information to your "Reply page" and hit "Control V" to paste it onto your reply.

It looks complicated or confusing, but once you've done it it's a snap.

The reason I asked about children is that if a child injures an animal accidentally they may not know what they have done or they may be to afraid to tell someone. Sometimes we have to go on our best guess as to what happened and move on to what to do about it.

How's your baby this morning?

Jenny