Hoppy the one legged chick**1-18-08 Sad News to Share

[FarmerDenise]

You might try seperating Hoppy for just a little while each day, so she/he can feed undisturbed. I have often done that with chicks and chickens, that needed a little extra TLC.

 

[johnnyjack]

i dont know what to tell ya but i had one like this hatched out after about aweek went out to check on them he was up on both feet running with the rest but he was with his moma.so i would give him time.but im no expert

 

[Katy]

What about seperating her and one other chick? Then she'd have company, but not so much competition.

 

[arlee453]

I think I will try separating him/her out for an hour or two a couple times a day with food and water in a small mini-brooder. That makes perfect sense - so the social order is maintained, but he gets a chance to get food all alone for a little time.

I don't think this leg issue will resolve itself. The chicks are all 2.5 weeks now, and the leg is as contracted and stiff as ever. I still cannot pull it straight at all using firm but gentle force - it's tightly retracted.

Hoppy does seem to compensate a bit by using the leg as a prop and the wing to sort of crutch around on. I think the leg will be less of an issue once they are able to get out of the pine shavings and onto the solid ground, if I can keep him growing and eating well until then!

Thanks!!

 

[johnnyjack]

wish ya luck i know its sad when they are tiny.

 

[arlee453]

I took Hoppy out for a few hours this afternoon and put her in a smaller brooder for a bit by herself.

NOT a happy chick- but did actually drink a lot like she had never had water before, and ate some. After her crop was full I put her back with the other chicks and they didn't seem to notice her at all.

I'll continue to do this over the next few days and see if I can get her stronger.

I'm encouraged that when I had just put Hoppy in the separate box, she poo'd and it was very dry - no liquid in it at all, and VERY formed. Before I put her back with the others she pooped again and it was much more normal, with the white urea and liquid on top - you know what I mean.

I think she's been dehydrated, so just getting more fluids in her will help her gain strength, I hope.

Thanks all - I'll keep everyone posted...

 

[arlee453]

The Latest HOPPY news...for all you Hoppy fans out there!

Hoppy has been getting several hours of 'lonely' time a day for the past several days. While every time s/he gets a chance, she drinks water like she's thirsty, it was not until TODAY that she finally got a full crop!

I hit on the trick - MOISTEN the starter crumbles with water. She filled her crop up several times over the course of the afternoon - first time I've ever felt or seen her crop FULL!

Whoohoo!! Made me SOOOO happy to see her actually gobbling down that feed!

I have already seen a big change in her energy level with the increase in water intake, and I hope the food will help give her a boost too.

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Sounds like she's doing great!!


My only thought was maybe a bigger brooder with multiple feed stations? Sounds like she's doing terrific now, but if for some reason you don't want to separate (I'd be worried about reintroduction, just like you were) maybe that could be an alternative?


Good for you, keeping your special needs chick! The ones that need something 'extra' sure do tug the heartstrings, don't they?

Meghan

 

[nccatnip]

I recently had an issue with having to keep one seperated from the rest and he was terribly lonely. He grew but at a slower rate. I wound up making a screen out of hardware cloth and sectioned off a part of the brooder where the rest were. He was able to socialize but had food and water to himself. It took about 4 days for him to catch up to the rest and was hardy enough to remove the screen. Now I cannot even tell which one he is.
Being that your little one has mobility issues, he will not need a big area so maybe this can work for you.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Have you thought of physical therapy for Hoppy?
Maybe some simple range of motion exercises...