Guinea Keet- Slipped Tendon- Advice??

[mcsammie]

We hatched out two guinea keets from our hen's eggs 16 days ago. After a couple of days, one of the keets began limping on its right leg. At first we suspected a spraddled leg, so we put on the bandaid splint and it's been on since. But tonight, I was looking closely at the leg, and then did some more research on the net and now really think it's a slipped tendon. I can see the tendon pulling inwards at the hock joint.

The little guy (or girl) can get around alright and is eating and drinking, but I'm concerned that as it grows the weight on the legs will be too much and we'll have to put it down.

I can push the tendon back over, but it doesn't want to stay at all. I'm afraid our misunderstanding of what was wrong may have ruined this keet's chances.

I saw on another site a chair that will help keep the chick still while the joint heals- has anyone ever tried this? Where do I keep the keet if I do this- in the house? Any successful splinting methods for keeping the tendon in place? Or are we fighting a losing battle?

 

[ivan3]

Sounds like your doing what you can (go ahead and try the `chair' - better than nothing). I know that in turkeys the sooner (younger) the intervention is made the better chance that the leg will be functional.

Yes, keep inside in low light and leave a radio on (well it kept our spraddle leg BBB poult a bit calmer).


good luck!