Splay leg chick feeding issues

[nicoleb875]

I know theres a thread about fixing splay leg... its legs have been taped but im having trouble getting it to balance.. it keeps trying to stand on its tiptoes... but my biggest issue is getting this little one to eat and drink on its own..I prop it up in a container where its basically standing in a short plastic bowl with bedding in the bottom being held in with a folded paper towel taped on the side to make a seat belt more or less. ive tried everything I can think of but the little puffball won't eat its chick starter.. never once had a chick turn this stuff down.. its hatchmates all devour it like teenage boys eating pizza. Thankfully I have mealworms for my pet treefrogs that I found in my house after bringing the plants in for a winter storm and kept em in til im sure they will be comfortable and safe. I've managed to get the chick to eat the smaller mealworms and ive dripped water enhanced with vitamins and minerals into its beak and it drinks that way..but I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for getting it to eat its chick food because I know if im ever gonna fix the splay leg and get it to balance it needs the nutrition... otherwise its doing good... its got plenty of energy so I guess im doing something right...

 

[MarlaMac]

Have you tried wetting the feed into a mash? Chicks/chickens usually think that is a fabulous treat.

 

[nicoleb875]

not yet... I hadn't thought of that.. ill give it a go! thanks!

 

[nicoleb875]

well... it kindof worked.. she pecked at it not sure how much she ate... it kinda went everywhere... but time will tell! its more than she did before... and I even got pooped on! (never thought i'd be happy about that)

 

[MarlaMac]

Glad the little one ate some. If she is still not eating enough, I would try boiled eggs chopped very finely just to get her going.

 

[nicoleb875]

had a bit of a setback... God only knows how she did it but she flipped on her back trying to stand on her own and somehow got her leg into the grate over the fan in the incubator... I was there when she did it.. turned my back for half a second .. I got her loose, she looked unharmed.... lunchtime, and its slightly swollen and looked alittle misaligned so I am guessing its broken... but I know that young animals that are growing fast heal pretty quick so I used a piece of one of those super long qtip sticks and some paper medical tape and I did my best splint job I could do with a fussy squirmy chick .Otherwise... her appetite is better than last night... she demolished a good 15 or so bigger sized mealworms and drank water from the small 1ml syringe better than ever... she's not willing to give up so I don't plan to give up on her without atleast trying

 

[MarlaMac]

So sorry this happend. I hope she continues to improve.

 

[nicoleb875]

me too... I plan to take a trip to hobby lobby later for some supplies... hoping to make a better splint...I also found a great alternative to my jar in a video that was shared on another splay leg case that will give me a space to hold feed if I can get her to eat it... as long as she doesn't give up neither will I no matter how long it takes