HELP!!! TWO SPRATTLE LEGGED CHICKS!!!! WHAT DO I DO???

[tail_feather]

Two of my chicks hatched yesterday, and they are very disabled. They cannot stand up at all. Their leggs go straight out left and right. Has anyone else ever had this problem? And is there a remedy?? Thanks in advance!

 

[~Kuromametchi~]

do you have pics?

 

[jmhappycowboy]

I had 2 baby turkeys that hatched out and where doing the same thing your talking about I did this to them yesterday and they are fine today.

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

Hope this helps you.

 

[Mahonri]

Use a band aid. Hobble them together at the width normal chicks are at. I kept mine on "Bow legged Billy" for about a week. You can't tell he ever had spraddle leg now.

 

[tail_feather]

Thank you all soooo much!!!! I am going to do it right now!! I will keep you updated!

 

[tail_feather]

WOW!!! I cant belive the difference it has already made!!! Thank you for all your help!!! I thought I was going to have to cull them...but not anymore!! AMAZING!!! and so simple!!

 

[jmhappycowboy]

Really makes a difference quickly doesn't it. You can also go to feathersite and they have some articles on splayed legs I think they recomend pipe cleaners and something else and I have used pipe cleaners before and they work just as well, but the band aids are something that almost all households are most likely to have on hand.

Good luck with your chicks.

 

[tail_feather]

cowboy, thanks again for the link! Forgot to mention that one of them also has a crooked neck. the back of his head touches the front of his left wing. so his right eye is always looking straight up. The only thing I can figure is that he was too big for the egg. Since you told me about the band aid. I have been thinking about finding a stiff page in a magazine and cutting out a makeshift collar for the chick to wear. what do you think?? Anyone else with ideas...pls interject.

 

[Riven]

I'm a fairly new egg to hatching, but I've never heard of this. I had a BIG one hatch out with swollen hocks. One is working fine, the other turns out and is tight in the tendon. I move it to help stretch it out a couple times a day, do you think this would help him? ( to hobble him? )

 

[tail_feather]

Riven, it is definately worth a try! Mine are doing really good!