Is this Spraddle Legs or something else?

[HomesteaderHens]

Hi, I just hatched this little guy out last night. I assumed he just had splayed/spraddle legs, but his condition seems a little different from other chicks I've had with that problem. I wonder if it's a deformity or something. He sort of sticks his legs forward as well as outward, and won't put his weight on them even with a brace.

This is without a brace:

And with a brace:

Either way, he just struggles and scratches frantically, tries to flap his wings and can only turn himself in a circle. I couldn't get a good shot of it but it's kinda like this:

The poor little guy, it's so hard to watch him. I've tried different sizes of brace but no luck. Does anyone know what this is, or what I can do?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hi, I just hatched this little guy out last night. I assumed he just had splayed/spraddle legs, but his condition seems a little different from other chicks I've had with that problem. I wonder if it's a deformity or something. He sort of sticks his legs forward as well as outward, and won't put his weight on them even with a brace.

This is without a brace:

View attachment 2241159 View attachment 2241160

And with a brace:

View attachment 2241154 View attachment 2241162

Either way, he just struggles and scratches frantically, tries to flap his wings and can only turn himself in a circle. I couldn't get a good shot of it but it's kinda like this: View attachment 2241169

The poor little guy, it's so hard to watch him. I've tried different sizes of brace but no luck. Does anyone know what this is, or what I can do?

Add some vitamins, he could be deficient, & have spraddle legs?

 

[HomesteaderHens]

Add some vitamins, he could be deficient, & have spraddle legs?

Ok, what sort of vitamins would you think (and how do you give them to a chick)? Should I just grind up some "people vitamins" in his food/water?

 

[loreligillett]

I agree, looks like spraddle leg

 

[Lilalienangel]

My internet sucks and isn't showing me the pictures. I had one that was born with a congenial birth defect of wide set hips. We had the same issue with her. I braced her up for awhile and she got around ok. Well she aged and my roo tried to mate her. It messed her legs up really bad. I took her to the vet and confirmed it is congenital but the treatment was the same with additional physical therapy. I also had to keep the brace on and redo it often for growth for 4 weeks. I am happy to report that she is walking and perching better than ever now.. She was quarantined but after about two weeks when she started walking again I added 2 of my sweetest chicks. She started to do really well at that point. I think the other chicks enlightened her mood enough to really start trying. Long story short, unless it is mereks the treatment is the same. You'll just need to watch and put food/water close to her and make sure she doesn't fall in the water and drown.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok, what sort of vitamins would you think (and how do you give them to a chick)? Should I just grind up some "people vitamins" in his food/water?

Go to the feed store, & get save a chick, or nutridrench, & add some to the waterer?

 

[HomesteaderHens]

My internet sucks and isn't showing me the pictures. I had one that was born with a congenial birth defect of wide set hips. We had the same issue with her. I braced her up for awhile and she got around ok. Well she aged and my roo tried to mate her. It messed her legs up really bad. I took her to the vet and confirmed it is congenital but the treatment was the same with additional physical therapy. I also had to keep the brace on and redo it often for growth for 4 weeks. I am happy to report that she is walking and perching better than ever now.. She was quarantined but after about two weeks when she started walking again I added 2 of my sweetest chicks. She started to do really well at that point. I think the other chicks enlightened her mood enough to really start trying. Long story short, unless it is mereks the treatment is the same. You'll just need to watch and put food/water close to her and make sure she doesn't fall in the water and drown.

Hmm...could you describe what the chick was like when it first hatched? Mine is sort of sticking its legs out in front, like it doesn't know how to keep them under its body where they belong (it just rests on it's "knees"/hocks). So far nothing I can do seems to be able to convince it to put weight on its legs, I try to hold it up in the right position (like a baby in one of those bouncy seats) but it won't try. The moment I set it down, it just sticks them out in front again. I guess the brace might help bring its legs together but I'm not sure it will stand up...

 

[HomesteaderHens]

Go to the feed store, & get save a chick, or nutridrench, & add some to the waterer?

Ok thanks, I'll check that out!

 

[Lilalienangel]

Actually, she started out worse I think now that I have seen a piece of the picture. One leg stuck straight out front and the other stuck straight out to the side. After the injury both became really stiff and she couldn't even bend them..

 

[HomesteaderHens]

Actually, she started out worse I think now that I have seen a piece of the picture. One leg stuck straight out front and the other stuck straight out to the side. After the injury both became really stiff and she couldn't even bend them..

That sounds awful!! If you were able to treat that chick, I guess there's hope for my guy!