I think I have a disabled chick (with PICS)

[StormyMoon]

aww such a sweet little baby.

There is something else you could try to give him, my chicks love it.

corn Masa powder that you make tortillas with, add a little water till its firm but soft you can mash it into tiny bits and will be soft enough for him to take in , you could mix a little grit but I don't think its necessary. Start with just a spoon of it mix in tiny bits of water just to see if he will like it this way you dont waste it if he dont take to it. My chicks tear it up they really like it and its what they give baby chicks in mexico.
My mother in laws chicks live for a very long time she has never had a problem with them.

Just an idea

Good Luck and GOOOOOOO Marlin

 

[chickerdoodle]

Wouldn't some vitamins possibly help if its from a deficiency? I surely would try. Poor little one--I hope he/she can be saved and live a good life

 

[buildingmyark]

"He" is so adorable. Bless his sweet little heart. I also have a handicap chick. I agree with you about wanting to give him a chance (as long as there's no suffering, of course). I sure hope he gets better.

 

[drumstick diva]

Malin is such a little doll, in one picture he looks like an airplane preparing for takeoff. I wonder if the joints are reversed - in dogs there is a defect called "reverse rears," it looks like they have front legs instead of back ones. An affected pup looks like it''s trying to go opposite directions at the same time. I'm wondering if, when his wings are grown, he will manevuer using them and not tear up his knees so much. Maybe a tiny bit of bandaid would cushion his knees. Malin doesn't look like he is suffering just that he is confused and how to make his parts move him around. I really do so hope he will improve .

Could his joints be dislocated???

 

[rainnotebook]

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I really don't think so. They bend fine when I'm stretching him out but they don't move on their own.

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What vitamins would you suggest?

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I will defintiely try it... I'm open to any and all suggestions.

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This is what scares me the most... my biggest concern. I can straighten his left leg just fine. His right one is pretty tight. My concern is with stretching out his legs he won't try to walk at all. I had a handicapped brother that couldn't walk but he would crawl around on his knees. The doctors did surgery to make his legs "work" but that didn't work and he just laid down instead of moving around, for the rest of his life. Broke my heart... I know I'm comparing my chicken to my brother, but he reminds me so much of him. Maybe thats why I'm so set on taking care of him. I really believe that the chicks legs just don't work. (my brother had cerebral palsy and he couldn't get his legs to work at all) Malin has never stretched them out himself... they are always curled underneath him.

I'm seriously considering keeping him an indoor chicken, or have a seperate cage for him so he wouldn't have to deal with the outside world and other chickens and such. Not sure if that would help with diseases and such.

I will try the splint and see how he takes to it. If anyone has any other suggestions I am open to them. I want him to have the happiest fullest life he can.

Thanks for everyone's support and suggestions so far!!

 

[klf73]

I have a chick that has a similar issue. mine seems like it is a hip issue though, they just don't feel the same when I palpate. Not sure what to do with mine, I have 7 kids(1 is autistic) and dh is deployed I just don't have time for a special needs animal unfortunately.

 

[geebs]

okay I am officially a fan.... you should make buttons and send them out to us... or frig magnets.. Go malen!!!

I am officially subscribing to the thread!!! (it is from the bottom that the cream rises)

 

[schellie69]

So cute I would just make him a house chickens they have diapers for chickens and let him live his life his way if you have the time and energy for that. good luck and will keep fingers crossed he does well.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Get some PolyViSol vitamins - non iron formula -- they are liquid baby/childrens vitamins - available in your grocery Rx department (I had to ask ours where to find them).

Dripple two to three drops along Malin's beak each day - dribbling will allow him to swallow on his own. Hopefully the vits will help his leg problem - if not it will not hurt him.


eta: correct spelling

 

[lemurchaser]

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He'll likely flail around and not stand at first with the splint, but the longer he goes on his knees, the harder it will be for him to learn to walk. He'll likely still have difficulties, but if you can get him on his feet that would really help him. The nice thing about the splints is you can take them off and give him a break. I would do a few hours on at first and then a few hours off. You could probably even just put some soft padding and then wrap the joint with sports tap so the joint is straight. That way he's got some movement of it.

It's much harder to deal with difficulties like this when they hit so close to home. Good luck with the little guy and keep us posted!