Deformed leg and toes on Salmon Faverolles female chick

[NevadaEmma]

I incubated several SF eggs in May this year. Seven hatched, five male and two female. One toes of one of the females were turned in towards each other, but she seemed to be doing fine, eating and drinking well, so I did not attempt to straighten the toes, which I doubt could have been done anyway.

My husband was in the hospital for two months so I did not pay as close attention to the chicks other than to make sure they were free of poopy butt, eating and thriving.

When things settled down I noticed that her left leg was trailing badly and she could not stand upright. I tried some restraints to see if I could help her to be on both feet, but she would not tolerate them.

I would like to put something on the bottom of the coop to keep her from slipping so much, like a non skid. I try to place her in the coop so she can stabalize herself a bit by pushing abainst the wall.

Right now she hops a lot on her right foot while keeping her wing outstreached on the ground for stablility. She can travel pretty fast!!!

Any thoughts on something she would not slip on?

 

[Debbie292d]

We use horse bedding pellets in our coop, and have for about eight years. Those don't slip at all and she could get a grip on those.

They are inexpensive, about $8 for 40# and you'll want 2-3 inches of them. If they aren't getting moved around by the other chickens, then I'd take a metal rake to them every few weeks and mix them up. We don't change ours until spring, when they have mostly turned to sawdust and dried-out poop. They keep the coop odor-free as well.

I would try perhaps double or triple wrapped Vetwrap to bring her leg just half the distance it needs to go to be corrected, and then, after a day or two, try another an inch closer. It will take her longer than a baby chick, but I think her legs can still be fixed. She'll stumble and fall over several times but she will soon learn how to walk with that on. Just give her an hour or two and see.

 

[NevadaEmma]

I bought some pellets at the local Big R, but they were much more expensive than I thought they would be, $19 for a 35lb bag. I bought two bags and they just covered the bottom of the present coop Ihave her in but not in any great depth. I can see that they would be good so I will try to find a cheaper source. Thanks for the hint.