Peachick leg problems!!! *please help*

[Morri]

My peachick has just started displaying a leg problem, he is 3 weeks old and has never had a problem, it is kept in a 2X1f glass tank as a brooder with lucerne chaff (horse feed) as bedding but I think because the chaff slides on the glass it may have cause a leg problem?!?!?! HE walk and runs but his left leg kinda sticks out to the side rather than facing forwards!!! I feel so stupid!! I just replaced the chaff with hay as it doesnt slide... What do you recommend as bedding?? Should I tape his legs together or wait and see if it corrects itself??? Thanks for any info!!!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

cardboard boxes work much better as make shift brooders, I would use multiple layers of newspaper under your bedding just to prevent his feet from getting to the glass, slick surfaces (glass/plastic) will give any chick a sprawled leg problem in a heart beat. If it's not too far gone, which it doesnt sound like it is, just correct the problem and it should be fine. Also, too high of a protein starter on peafowl can give them leg trouble too.
If you have vitamin supplements, I'd give him some of those until he's healed up a bit.
Good luck
Aubrey

 

[Morri]

Thanks for the advice Aubrey much appreciated!! Heres a pics:

He still runs around like mad but with abit of a limp especially for the broccolli!!

He has a diet of turkey starter and gets about 2 teaspoons of boiled egg yolk daily, I dont have a vitamin supplement but do have one for the avairy birds that says:
"Lovitts Whistler bird vitamins" that we bourght from the local supermarket would that be OK to give him??

Do ou thik it will heal with time or should i tape it??

Thanks again!!

 

[deerman]

Drop the egg yolks, just feed the turkey starter, to much protein can cause leg trouble. also

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Yep, like Deerman said, drop the yolk. Those viatmins should be fine. and a make shift leg splint(I have used tape and toothpicks before on turkeys) will probley help. That does look more like a protein thing there over the glass tank, but could be a combo of both too.
Hope it gets better for you,
Aubrey

 

[Morri]

Thanks i dropped the yolk, il give him some vitamins and how do you suggest to make a leg splint?? Thanks for the help!!!

 

[chickenzoo]

That looks like a rotation at the knee ( further up by the body) rather than at the hock. You may have to take some vet wrap and snugly wrap the "knee" to the body to keep it straight. Not down by his leg joint, I'm talking his actual knee up by the body and try to keep him more still and def less protien.........

 

[Morri]

thanks for your help!! much appreciated!! but how do I do what you have suggestes?? plus I dont have vet wrap so is ther any other materials that can be used?? Thanks again

 

[Frosty]

Here is some info from feathersite on spraddle leg, looks a bit like what you are dealing with. Scroll down and you will see it: http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingChicks.html

Several layers of paper towels under the bedding could help for footing, too. In case it is actually spraddle leg/splay leg, you might want to go with wood chips or something for bedding for now. Hay might catch on his foot and make it more difficult to get around? I don't know... I am new to peas and never had this problem with any of my birds. But you can try the method on feathersite and see if it puts his leg in a better position, if not go for wrapping it higher up. Do you have gauze strips? It's very close to vet wrap...

 

[Morri]

umm yes i think we do have gause strips in the first aid box thanks guys for all the support!!! I hope he will be getting better tomorrow morning or i will try these methods suggested thanks again!!! Oh and i put vitamins in the water and he went straight over and drank!!

I think it was because the vitamin drops were bright yellow lol