how to splint a spraddle leg on a chick..

[jvls1942]

Material needed :
a newly hatched chick.. one or 2 days old.. the newer the better..
a popsicle stick (spacer between the legs)
a strip of duct tape, 3/8" wide by 2 inches long,

cut the popsicle stick so it is a piece about as long as it is wide..

lay the wood on the tape about 1 inch from the end.

hold the chick in your hand upside down with the tail end facing away from you..

place the wood next to the inside of the shank of the lower leg and wrap the 1" piece of tape around the leg and attach it to the wood..

now bring the second leg to the edge of the wood and wrap the tape around the leg and to the piece of wood.. continue wrapping the tape around both legs until it is all used up..

make sure that you have the legs even and the feet facing in the down position..

lay the chick in a warm brooder on it's side.. It will eventually right itself and learn to hop on both feet to get around.. the more it struggles the better..after about 24 hours, carefully remove the tape.

do not feel sorry for it and hold it.. just leave it on it's own.. do not watch it, this is a slow process and there is nothing to see..

don't worry about food or water.. at this young age it will survive..

However,,I have had chicks learn to eat and drink hobbled like this..

But if a chick falls into the water, he could drown..

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
Good luck getting the duct tape off it's leg. I had a problem when I used a bandaid.
Mitchell

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
Good luck getting the duct tape off it's leg. I had a problem when I used a bandaid.
Mitchell

I have used duct tape many times.. the last time was yesterday..
to remove it, take a good sharp pointy pair of scissors and carefully cut along the edge of the wood.. I would not have posted this if it did not work..

.......jiminwisc..........

 

[builderone]

I had a chick from the last batch with the sprawly leg thing going on I just tied a thread the same width as the chick on its legs then the next night removed the string and it is doing great.
Chad

 

[Gypsy07]

I did it with a duckling and I just used a single bandaid, cut in half lengthways. Worked great. I don't think it matters what you use really, as long as the legs are held together to stop the spraddling. I used duck tape to strap a crashed car back together once. That held it together for a full fortnight till I could get it into the bodyshop. Seems like overkill using it on a tiny chickie. LOL! But of course it'll work fine...

 

[jvls1942]

Quote:
I tried several different tapes in years past, some hold too tightly and are difficult to remove.. some the chick kicks off in a few minutes.. I settled on duct tape because it holds until I want to remove it.. I use the splint (wood) because I don't want the leg to heal crooked..

remember the rule :
If it is loose, use duct tape.
if it is tight, use WD40

I have never been to Scotland,, I was in Ireland for one day ..
Never got beyond the sea port, though..

/////jiminwisc//////

 

[47ssmith]

I have a 2 month old chicken and both legs are going forward. She is unable to walk at all. Toes are
curling. I'm at a loss.

 

[47ssmith]

I have a 2 or 3 month old chicken and all of a sudden she is stretching both legs out in front of her. She bunches up her feet and can't walk at all. I've been holding her with her legs and feet in the proper position while she eats and drinks but I'm getting ready to go back to work and can't keep doing this. HELP PLEASE

 

[jvls1942]

Personally, I would put her down.

 

[47ssmith]

Personally, I would put her down.

I did today. I couldn't watch her suffer.