Leg problem - but doesn't look like spraddle leg!!**pics**new pics**

[dozen chickens]

Hi chickymom~
Out of the 3, the one last summer I cant remember if it really acted funny or not, but it did stay to itself at times. It was young when it came on, probably around 5 weeks or so.

The second one (the one that is a year old) is the one that acted funny, and went off on his own. He wasnt one that would let me come up and pet it (ours free-range) but a couple times I went out and it was just squatted down on the ground when all the others were in the coop for the night.

The 3rd one had onset just last week, around 2 months. At first I thought she/he hurt the leg in the new coop, but within a day the toes started curling in and by the next day the foot was almost as if it was paralyzed and he/she also did this twitchy thing with the neck, and at that point I told myself that we were not going to try and get this one back because it seemed to have been going so fast and I wasnt optmistic about recovery.

The first 2 we didnt treat for spraddle leg, we tried to wrap the 1st one's leg at it seemed to make it worse so we left it alone. The 3rd one, first I tried wrapping the leg itself (because I thought it hurt the leg), and by the next morning the toes were curled so then I tried that method where you band-aid the foot to cardboard, but it seemed as though the leg was paralyzed and the cardboard made it harder for he/she to get around.

 

[chickenlady]

If it were me, I would make a small split for each leg and each foot to keep them in the correct position. I would use maybe a piece of cardboard held on by a bandaid.

I just hatched out a little chick that had both feet curling in to the point that it was walking on just the side of the foot and would fall over constantly. I started with one foot and a splint and left it on for 6 days. When I took it off, the foot was perfect. Then I did the second foot and it fell off in about 4 days and the foot was perfect. My little chick now has 2 perfect feet.

If you dont correct it now, you may never be able to. Now is your best chance. During the time my chick was wearing a splint, I gave it 2-3 drops of poly-vi-sol every day just to help with nourishment. Best of luck to you.

 

[priszilla]

maybe use the bandage stuff htat s ticks to itself only- or the vet wrap stuff instead of a bandaid? we had 2 with the slipped tendon problem. the worst one had to be put down. the other one can get around still.Not from "my" eggs- I told thebreeder and she is supplementing with acvia charge now I think.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Sounds like bumble foot to me but I've never seen it first hand. For bumble foot you sandwich the foot with toes in the correct position between some duct tape or band-aid adhesive strip material. Do a search of the forum and you'll find more on bumble foot.
Good luck with your little guy.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Bumblefoot's a staph infection and it doesn't look like that AK...

 

[fourfeathers]

It does not look like spraddle leg at all to me. It may have a slipped tendon or just been bent in the egg which has caused a muscle contraction. I would have to see a picture of the hocks to see if it looks like a slipped tendon. If it is, you or hopefully a vet that knows birds/poultry can show you how to pop it back in. I am not a vet by any means, but don't think treating for spraddle leg will help at all and may frustrate the chick. I would take to vet, and/or splint with a splint to keep the leg straight and one to straighten the toes. Keep off of wire bottom cage as the cage can cause the curled toe problem to become worse, plus aggravate the hocks. It means laundry, but I would put on a towel or blanket in the cage, stretch it tight so it doesn't bunch up to make a stable surface. I would add some polyvisol to the water, just a drop or two, too much can be bad too. I would take to a vet that may know or be sympathic to chickens (the ones that see it as just a chick are no help) so that you know what you are dealing with. Good luck.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Quote:
My bad I was thinking currled toe but needed a nap.

 

[LynneP]

A friend mentioned today that dairy products, which are rich in riboflavin, will often cure bumblefoot...

 

[chickymom2two]

Here are some more pictures of the leg......I'm not sure how to treat this.
I hope you can see something that will help tell me what direction to take, to try and help these little guys. I don't want to treat as spraddle if it will only irritate them more. And I thought raising kids was hard!!

 

[chickenlady]

I would extend the leg out and splint it. Otherwise, the leg may never work. I really cant tell much from the picture, it looks just like a normal leg to me. I would also give poly-vi-sol, 1 drop 2 times a day right on the end of the beak, this will let the chick take in the vitamins without drowning in them.