Help! Freedom Ranger Leg Problems

[COOPhilly]

I have a dozen 3-week old Freedom Rangers. They've been fine until last week when one girl wasn't able to walk. I isolated her and, after searching BYC forum, added a B vitamin complex to her drinking water. After a week she is back to walking again. She was always fine with eating, drinking and pooping.

Now today I notice that another chick has a leg that is malformed - it juts out to one side. She is getting around and seems to be happy but when I examine the leg and press gently on the joint she does seem agitated. Still, she's moving about and eating and drinking.

Up until today I've had lights on 24/7 and they've had access to food and water that whole time, although they don't eat 24/7. They are out on the grass during the day and inside on pine chips at night.

I added the B complex to the common drinking water. I sprinkled a calcium supplement on their food (it's calcium from small-shelled animals - I forget exactly what) and will start mixing that in on a regular basis. They get a broiler mash from my local organic farmer and it's what I've fed every single one of my chicks - layers and broilers, with great success.

This is the first set of Freedom Rangers I've had and am wondering where I've gone wrong. Help!

 

[hensonly]

I just processed my first batch of Rangers this past week. I had one out of 30 who developed such a severe problem that he couldn't walk. Another had a limp but it got better. I called the hatchery, and they said to do what you did - add vitamins to the water, though they suggested a multivitamin. My birds were older when the problem showed, about 6 weeks old, but I should have added the vitamins about when you did.

They also suggested cutting the protein at about 6 or 7 weeks (if I remember correctly), down to about 18%. I did this by mixing 20 % starter with 15% grower/finisher, for an average protein of 17 1/2 %. I grew them out to 12 weeks, which was the suggestion when I ordered the chicks. They were huge, I should have processed at nine weeks. We just ate our first one last night, it was one of the middle sized ones and weighed 5 1/4 pounds, dressed weight.

You might call the hatchery (I got mine from JM) and get the specifics. My one that couldn't walk, I put in a dog crate in the chicken house and grew him out anyway. He didn't seem in pain, he just couldn't walk. He didn't eat well, I helped him balance at the feeder a few times a day, and he did grow, though he was more pullet-sized than roo-sized.

Anyway, it sounds like you're doing just what you should...but bear in mind, I'm no expert!

 

[COOPhilly]

Thanks - that's exactly what I was looking for. I'll head out to Tractor Supply this weekend for vitamins and I have a lower protein mash I'll get ready for them in a few weeks.

I got mine at JM too. From what I've seen they are the only folks selling the Freedom Rangers.