New born with spraddled legs

[Glenda Sue]

We had our first egg hatch the other day. A little black Cayuga. Only it was stuck down in the corner of the nest. When I picked it up its legs were spread so far apart I almost cried. I brought it inside a used medical tape to bring the legs closer together. I'm keeping it a box with water and food in the house. How long until I can take the tape off? When/if he gets better will momma take it back? What are its chances of being normal?

 

[KirstieJG]

I had this with one of my new borns too, a little silkie cross, I taped her legs for a week and she was fine after. You need to let her walk about with the taped legs as it strengthens the muscles in the correct position. She may need a little longer than a week if its really bad but mine was fine after a week. Dont forget to change the tape every couple of days as they grow fairly quickly. Good luck

 

[Glenda Sue]

It's legs don't really do much right now. All it can do is hop. The box it is in is plenty big with lots of moving around room. I put some B complex in its water. I had a little one from the original group I got with niacin deficiency. The B complex helped some until I could get Brewers yeast.

 

[Glenda Sue]

It looks like its feet are turned. Will they straighten out?

 

[KirstieJG]

I dnot know i'm afraid, I have no experience of that. Do you have pictures? Is it the toes curled up or the feet pointing in the wrong direction?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Go here and read up lots of info on leg and feet problems you may need to make some shoes for the little duckling also. and put it on a non slippery surface if you haven't already done so. https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[Glenda Sue]

We were using medical tape around his legs but his feet still didn't face the right way. When we took the tape off it hurt him. We felt so bad. So we wrapped his legs with bandage first. But he/she, I'm just gonna call it a he for now, he slipped out of it. My boyfriend suggested trying something different. I wanted to make splints or shoes for his feet to keep them flat and in the right direction. We took a piece of thin cardboard and put his feet the way they should be and used electrical tape and got his legs closer together. Matt said the electrical tape won't stick to him like medical tape does, he's an electrician. The last couple days have helped a little with his legs. Originally they were straight out to both sides. I will try to get pictures in a day or so when we re tape him. I'm afraid if we re tape too often it will take longer for him to get better.

 

[casportpony]

Can you post a picture?

-Kathy

 

[Glenda Sue]

I took a couple pix when we took the tape off but I had to lighten them because he's all black and is hard to see. It looks like his lower legs are twisted outward. I couldn't get a good pix of the twists.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I took a couple pix when we took the tape off but I had to lighten them because he's all black and is hard to see. It looks like his lower legs are twisted outward. I couldn't get a good pix of the twists.

I took a couple pix when we took the tape off but I had to lighten them because he's all black and is hard to see. It looks like his lower legs are twisted outward. I couldn't get a good pix of the twists.

Is the little one able to walk at all? did you try the shoes and for how long? What a precious baby.

and I know this isn't part of whats going on but ducklings/ducks will eat anything please watch what is laying on the floor there.