Possible splayed leg chick

[deerhurst]

Long story short the wife and I went to town for pavers and bedding material and happened across a sad little bantam chick, the store told us to take it and a friend for it so we went home with 4 bantams. They were hatched monday.

The sad little one was on its side and everyone else in the run running over it. We got it home and it could stay upright if leaning on a wall but within a couple steps would tumble and be on its side kicking. In your hand with a wall to lean on it feels pretty strong and will basically leap out of the hand. The splay isnt bad enough to be doing the splits. The outer toe on each foot does seem to be extra tiny but does seem to be in the right direction when the foot is on the ground.

This evening it seems to be able to at least stand in one spot and has even taken a few steps without totally crashing but it is still extremely unstable and does eventually end up crashing and kicking with its feet in the air. We have been researching splayed leg fixes. We have a TINY TINY sports tape (not the sticky kind) hobble installed (not a fan at all, lots of screaming involved) and trying the cup method (basically a shot glass which is still too big I think). Seems to like a watery chick food mush (worried it wont be able to make it to the food and water alone). It does yell at the food and seems to desperately want to stand in the food.


Anyone have other thoughts or suggestions?

 

[fldiver97]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...0050/#:~:text=Easy Brace For Splay Leg Chicks

 

[deerhurst]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/easy-brace-for-splay-leg-chicks.80050/#:~:text=Easy Brace For Splay Leg Chicks

We have something like that going on.

I just want to make sure we are going in the right direction. Especially since it's not a real noticeable splay. I originally thought it was a balance issue.

It's so so small I'm afraid to hurt it.



Edit again:

Took the hobble off. When set back in the brooder it fell over and was unable to right itself self with the hobble. It's trying really hard to be upright but unable to stay up, when it stays up it has its beak almost on the ground. One of those others is already starting to go after it. Eventually it got tired and just fell over and went to sleep until the one attacked it again. Legs were twitching and a wing was out as it layed on its side. Not normal. I'm worried it's more than just a bit of splayed.

Another edit:

Removed little derpy from the others since one of the others was going after her pretty hard and clamped her toes hard enough for me to pick up both birds when I went to separate the offender. She has her own little box next to the others with a dish of the mush which hopefully has enough food and water in it. She was standing a little (swaying like a drunk) and stumbling around checking things out in the box. Within a few minutes she fell over and crashed out without a peep. The box floor is lined with that foam stuff that goes in kitchen drawers to prevent things sliding and there is a tiny shallow dish of watery mush for her. I hope little derpy gets better soon. I haven't dealt with this before!

 

[deerhurst]

Wife spent the night with little derpy. She said sometime in the night she started being able to get up after a few tries when she fell over. Didn't show any interest in the food. Still quite unsteady with butt in the air. Wife wants to do some more cup therapy to work on posture and splay.

Looks like she may be going for food this morning. Too unsteady to lean over to get food without falling.

 

[fldiver97]

You can try some soft scrambled egg, maybe that’s more appealing to her

 

[deerhurst]

Will do!

 

[deerhurst]

Got a bunch of mush down the derpy one. Split the banties into pairs so they each have a friend. Derpy still hasn't stopped peeping and didn't stop while eating. her balance is still really bad and every time she tumbled she screams louder.

Seeing small improvements. Hopefully the more food and nutrients go in the better it'll be.

 

[deerhurst]

Wife is trying some pea mush as suggested by a local chicken person. Should have lots of good nutrients.

Been watching her more and more since I was able to take a half day today. I'm not seeing much for what I can recognize as splayed leg. Her balance is absolutely junk. Found the smallest clear cup I could that isn't excessively deep and can extract Little Derpy without just pouring out a chicken nugget. I'm hoping it's small enough she can't just fall on her side and freak out but big enough she can take a step or two over time and if she stumbled she can lean on a wall.

I have no idea what to do when a chicken has zero balance. I hope Little Derpy can recover. Hope someone here can help point in a direction.

Everyone else things this is a great show!

 

[deerhurst]

Been reading. Apparently thiamene is needed and being low in thiamene can cause balance issues. Also look like the stuff in medicated chick feed is a thiamene blocker.

We have some water additive that has thiamene hydrochloride. I think we are also going to try to back off the medicated chick feed mush and go to something unmedicated for Little Derpy. So far she is enjoying the mush and peas. She is actually pecking food off the ground in her cup.

 

[fldiver97]

Tagging educators
@Debbie292d
@Eggcessive
@Wyorp Rock

Maybe someone can help as this doesn’t really sound like just splay leg