First time chick owner- frizzle with spraddle or dislocated leg?

[srk5028]

My family incubated/hatched eggs for the first time as an Easter surprise and ended up with 2 chicks who quickly became wild looking and I learned are “frizzles”. They are 4 weeks old and still in the brooder with time outside during nice weather. 5 days ago they were outside in the coop for an hour or so and when I brought them back in one (Eagle) seemed to be having a bit of trouble walking. Nothing in the coop I could see to cause injury. Their brooder has wood shavings and in the coop it’s just grass. I researched and thought possibly spraddle leg, and they have been getting electrolytes and rooster booster since. I attempted to use vet wrap unsuccessfully to bind 2 legs together (wouldn’t stick) and also did the cup therapy. I can’t see any signs of blatant injury but the left leg sticks straight out towards his/her head making walking impossible. He/she can sit up if propped but flops if they try to move around. Eating/drinking/making all the normal sounds, feisty as ever. Today I fashioned a makeshift sling and they tolerated it so well with the occasional attempt at escape. When I took them out they did seem a little stronger with standing and wanting to move around but still flopping unable to support on the leg. Could this be a dislocation? If so, what else can I do to assist with healing other than the sling during the day? I hadn’t separated the siblings until today because they are close and don’t like to be apart but I do have them separate now just to ensure no accidental injury from the sibling (crayon). Any assistance/guidance is greatly appreciated- they have quickly become our babies and want to do everything to heal him/her. Thank you so much!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Sorry about your chick. Splay leg is something they usually get as day-old chicks. It's generally fixed in 3-4 days.

Since this one developed it at a month old, I'd guess a vitamin deficiency. Assuming they are on an all-flock or chick crumbles, and no layer feed, I'd start B-Complex, a 1/4 of a human pill or 1/4 of an eye dropper of the liquid, once a day. They can have that along with the Poultry Cell vitamins. For leg binding, the vet wrap should work, but since it's not, maybe try medical tape or even painters tape.

Here's a post about different slings and chick chairs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/ See posts 5, 11-14.

Hopefully, your chick gets past this. Keep us posted!

 

[srk5028]

Hi,

Sorry about your chick. Splay leg is something they usually get as day-old chicks. It's generally fixed in 3-4 days.

Since this one developed it at a month old, I'd guess a vitamin deficiency. Assuming they are on an all-flock or chick crumbles, and no layer feed, I'd start B-Complex, a 1/4 of a human pill or 1/4 of an eye dropper of the liquid, once a day. They can have that along with the Poultry Cell vitamins. For leg binding, the vet wrap should work, but since it's not, maybe try medical tape or even painters tape.

Here's a post about different slings and chick chairs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/ See posts 5, 11-14.

Hopefully, your chick gets past this. Keep us posted!

Thank you so much! For the b complex- do you have any recommendations on brand and easiest way to administer?