Crooked toes, bum leg? Update - advice still needed

[tmf321]

I got some new chicks yesterday and I’m worried one might have a bad foot. I noticed she doesn’t like to put much weight on it and always lays to the one side. Her toes also curl underneath and inward instead of splayed out for support. She wobbles when trying to walk and seems more concerned with staying tucked under the other chicks than anything else. I put some painters tape on the foot to splay out the toes but when I put her down in the brooder she tried to stand and feel over onto her back. I uprighted her and put her under the brooder plate but now I’m worried if I stop watching her she’ll fall over on her back again. What else should I be doing?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Do you have a pick of how the chick was taped up? I had to tape a chicks feet when she was 5-6 days old and it took her a few tries to get the hang of walking.

 

[tmf321]

I don’t but I will try to get some a little later. I didn’t feel super confident that I did a great job so I think I’ll go buy some vet wrap and try again this afternoon.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It's not easy. It took several days of trying for the right set up. I cut out tiny splints in the outline of a chicken foot from a cereal box and taped them onto the feed using masking tape. I stuck the masking tape to my own skin numerous times to remove some of the stickiness. I only taped the toes to the splint. I used a layer of vet wrap to then wrap the whole foot and up past the ankle to hold the splint on. My chicken's feet weren't as severe as yous but after 3 days with the splint she was much better!

 

[tmf321]

It's not easy. It took several days of trying for the right set up. I cut out tiny splints in the outline of a chicken foot from a cereal box and taped them onto the feed using masking tape. I stuck the masking tape to my own skin numerous times to remove some of the stickiness. I only taped the toes to the splint. I used a layer of vet wrap to then wrap the whole foot and up past the ankle to hold the splint on. My chicken's feet weren't as severe as yous but after 3 days with the splint she was much better!

Thank you! I can tell this is going to take some trial and error. It’s just really hard to watch the poor thing struggle and then wonder if I making things worse because I’m doing something wrong

 

[tmf321]

I’m worried about this chick. Foot paddles are on and if I stand her up she can stand up straight but any walking causes her to fall over to her side and even roll onto her back. I tried using vet wrap to bind her legs together to prevent them from splaying out (like on the chicken chick website) but I feel like it made things worse and it didn’t prevent the legs from tucking under gerover to the side. I removed the binding and placed her on the ground again to take a video but can’t figure out how to post it here.

I know she’s tired, cold and stressed. I’m going to leave her alone for awhile to rest and warm up but if there is something wrong with the foot paddles or any advice please let me know. I feel really bad for this tiny chick

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I was wondering if she had a little splay leg. It's not easy for them to walk. I agree, let the lil guy rest and see what happens. Make sure food and water is very easily accessible. I believe the younger they are the less time they need splints but I'd aim for 36 hours to be safe. You really don't want to have to redo that. Also make sure you're putting a vitamin supplement in the water. This can be caused by vitamin deficiency, genetics, and/or poor incubation and there's really know what to know what went wrong with this specific chick. Keep me updated!

 

[tmf321]

This poor chick. I’m not sure what else to do. I replaced the old sandals because I noticed one of the toes looked turned on it’s side. I made new ones and used vet wrap to bind them and added hobbles as suggested. I still haven’t figured out what to do for her while under the brooder plate. Every time I go to check on her she’s flopped over on one side, probably knocked over bone of the other chicks. I take her out, bundle her in a towel with a beanbag warmer and encourage her to drink water with nutridrench which she does. I’ve tried making mash for her to eat but she won’t. She never tries to leave the brooder plate which means she’s not eating or drinking and as far as I can tell she ends up on her side most of the time while under there.

I thought about isolating her in her own tiny box but don’t have a heat lamp or another brooder plate so I don’t know how to make sure she’ll stay warm enough on her own.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

It's okay if one of the toes are slightly twisted. I wish I had a picture, but that's how my hen's toe healed! Just ever so slightly twisted. She's a big sweetie and gets along just fine! The reality is some chicks fail to thrive. I'd keep doing what you're doing for at least 36 hours and take them off. Hopefully the chick will perk up once her sandals are off.

 

[blackandtan]

The shoes look good and the hobbles, they do take some time to get used to but you’re giving her the best chance possible
Good luck!