Hyper extended joints-fix-all

frenchblackcopper

Crowing
12 Years
Jul 14, 2009
2,787
215
301
East central Illinois
I've had a few peachicks hatch that has had hyper extended leg joints.Studying this issue I think I may have came up with a "cast" like wrap to solve this issue.First use a 4" zip tie and tie the legs together tightly between the toes and first leg joint. Then I get a piece of newspaper,,normally finding a page that is folded works best so when you cut it,you have a double thickness of newspaper.Cut a piece of double thick newspaper about 4" wide and 10" long. Lay the chck on it back with about 3" of newspaper past one wing.Next place and hold the bound legs under the peachick as if it was sitting,,now start folding the 3" piece of newspaper over the peachicks chest and feet,then continue rolling it up tightly inside the newspaper. Once it's rolled up tight,use some scotch tape to hold it together,then get a paper stapler and staple the back of the tube together close as you can get to the chicks butt.Make sure the legs are still under the chick before stapling,,then pay attention to the neck area and if it can be stapled to make more tight,do so.
I've had 2 chicks hatch this way,,,simply zip tying both legs together will not work in this situation,,as with fixing splayed legs,,the joint must be in the right position first and held that way for about 48 hours.The first peachcik I tried this on is now actually hopping and flying around inside the brooder box if a moth or fly happens to come close to the light,you would have never suspected 3 days ago one leg was way out front of the chck when it was laying down,,it couldn't walk at all,,,,now there's no sign anything was wrong. I just did this again tonight to a second chick,,a Midnight B/S that just hatched,,I'll have to dip it's beak in water for the next 2 days,,but I'm now sure this procedure cures hyper extended leg joints.It renders the peachick immobile while being wrapped up like a jelly roll,,but it seems to be a cure here anyway!!
 
I think my chick has a very similar problem. As well as having a knee which can bend both forwards and back, its hip bone* seems to be turned out to the side and away from its body.

I have wrapped a bandage around its hips and kept its feet stuck onto the same rectangular piece of cardboard to correct its curled toes while keeping its feet the correct distance apart. I haven't been able to wrap its feet underneath it though as it would rotate its feet outwards and possibly set its feet in an incorrect position.

I'm not sure if what I'm doing is the right thing or whether I have incorrectly identified the chick's issues, but I appreciate that you have taken the time to provide your advice and experience for others to learn from.

*I think that it is the chick's hip bone...
 

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