New chick leg/feet problems

[Figtree]

Hey all! First time incubating my own chicks. These are black copper Marans. They hatched early Monday morning. By Tuesday I could tell one wasn’t getting around right...she just squats and hobbles to get anywhere. Eating and drinking fine. I researched and thought she has crooked toes and possibly splayed leg but her legs aren’t obviously kicking out to the sides. However, she doesn’t seem to be improving. I have tried all different ways of trying to separate her toes- bandaids, vet tape, cardboard boots etc and either I am not doing it well or it’s not working. Can anyone please advise or make other suggestions? Thank you for reading!

 

[CindyinSD]

Put the hobbles on her lower legs/ankles, and be sure to make them long (wide) enough so she can get a good stance. It's difficult to be precise, but try for having her legs about as far apart as her body is wide. People use all sorts of things: bandaids, a ponytail holder fished through a short section of drinking straw, scotch tape... I haven't had good luck with vet tape. I find it hard to put on, to take off, and too stiff to allow for sufficient freedom of movement for the chick to get around.

The bandaids... I think you may need to string two together, but it will depend on the size of the chick. I just had two silkie babies who needed help. I split a piece of scotch tape lengthwise and used that. They only needed it one day and it worked great. You may need something more substantial if it takes longer to heal.

Use your imagination and what you have on hand, but remember you'll need to be able to readily remove the hobbles and of course, you don't want them too tight.

 

[Figtree]

Put the hobbles on her lower legs/ankles, and be sure to make them long (wide) enough so she can get a good stance. It's difficult to be precise, but try for having her legs about as far apart as her body is wide. People use all sorts of things: bandaids, a ponytail holder fished through a short section of drinking straw, scotch tape... I haven't had good luck with vet tape. I find it hard to put on, to take off, and too stiff to allow for sufficient freedom of movement for the chick to get around.

The bandaids... I think you may need to string two together, but it will depend on the size of the chick. I just had two silkie babies who needed help. I split a piece of scotch tape lengthwise and used that. They only needed it one day and it worked great. You may need something more substantial if it takes longer to heal.

Use your imagination and what you have on hand, but remember you'll need to be able to readily remove the hobbles and of course, you don't want them too tight.

Thank you so much!!! Yes, I am realizing it is hard to get it just right. I tried ponytail holder with a straw too but didn’t seem like it was enough support. Gaaahhh, I will keep trying!! Thx again!!

 

[CindyinSD]

Thank you so much!!! Yes, I am realizing it is hard to get it just right. I tried ponytail holder with a straw too but didn’t seem like it was enough support. Gaaahhh, I will keep trying!! Thx again!!

Best of luck... commandeer a helper if you can.