A discouraging day....

[beameuplord]

I think my chicken farming days are over. The only little chick that my silkie hatched on Weds has something wrong with it's legs. I think my friend called it "splay"leg. It can't stand but one or both of it's legs are stretched out to the side. Any one familiar with this? any suggestions? I think I give up. If it weren't for bad luck I'd have none at all.

TJ

 

[siz8003]

I think there is something you can put on the chicks legs to fix it but not that sure how to

 

[joebwe25]

Poor thing!

 

[silkiechicken]

You can take a bandaid and wrap the two legs closer together like they would normally be, after a few days it should get stronger and be able to walk, there's a write up somewhere...

 

[eggchel]

Dont give up!! There are several methods of treatment.
First, dont have newspaper under chicks, it is too slippery. Most people use paper towels over shavings but that is not really good for chicks with splayed legs. In that case, use small gage wire flooring or hay, or a rubber mat like the waffle weave type used under rugs or the smaller version used in dish cupboards. Sometimes just changing what the chick walks on will solve the problem.
One treatment is to put the chick into a glass or paper cup at night (in a warm brooder, obviously) so that the chick is held upright in a standing position with his legs directly below him. That way his legs strengthen with them in the proper position.
Another is to get a bandaid and use it as a brace (stick one side to each of the chicks legs) so that the legs are held the proper distance apart but cant splay out. You will need to check on him often to make sure that he hasnt fallen over and cant get up. Make sure to have rocks or marbles in the waterer so that if he falls in he wont drown.


Good luck

chel

 

[speckledhen]

It's something similar to this you can try:

 

[beameuplord]

Thank you !!!!!!! thank YOu !!!!! I will give it a try. I just want to bawl when I look at it. Keep your fingers and toes crossed.

TJ

 

[chickbea]

I have all my parts crossed for you! Many folks have had success treating chicks with this issue. Good luck!

 

[beameuplord]

I have the bandaid around it's legs and it can stand and move around a little. It doesn't seem to want food and I have tried some crumbles of boiled egg and moist cornmeal. I am giving it sugar water w/ vitamins to keep it's strength up. It isn't very bright eyed, just sits with it's eyes shut. It is probably exhausted since I worried so much with it last night. All it wants to do is sit on the brooder and sleep but that is probably what it would be doing if it was under it's momma. I had to take it from her because I didn't think her sitting on it would do it any good.

Thanks for all your advice and good thoughts.
Blessings, TJ

 

[Chickemee]

Ill keep your poor little chick in my prayers. Hope she gets better.