Leg issues

[boyswillbeboys]

I have 16 broilers who are 3weeks today, I'm raising them with 11 leghorn pullets and 18 Dual purpose birds. They are on 20% duck starter (only option here for unmedicated) i made a gradual chamge after 2 weeks on medicated chick starter. At 2 weeks I noticed one of my broilers was limping, so I moved it away from the feeder every time I checked them, so it would have to walk 8' or more to get to the feeder, after 2 days of this, the limp went away, and I couldn't distinguish the one from the rest, this morning I noticed one not walking properly at all, legs spread and falling a lot, everyone else is fine, likely this is the same bird as before (will mark it next time I go out).
What do you do if a bird develops leg problems at this age? Is there something I can do to help it grow out comfortably for 3 more weeks? Do I leave it as is and hope, moving it to the water, and making it find it's way back to the food several times a day? Or do I cull it?

When I picked it up earlier to move it back to the waterer, the second time, it had a majorly full crop, to the point I could actually see the grit it had eaten before moving to the feeder. I have a bowl of grit available as they go crazy for any greens I bring them, this one is no different there. I've been turning the light off around 9pm and turning it back on at 9-10, they've been without a heat lamp for over a week now.
At the moment I've put a divider board back up in the coop (I used it for the first 2 weeks) with a clean gallon waterer on either side, and the feeder suspended on one side. All the layers and at least 2 broilers can easily get over the board. I put all the broilers on the side without the feeder, at 730-8, and will turn off the light shortly (9pm). I'll take any tips and hints as well as this is my first time raising chicks.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Personally, I think 3 weeks is a bit early to be limiting their food. I don't know what the night-time temperatures are at your place, but you said you turned the heat lamp off a week ago...,,,,making your chicks only 2 weeks old at the time. I don't think they are supposed to be exposed to temperatures below 90 degrees at 2 weeks or 85 degrees at 3 weeks. I also don't know if 20% protien duck starter provides adequate protien for growing broiler chicks. I would look for a way to increase their protien intake. Either an accecptable suplement, or switch them to an un-organic feed for a few weeks and then back to the organic feed when they are older.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

They were all panting and refusing to go near the light during the day, I took it away when I'd come in in the morning and they would all be as far from the light as they could and panting, this was 2 days before I lost one to the heat (eta: was one of the smaller meaties, the thermometer got up to 101 that day). Unless low heat can cause leg issues, which I hadn't seen anywhere, they are happier now than they were with the lamp. I have seen them panting and trying to cool themselves when the thermometer is at 80, by 88, they are flocking to the door trying to get out. One of the 16 broilers (45total) isn't doing well, they are feathering out nicely and some of the broilers are even trying to roost,
And are clucking almost like an adult, one or two even want to crow.
For this one chick, I think it is wise to limit food for a short time, at least 2 of my meat birds can jump the 8-10" barrier to get to the food, I started 12/12 with the light as soon as I first noticed a possibility of a leg problem, the food is still available, and I've seen the level go down overnight.
As for the lower protein this is what was suggested by the hatchery, actually to go down to 16% grower at 3 weeks, but the layers should stay on the 20% till 8 weeks, I was a bit concerned that the higher protein may cause them to fatten up to fast for their legs, from my reading here. Besides that, there isn't a higher protein food available here, 20%, 18% and 16%. These guys are big and even the majority of the broilers are well feathered.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

OK

 

[bigredfeather]

You did the right thing turning off the heat lamp when you did. Watching the birds and acting accordingly is better than sticking to the "rules." Taking away the heat will cause them to feather out quicker, which means they can go outside sooner. The batch that I am currently doing is 3 weeks old as well, and I turned off the heat lamp at the same time you did.

Limiting feed - It may be wise for you to search the net for a chart that recommends how much feed per day they need by age. You can find these charts on some of the hatcheries websites. It will give you an idea of about how much feed to give them daily. It doesn't have to be exact, but it will help give you a guide as to how much they need.

As for the gimpy bird.......chances are limiting it's feed is not going to make much difference. When I have this happen, I keep a eye on it to make sure it's able to get to the feeder and water. If it gets to the point where it is using it wing as a crutch, your best bet is to process it early. Once they get to that point, you will likely find it dead one day.

You're doing a good job and making wise decisions based on what the birds are doing. You will be rewarded with the best tasting chicken you have ever eaten and the satisfaction of knowing you were responsible for getting them to that point.

Are you going to process them yourself?

 

[boyswillbeboys]

DH is going to process them, thank you, I've been going through a 7lb feeder plus an extra scoop a day, free fe all day, but I will look that up.

This poor girl is using a lot of energy just to get around, but can still get up and walk a short ways. I feel real bad for her, and may use her as practice for processing.

 

[bigredfeather]

Yeah, I usually wait as long as I can before processing early, but there comes a point where you are ethically responsible to cull.

 

[tootles]

I have broiler chickens that are 6 wks. In tha last week I have had 2 chickens down completely. They are not able to move. They were drinking and eating. In fact, I tried nurturing the one for a few days with no luck so I ended up killing it. The other one I am trying to keep alive, but I feel its gonna be a gonner real soon. Can anyone tell me why this is happening and what I am doing wrong? This is my second year raising broilers so I figured I knew what I was doing, but I hate to see the chickens go through this and worse yet, I hate to lose them if I can prevent it. Any insight would be appreciated. (They are being fed organic poultry grow - same as I used last year) Thanks.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

I've gone and taped her feet, like a 3day old with splay leg, and she seems a lot less pathetic today, compared to the last few days, and moving a bit more, she is still not really standing much on her feet, but she'll get up and walk a few paces, then sit back for a rest instead of falling on her face. It's not perfect, but hopefully it will help her live a bit more of a chicken life before gracing the soup pot. I noticed when I was taping her legs, that the joint on the bad leg is swollen and bruised.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

She is walking!! Yay, I hope this means she will grow into a nice big supper, rather than a small soup. So if anyone else has a chick like this, there is hope. I wanted to keep her legs taped another day, but after checking on her, today, I didn't get the new tape on well enough. If she goes down again, I'll tape up right away, I'll mark her with blue sharpie, so I know if it's her or another one, and give an update, once she's been moving for awhile, in case someone comes across this thread in the future.