Accomodations for disabled chick....

[nipper75]

I have a 2 month old keet with what I believe a slipped hock joint that was never properly corrected (I saved this bird from Agway). It is alert, eats, & drinks. I had it with 4 others keets that are a few weeks younger but when they would become "skitish" and crowd in a corner, the poor disabled bird would get trampled on. The other birds do not pick at him at this time. I actually think that they think it's their mother b/c they snuggle with it. It hops on 1 foot a few steps and then lays. It seems to lay around a lot. It is getting dirty because it is white. My question is: does anyone else have a disabled bird and how do you accomodate it? Thanks

 

[Little Miss]

The bird I have can't walk without falling over itself and doing flips. I'm afraid it's going to break it's neck. If I were you, I would make sure it is in a comfortable and clean environment. Once it's old enough I think it will be fine to go outside in a covered area so it is safe. For the most part it should be fine as long as it gets heat in extreme cold and maybe some ac on a very hot day. As far as a coop goes, it shouldn't have stairs and any sort of ramp should be wide and not steep. The coop will have to be somewhat close to the ground for it to work. If you have some smaller breeds or bantams it would be good to integrate it in with their flock. It shouldn't be too much extra to take care of it but keep an extra eye one it and make sure it is comfortable.

 

[froggiesheins]

I have MANY disabled chickens. A chicken [hopefully keets work the same] can and will get around on one leg just fine after it figures out how to balance. I have a banty size roo that only has one leg and I make ALL of his perches very wide and soft for him. I use foam covered with suede. In his coop I made his roost lower and this fellow can use a ramp! It is covered with astro turf and one side is against a wall. If you want anymore help/ideas please PM me, I would be happy to answer.