3-week old chick with a bad leg - any advice please

[RoyalChick]

You have lots of time. Has the plan been to keep them in that brooder until 7 weeks, with supervised times out before then? For Bernadette especially you could certainly do something like what Bob did, a portable box outside.

I need to think through how to handle it.
My original plan (what I did with the Roadrunners) is about now to open the little 3" chick door from the brooder into the rest of the Chicken Palace and let them decide when they want to explore.
There are lots of hiding places for them and I lock the big ladies out so the chicks can learn the terrain and know where to escape to.
The complication is that the brooder is at counter-top height and so I have a sort of fire escape that the chicls can hop down if they choose to but are safe from the big Princesses. That requires navigating 3 ramps. No problem for a chick with fully functioning legs, but in her current state Bernadette will tumble down. I think I have to construct a brooder box at ground level and move the chicks into it with a couple of little doors so they can explore safely.
I haven't figured out the details yet and was holding off because I wasn't sure Bernadette would make it.
But I guess it is possible that Bernadette will always be disabled in which case I have to plan for her future anyway. I am still taking it one day at a time!

 

[pennyJo1960]

I think she moved well without the boot .. If you areable to moce a brooder to ground height why force her to fall. Sorry had errands to run.

 

[RoyalChick]

I think she moved well without the boot .. If you areable to moce a brooder to ground height why force her to fall. Sorry had errands to run.

I had no intention of making her fall! I was just explaining the challenge.
I will need to figure out how to make a brooder at ground level. My coop is on a steep hill so 'ground level' is a complicated concept! I will figure something out I am sure.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

I need to think through how to handle it.
My original plan (what I did with the Roadrunners) is about now to open the little 3" chick door from the brooder into the rest of the Chicken Palace and let them decide when they want to explore.
There are lots of hiding places for them and I lock the big ladies out so the chicks can learn the terrain and know where to escape to.
The complication is that the brooder is at counter-top height and so I have a sort of fire escape that the chicls can hop down if they choose to but are safe from the big Princesses. That requires navigating 3 ramps. No problem for a chick with fully functioning legs, but in her current state Bernadette will tumble down. I think I have to construct a brooder box at ground level and move the chicks into it with a couple of little doors so they can explore safely.
I haven't figured out the details yet and was holding off because I wasn't sure Bernadette would make it.
But I guess it is possible that Bernadette will always be disabled in which case I have to plan for her future anyway. I am still taking it one day at a time!

Yes, take it day by day. I guess I am thinking about it as part of my hope for her. Also, the black one (forgot her name, sorry) had a really great flight in one of your videos - right into the side of the heater box before trying again and getting more lift and making it and I was thinking of how Bernadette could still participate with them while they all explored further.

I was picturing that height, remembering something about a ramp and thinking the same thing. The current brooder is a sort of cabinet, right? Not something you can easily detach I would guess. Possibly easier than a small box would be sectioning off that end of the Palace to some degree and setting them up on the floor. Like a temporary wall with mesh. But are they currently above next boxes? I may be all turned around...

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, take it day by day. I guess I am thinking about it as part of my hope for her. Also, the black one (forgot her name, sorry) had a really great flight in one of your videos - right into the side of the heater box before trying again and getting more lift and making it and I was thinking of how Bernadette could still participate with them while they all explored further.

I was picturing that height, remembering something about a ramp and thinking the same thing. The current brooder is a sort of cabinet, right? Not something you can easily detach I would guess. Possibly easier than a small box would be sectioning off that end of the Palace to some degree and setting them up on the floor. Like a temporary wall with mesh. But are they currently above next boxes? I may be all turned around...

You have it right. They are in a box on top of the cabinet that makes up the nest boxes. So basing them at ground level requires a whole new structure.
I think I could section off something under the big main roost - I already put a structure in there for spare nest boxes when Maggie was throwing the Roadrunners out of the cabinet nest boxes. I found an old drawer and gave it a roof and put it under the roosts.
Of course nobody has ever used the new nest boxes! So I think I could put up some wire walls with some little chick doors.
It won't be as nice as their current space but it will do, and worst case it can be Bernadette's adult home if she is forever unable to walk properly.

 

[Ponypoor]

Today’s progress (or not).
First two clips are with her boot on. She is strapped into a 90 degree boot to try and help her have an angle between her digits and the rest of her foot.
As painful as it looks she does actually move with it better than she did yesterday before I used it because she can sometimes stand upright.

And this third clip is after our morning PT session where I let her back in without the boot. Again painful to watch but actually does look better than yesterday.
That may just be me losing perspective and wishful thinking.

I am in no rush but I do need to do the right thing with regards to quality of life. Based on these videos I think it is worth persevering. Please be honest with me if you think otherwise.

Well she certainly is active and eating.

I would give it time, the young heal fast and also adapt fast.

 

[RoyalChick]

Well she certainly is active and eating.

I would give it time, the young heal fast and also adapt fast.

Yes indeed. I am not actually sure her leg is any less paralysed than it was, but I am confident she has learned to work with the boot. She quite often gets into a standing position and I think it is only the boot that makes that possible.
I don't know if she could live a full life as an adult in a boot. Maybe.

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, take it day by day. I guess I am thinking about it as part of my hope for her. Also, the black one (forgot her name, sorry) had a really great flight in one of your videos - right into the side of the heater box before trying again and getting more lift and making it and I was thinking of how Bernadette could still participate with them while they all explored further.

I was picturing that height, remembering something about a ramp and thinking the same thing. The current brooder is a sort of cabinet, right? Not something you can easily detach I would guess. Possibly easier than a small box would be sectioning off that end of the Palace to some degree and setting them up on the floor. Like a temporary wall with mesh. But are they currently above next boxes? I may be all turned around...

The black one is Bella and she is a formidable flyer.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes indeed. I am not actually sure her leg is any less paralysed than it was, but I am confident she has learned to work with the boot. She quite often gets into a standing position and I think it is only the boot that makes that possible.
I don't know if she could live a full life as an adult in a boot. Maybe.

You're doing an awesome job with her. I always think good thoughts and sounds like your are planning ahead - you have youth on her side

Btw it was so cute watching them all bopping around, I miss having chicks around

 

[MaryJanet]

You have it right. They are in a box on top of the cabinet that makes up the nest boxes. So basing them at ground level requires a whole new structure.
I think I could section off something under the big main roost - I already put a structure in there for spare nest boxes when Maggie was throwing the Roadrunners out of the cabinet nest boxes. I found an old drawer and gave it a roof and put it under the roosts.
Of course nobody has ever used the new nest boxes! So I think I could put up some wire walls with some little chick doors.
It won't be as nice as their current space but it will do, and worst case it can be Bernadette's adult home if she is forever unable to walk properly.

Sounds like a good plan RC.