- Mar 18, 2012
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Thanks for the advice on the PVS. I have been giving Nutridrench but will pick up some of these too. I appreciate the advice and the support so much. There has been a bunch of improvement just since I put the hobbles on!Don't forget to give the chick with the bum foot some PolyViSol (no iron) along with taping the foot. I had a little hen who's toes and leg never straightened but she hopped around on a foot and a wing for 2 years!!! She really broke my heart. She looked like hell from having to beat her wings to get anywhere but darn if she didn't come for treats and leave the coop to free range with the others. She really never went very far and towards the end she'd only come out for treats. She lived longer then I had ever believed she would....but now I cull all chicks with leg issues that don't improve right away.
I just had one in this last hatch who's leg went out to the side. She could pull it under her but it kept slipping out. I use vet wrap to make a sling to pull the legs together, this one didn't have curled toes, and I treated with PolyViSol and within 24 hours I had a hard time finding which one had the band on, within another 12 hours it was moving around, walking and stable so I took off the leg brace and continued with a few drops of the PVS. I can't tell who it was now but if it hadn't improved we would have culled. It's a big commitment to raise a handicapped chicken and I just can't do it.
I can't tell you how much I think the PolyViSol plays in their ability to heal. I know it's just vitamins but I've seen immediate improvement on chicks that historically would not improve. Last year I had a chick from a broody that was having trouble standing up, kept falling back on her joints. Since I didn't want to deal with a crippled chicken I culled but I wonder if PolyViSol would have given that chick the umph it needed to stand up.
Good luck with your little one!
I am pleased. I chose them because they had California Greys and because they were in NM I had an order from MMM placed but canceled it because they ship on Fridays and was worried about the chicks sitting at the postal distribution center. If I go hatchery I will order only straight run from now on or with auto sexing birds but these all arrived healthy and full of it... I tried to put vet wrap on the legs of the ones I have selected to keep and the others went after it to rip it off...I even got tan so it would be less noticable. They had their first game of catch the bug this morning. A crane fly flew into the brooder and catch the bug turned into keep/get the bug. Does a single bug pose a problem if they aren't on grit??It is good to hear that they are healthy.
The chicks I have hatched this year have been fairly healthy. There were a couple of with navel hernias but overall much healthier than the ones form McMurray last year. Even the one with the messed up eye is very healthy.
Off to see what Privett has......
I have both available right now. I hate to say this, but we've even been eating themI only hold back the freshest and as I rotate what I have on hand they going into eating eggs.
I read/tried all the techniques and then worked this one out for myself. It was the easiest for me and I can manage it by myself. It's not always easy to find a second set of hand. In fact, I can do this standing next to the brooder.
Yes, I should have said this. I always give PVS to any chick that seems fragile or has issues. It really helps a lot.
I also have raised quite a few special needs chicks. I don't do that anymore. If they don't improve right away, they are culled. I'm trying to breed a strong, healthy flock. Too much intervention just always gives you a bird that (in my opinion) should not be used in a breeding program. Of course, that's assuming you have choices, not always possible in very rare breeds.
I have been giving Nutri Drench and the water has durvet plus sugar.. It is able to stand up and peck at crumbles now YAY!!!!
I feel the same way but hate to say it on this thread lest I be considered a big meanie.Being a breeder involves making difficult and sad decisions sometimes.
I totally get that I really do! And I do think this little one is going to make it thanks to the advice I have been given here. Since it is a mutt to begin with, it won't be a part of a breeding program...It'll either make us breakfast or dinner at some point but I am so happy that even if it is a cockerel it will be able to have a nice life. If I ever do get into breeding to SOP I will have to make the same tough calls you all do but I am happy that at this point I don't.
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