Help, I think I messed up

[penelope_james]

I don’t know what to do here!!! i Think I may have intervened too soon and injured my chick. She was shrink wrapped, I acted before actually knowing how to help. It’s been nearly 24 hours now and she/he is limping around, she seems to have issues with the left leg. I am not sure if it just needs more time to get use to these new legs or if I need to take other measures??? I am brand new to the chicken life. It breaks my heart to think that I am the cause of this… Please Help! Thank you

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I don’t know what to do here!!! i Think I may have intervened too soon and injured my chick. She was shrink wrapped, I acted before actually knowing how to help. It’s been nearly 24 hours now and she/he is limping around, she seems to have issues with the left leg. I am not sure if it just needs more time to get use to these new legs or if I need to take other measures??? I am brand new to the chicken life. It breaks my heart to think that I am the cause of this… Please Help! Thank you

She may need a splint or a tape boot. I recommend posting this under the “emergency” forum section so the knowledgeable folks can help you. It is important to intervene as soon as possible to correct leg issues. They often recover quite quickly from this surprisingly enough with the proper treatment.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Could also be a Vitamin-B deficiency (deficient from the egg, the mother cannot put into an egg more nutrition than she herself has).

Edit to add: Vitamin-B deficiency is easily treated when caught early, supplement their water. Also wanted to say that once a chick is shrink wrapped, it is NOT too early to intervene. It is all too easy to lose a chick to exhaustion when they are fatally STUCK in the shell, so don't heap guilt onto yourself as it's not warranted.

 

[penelope_james]

She may need a splint or a tape boot. I recommend posting this under the “emergency” forum section so the knowledgeable folks can help you. It is important to intervene as soon as possible to correct leg issues. They often recover quite quickly from this surprisingly enough with the proper treatment.

Thank you. I will post this there as well. Much appreciated

 

[Tonyroo]

Make sure the chick has enough warmth to develop and the leg issue might require a splint to position them correctly.

 

[penelope_james]

Could also be a Vitamin-B deficiency (deficient from the egg, the mother cannot put into an egg more nutrition than she herself has).

Edit to add: Vitamin-B deficiency is easily treated when caught early, supplement their water. Also wanted to say that once a chick is shrink wrapped, it is NOT too early to intervene. It is all too easy to lose a chick to exhaustion when they are fatally STUCK in the shell, so don't heap guilt onto yourself as it's not warranted.

Thank you. I feel awful. I don’t want to take drastic measures if I can save her/him.

 

[penelope_james]

What am I doing wrong?? Did I do the right thing? I don’t want her to suffer. I’m sure she’s exhausted!!! I made a hobble but honestly have no stinking clue what I am doing here. She seems to try, then she falls over. I fear she’s stuck, like a turtle on its back so I set her upright… I’m so stressed out

 

[picklestheduck]

I personally have never dealt with this type of issue, but a splint might work better than a hobble......I feel like a hobble could possibly make it worse. You could use a popsicle stick and vet wrap to make a splint. Also lots of chicks have leg issues and a lot of times its not anyone's fault. Sometimes they just have issues like birth deformities that we cant help. Don't beat yourself up! You are helping her/him that's what counts!