Newly hatched, possible splay leg?

[jeepgirl13]

Hey everyone, I have a chick that hatched late late night, around midnight. With now 9am and he still isnt up moving right and when he does get up, hes super wobbly.

It looks to me like it might be splay legged? I'd really appreciate some input. If yall think he is splayed, how can I help try to correct it? I've heard of splints and things being made before, but have never had to experience this.

I understand some chicks are a failure to thrive issue, but I'd like to try to help the little guy if possible.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have some chick vitamins that have riboflavin listed on the label? Poultry Cell does, and some others do as well. BComplex has all B vitamins and can be good to use. In the pic below, there could be a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity which can be in one leg or both. Here is an article with pictures of different leg deformities:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790586/pdf/canvetj00259-0052.pdf

 

[jeepgirl13]

Do you have some chick vitamins that have riboflavin listed on the label? Poultry Cell does, and some others do as well. BComplex has all B vitamins and can be good to use. In the pic below, there could be a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity which can be in one leg or both. Here is an article with pictures of different leg deformities:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790586/pdf/canvetj00259-0052.pdf

View attachment 1881600

I'll check the article out right after I reply here. I do not have chick vitamins. I should have picked some up while i was in town yesterday bit i didnt even think about it.

I remember reading something about infant vitamins working for baby chicks. Not sure how true this is, but I do have a bottle of these that my dr said my baby didnt need. They're just vit d though.

Should I see if my neighbor has some? She just hatched out her own batch last weekend. Otherwise I can get to the feed store in about 45 if I hurry.

 

[Eggcessive]

The vitamin D won’t help, but PolyVisol without Iron baby multivitamins can be used 3 drops daily. They are usually more expensive than chick vitamins though. I like human vitamin B complex tablets as well because you can crush or grate 1/4-1/2 tablet daily onto her feed. Those stay fresh a long time, and you can use them as well. Walgreens sells this brand for $6-7:

 

[jeepgirl13]

Do you have some chick vitamins that have riboflavin listed on the label? Poultry Cell does, and some others do as well. BComplex has all B vitamins and can be good to use. In the pic below, there could be a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity which can be in one leg or both. Here is an article with pictures of different leg deformities:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790586/pdf/canvetj00259-0052.pdf

View attachment 1881600

Very informative article! Now, I may have missed it, but it seems to focus on older chicks, and specifically broilers. This chick doesnt have broiler blood I dont think, and he is less than 24hrs old.

My main takeaway from this was b vitamins might help, if it is caused by vitamin deficiency, but in most cases, there is nothing to be done. The flock it came from has been having trouble eggs over there, weak broken yolks, no shells, things of that nature, (I just found all this out yesterday talking to my neighbor about the incubation), so a vitamin deficiency would totally explain a lot

If there is no splint or brace option, what's the chance of a bird like this living a halfway normal life?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What you have there is Vitamin D, what you need is Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) you can use human B-Complex found at Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, etc. Give 1/4 tablet daily.

You could try hobbling her to see if that helps, but I agree, it looks like she may have a leg bone deformity. A little time each day in a chick chair along with hobbling her may be beneficial as well.
Sometimes chicks with leg issues fail and don't make it so all you can do is try.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

 

[jeepgirl13]

The vitamin D won’t help, but PolyVisol without Iron baby multivitamins can be used 3 drops daily. They are usually more expensive than chick vitamins though. I like human vitamin B complex tablets as well because you can crush or grate 1/4-1/2 tablet daily onto her feed. Those stay fresh a long time, and you can use them as well. Walgreens sells this brand for $6-7:
View attachment 1881619

Oh dang! You just opened up a new door for me! I've got a bunch of different b vitamins around here. The hubby takes them. Riboflavin is b2, correct? I know my older sons chewable vitamins have riboflavin. Lemme see what I've got.

The feed store is actually closer to me than the people stores in town, so i may just run there. I'd rather avoid the people stores anyways.... that's why I live so far from them

 

[jeepgirl13]

What you have there is Vitamin D, what you need is Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) you can use human B-Complex found at Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, etc. Give 1/4 tablet daily.

You could try hobbling her to see if that helps, but I agree, it looks like she may have a leg bone deformity. A little time each day in a chick chair along with hobbling her may be beneficial as well.
Sometimes chicks with leg issues fail and don't make it so all you can do is try.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

View attachment 1881622

Thank you for the link. I'm gonna put on some non pajama clothes and make my way down to the feed store I think, just incase I've got some others that need a little boost.

I realize he may not make it. I'm honestly not expecting much from him, he seems very tired and sleepy. More so than the other two. Hopefully some vitamins and extra support will help him. I'll keep posting here about him to keep you wonderful "peeples" posted

 

[Eggcessive]

A balanced chick feed and extra B vitamins is all you can do. If it is a leg bone deformity, the chick may be able to figure out how to get along on it’s own. I haven’t treated any chicks with these, but many try to let the chicks live and see what happens. Some people try splinting, but I don’t know if it would help or not. If I did splint, I would use something light weight just for support, such as bandaids, tape, or strips of vet wrap. Here is a site that sometimes can be helpful:
http://www.poultrypedia.com/poultry-podiatry

 

[jeepgirl13]

What you have there is Vitamin D, what you need is Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) you can use human B-Complex found at Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, etc. Give 1/4 tablet daily.

You could try hobbling her to see if that helps, but I agree, it looks like she may have a leg bone deformity. A little time each day in a chick chair along with hobbling her may be beneficial as well.
Sometimes chicks with leg issues fail and don't make it so all you can do is try.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

View attachment 1881622

I am having trouble accessing these links. Did they get put up right? It says it's broken when i click on it.