3 day old chick, legs no better at wits end,nerves shot

[dac63]

i have posted about this baby chick earlier . I really dont know if she has splay legs or what is going on at this point, but i am desperate. i did the tape thing and now have her in the orthopedic chair sling. i tried the pipe cleaners also today with the chair. her legs are worse looking and felt cool like maybe the pipe cleaners were affecting circulation. . i left her in the incubator the 24 hours after hatching as it says and i didnt realize when she was moving around the flooring of the bator was injuring the hocks. she has been so fiesty but she isnt eating much . when she is supposed to be standing she is on her hocks even when hobbled. if not hobbled she stands on her hocks with her legs sticking up in front on either side. Has anyone had this happen and were they able to treat it. I almost cant stand to look at those little legs. I have been massaging them and her feet and stretching them a little as i saw that if the tendons are out of groove this can help. when you straigten them they just spring right back up. If i have to put her down , is there a way that isnt gruesome. the other two late hatchers also have leg problems . The first eight are fine. After this with the three with the bad legs dont know that i will want to try the incubator again. Feel like it must be my fault. This is just so upsetting. Please if anyone has any more ideas i would appreciate hearing from you. thank you donna

 

[TheBirdiesAreMyBabies777]

Hello,

we have a couple of young girls that are recovering well from minor leg weaknesses. We have been using homemade fleece "hammocks" to suspend them, so that the palms of their feet are touching the ground, but also so that the full weight of each girl isn't on their legs. (Fabric stores, like Jo-ann's, usually has pretty good prices on remnant fleece pieces.) We took a square of fleece (you may need about a 6"x6" square) & cut two, 1/4" holes in the middle for each leg, and separate small holes (quarter sized) about a half inch from the leg holes in both directions. (The hole pattern should look like this: [O : O] .) (One for the chick's head, and one to go up over their tail so they can still poop past the "hammock".) Then we cut 1/2"-wide symmetrical strips from the outside of the square towards the holes, but not all the way to them. (The strips are kind of parallel to the set of leg holes.) These will be used to lightly tie the chick into the "hammock", which is why they should be symmetrical, or at least equal in number on both sides. A strip on each corner should be a little wider & at a slight angle, and used to tie up the chick in a small cage for suspension. As you tie the chick in the "hammock" make sure to secure their wings as they grow, and keep the bird level in suspension. We use lids from large water bottles/milk jugs for feed & water trays that we put on small pedestals where the girls can reach them, so they don't have to bend down. You can use an old laundry soap cap as a pedestal and tape the smaller lids on it side by side. It helps to use rolled gray tape to attach the smaller lids. You may also need to add some sort of a weight to the pedestal as your bird gets stronger, so they can't tip it over. You may still want to use a small tape or cloth band-aid strip to keep your chick's legs spaced at the proper distance. Our recovering girls are older kiddos than you're describing, but through grace, they are definitely improving!

You'll probably want to leave your kiddo in the "hammock" for a while before letting them out, adjusting it as they grow. It helps to let them have a slight break from it once in a while, but only when they're ready for that break. Eventually, your chick should become strong enough to nearly stand on their own, and may even become a little restless to get out of the "hammock". (This is also a good time to assess progress and to continue some slight physical therapy with their legs.) However, you should wait a while before letting them out.

They may be a little confused or nervous when first placed in the "hammock", but the suspension will help them rest better as their legs get stronger. Also, when your chick is able to walk on their own (positivity is very important

), let them do so in moderation, and then place them back in the "hammock" as to not over work their recovering legs. As your chick grows, and has been out of the hammock for a while, it's a good idea to place them in a bigger "hammock" to give their legs a rest for a little while, so as to not lose progress as they grow. All efforts won't be in vain, believe that they can be helped and healed, and don't give up!

Your chick will know you are trying to help, and will be appreciative of your kindness!

P.S. : The "hammock" pattern looks something like this: \ \ | | | | | / /
O : O I hope this helps!
/ / | | | | | \ \

 

[dac63]

thank you so much for your pattern it looks so much better than what i have made up. I am afraid i am going to loose this little fighter as she wont eat. it breaks my heart. I wrapped her legs in gauze last night and actually one leg has came down in the right position but the other contiues to point up. just took her out of the sling to get her to eat and drink. just drank a little water and a supplement, but very little. am going to make your pattern today. i have fleece i can use. you dont now how much this means to me , sitting hear crying over this little one . the other two arent as bad but will fix that pattern for them also as the hobble isnt working for them. seems like the just flog around or walk on the hocks which definitelly is not good. again i cant than you enough. donna