chic with deformed legs- advice please- pict's

[faancyme]

Hi. I have a chick hatched Sat. evening (04-17-10) with deformed legs. picts taken tonight (04-20-10) They both turn in, but his right leg is the worst. two toes are webbed. I think he can move left toes a little, but not the right, wondering if he can even feel right toes. The left leg seems to bend normally, but the right has limited flexion,, maybe half. he hops to move around alot, can waddle too. Has been learning to eat/drink, seems ok there. He is having trouble getting comfy to sleep, eyes will close then he'll stumble sidways and catch himself and try again. dont 'sit' fully to sleep, kindaeans forward when he finally goes out. I just turned him over to look at toes and he fell asleep in my hand, had a long restless afternoon. Any advice would be appreciated. Please don't tell me to kill him though. Thank you, Michelle

ps I am new here, can anyone tell me how to get upoaded picts into post?

 

[babsbag]

To upload pictures look for the uploads link in the blue bar at the top. You upload the picture there and then use the link in your post.

Sorry I can't help you with your chick. I am sure that someone will have some ideas.

 

[faancyme]

Thank you for the pict. tips. He is quite content sleeping in my hand upsidedown.

 

[archgk-lovesanimals]

Not sure how to help fix the problem, but I can tell you I have one with the same problem. She is a silkie and her right foot is totally turned sideways. We got her at eight weeks, for free because of the deformality. She's now over 4 months old. She doesn't seem bothered by it and we are very fond of the way she hobbles when she runs. Sometimes I wonder if there might have been something done if taken care of early enough. I've seen pics on the internet of ppl putting a bit of tape (or part of bandaid) on the foot to redirect the growth. Maybe google some things if you don't get an answer here. Anyway, I would just watch, as long as they can get around all right and don't seem to be in pain, I think it would be ok.
Good luck!

 

[tammyd57]

Search this forum for "chick orthopedics" and several threads will show how to fix this with tape and maybe a piece of popsicle stick. It has to be done when the chick is very young while the bones and joints are still flexible. I had a chick with severely curled toes that I had to tape and help him learn to walk. It worked surprisingly fast (2 days) and you wouldn't know anything was ever wrong with his feet now.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

I agree with Tammy and just wanted to say that the chick is surprisingly standing on it's own which means it is a strong one. I do hope you can make it some little braces and get it corrected. It's got fight!

 

[Gypsy07]

Its feet look really small compared with 'normal' chicks. Or is that just the camera angle?

 

[abanjaf]

Here's the link with instructions on how to correct the feet

http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

 

[faancyme]

Gosh I wish I had better news. Our little guy ran out of fight last night, I held him in my hand for hours. He seemed to enjoy the warmth, and comfort, when I would move he would peep a little and then snuggle down again. At midnight I needed to go to bed, and he snuggled into a washcloth under the heat lamp. I woke up at 6am with a really bad feeling that I needed to check on him, and he had died. I feel so bad, he tried so hard to live. My son (who is 4) and I burried him this morning with his fuzzy cat we gave him when he hatched.

Thank you all for the support.

 

[geese'n'chickenlovr]

My prayers going to you.
I'm so sorry for your loss

Two of my handraised and incubated chicks died when I came home from church.I know how it feels