Leg problems with 2 week old Cobb chicks

[suzc]

2 weeks ago I hatched 4 baby Cobb chicks from 6 eggs incubated - all was well until about 3 days ago when I chick went off his legs - thickening of the knee joint, walking on his hocks and then the leg was being held out in any direction and the toes curled as the foot was not being put flat on the floor - after getting worse for 2 days despite shoes to try to help with feet I decided to cull. Now 2 of the remaining 3 are showing signs of the same problem - I am restricting their food to slow their growth rate - is there anything else I can do ?

 

[loveourbirds]

there are several things that can cause this, sometimes its dehydration other times its a lack of something, sometimes its related to feed.

the first thing to start with is adding vitamins and electrolytes to the water, or save a chick works well too.
what kind of starter are you using? brand medicated/unmedicated?

 

[suzc]

They have a constant supply of water - I have been giving additional vitamins for the past few days - I am feeding them organic chick crumb, just started with some finely chopped grass and a bit of steamed broccoli which they seem to love

 

[loveourbirds]

i have a friend that i am going to refer this to when she comes on... you have me stumped. is the feed a layer crumble or a starter crumble?

 

[loveourbirds]

it will help if you can get some pictures.

 

[loveourbirds]

ok im doing some research here, as I was unfamiliar with the breed. are the ross/cobb meat birds?

 

[suzc]

Yes they were intended as meat birds - I will try to upload a photograph

 

[suzc]

Can't seem to import an image - maybe because I am using an iPad - I have managed to upload it to an album called "chick leg problems" - can you see that ?

 

[loveourbirds]

ok I seen the pictures, and im still having trouble identifying the problem. if they are on full feed, I would add some brewer's yeast to it for ascites.

im also looking for another article, give me just a minute. it could also be slipped tendon.

 

[loveourbirds]

I cant seem to find the article im looking for, but this one has similar instructions. http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

im not sure of what problem you have, I emailed this link to my friend "sumi" if she doesn't know the answer, she will know where to find it.