Chick is 48 hrs old, dry and not walking

[BantyHugger]

My chicks legs seem to be positioned wrong. I don't want them to develope this way. She is "walking" kinda on her back knee joint. I have heard of banding them or something like that on here before. Can someone please give me more instruction as to what to do? I do not want to cull her.
Thanks-
Mariah

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

you are looking for the DCTownsend's chick shoes
ORTHOPEDICS FOR POULTRY MADE EASY FOR BEGINNERS
By D.C. Townsend

These treatments have been tested and proven effective. I developed them for peafowl but they
may be used for any poultry. The key to success is to begin treatment promptly. In some cases delay will kill or cripple the chick

HOBBLE BRACE
ACHILLES TENDON OUT OF THE GROOVE
When the Achilles tendon slips out of the groove on the hock joint, a peachick will not be able to
straighten its leg. The problem needs prompt attention because the struggling peachick will put
its weight on the hock joint which will damage the skin and cause swelling in the joint. The tendon
can be pushed back in place with just one finger or a very gentle squeeze between the thumb and index
finger. Sometimes just one treatment will give a complete cure that seems like a miracle. Other
times several treatments are needed. Stubborn cases require advanced treatment that is too difficult to
explain here. I treated both legs of a peachick for two weeks; She grew up to be a healthy peahen.

CROOKED TOES
Sometimes a peachick hatches with toes rolled into a fist. They may straighten out on their own
in the first day of life. If they do not do so, I make a CHICK SHOE (see illustration below) from
black pipe cleaner available in the crafts department at Wal-Mart. I use black ones because
bright colors are more likely to be pecked by other peachicks. One packet of Westrim Crafts Chenille
stems costs 89 cents and will last for years. Any kind of half inch wide tape can be used to attach the CHICK SHOE to the toes, but I prefer Johnson and Johnson First Aid clear tape. I cut a piece a quarter inch long for the middle toe. I cut another piece the same length and split into two quarter inch-wide pieces for the other toes. Eight hours of treatment is usually enough time to end the problem on a day-old peachick.

CHICK SHOE
Not Actual Size
HALF SHOE
Not Actual Size
In the 1995 hatch, I had a number of peachicks with a kink in the outer toe of one or both feet.
They were well past a week old when I decided that I must do something about it. I made HALF SHOES of black pipe cleaner. I tore off a quarter inch-wide stripe of duck tape several inches long and secured
the HALF SHOE to the middle and the outer toe. Several days of treatment were needed. Some of the
HALF SHOES came off and had to be taped on again, but all treated peachicks had straight toes at the
end of the treatment. There is a young peacock that I missed treating. Now it is too late and he will
always have a kink in his outer toe.

STRADDLE LEGS
This problem can occur even if you take the precaution of having quarter inch hardware cloth
under your peachicks. Sometimes it is caused by the struggles of a chick with its toes rolled into
fists. In that case, both problems must be treated at the same time. I cut a piece of tape four or
five inches long and from the HOBBLE BRACE with the legs far enough apart so that the peachick can walk. The tape must go the whole way around and cover its sticky side so that it does not stick to the
peachick's fuzz when it sits down. Usually 24 hours of treatment is sufficient, but sometimes more is
required. CHICK SHOES and the HOBBLE BRACE can be used at the same time.

email me PM with any questions

 

[easterlyfarms]

sounds like slipped tendon. are his hocks(knees) swollen. if so get some antibotic cream and pills on him. talk to your vet

 

[BantyHugger]

I tried the alignment thing with by finger and thumb. The joints have gotten worse since earlier. I think the chick has either been pecked by its brood mates or it broke the joint. There is a little blood, but it has stopped bleeding. The feet twitch when i touch them so the nerve is probably being pinched. What should/can i do?
i think this is the swellin everyone keeps mentioning. The feet point out at an unnatural angle.

i'm very worried....

 

[BantyHugger]

I put the antibiotics on it's legs. After putting it back with the others i could tell the definite swelling. Its brood mates pecked at it so it has its own separate basket now. It is sleeping as of now.

 

[easterlyfarms]

just be sure he is eating and drinking. feed him youself ever 2-3 hours. i gave my chick that has this hard boiled egg yoke and he loves it. it also has riboflavin good for the bones and joints. then i give him water. apply the antibotic each time you feed him. currently the swelling with mine is down tremendously. good luck

 

[BantyHugger]

The swellling went down while i was at school. I think it just came up when i moved the feet around trying to feel the problem. One leg is up under her more now, but the other knee sounds broken (every time i straighten the leg out it makes a gross pop that i can feel in the knee cap area). I am going to try and help it grow to at least a week old before i try to make a splint for the wounded leg. I know this sounds bad but its legs are less then 2 inches long and i can't really figure out how to do it to where i wouldn't be stabbing its delicate little body. Hopefully time will cure this wound.