Splayed leg or something else?

[KHolder]

This little Polish chick hatched 6/5.
It was having trouble hatching after being pipped for almost 24 hours so I did help it hatch. Its left leg doesn’t seem to be very strong. We currently have a straw/hair tie set up trying to help but it still doesn’t seem to be helping. Today is the first day we put it on.

Does this seem like splayed leg? Is there anything else we can do to help strength it? We do have a vet available and I don’t mind making an appointment, but if I can help it at home I’d rather do that.

Adding a video link that I posted to my TikTok.
Video of chick trying to walk

 

[Debbie292d]

Were both legs doing that before you bound them or just it's left one? If both, then you're doing the right thing. It could take about 2-3 days. I gave mine a break twice a day and let them just stumble around to use the muscles for a bit before putting it back on.

If it's just the one, and seems as if it's hip is out of joint, I fixed one by fitting it backward into a plastic toothpick container and putting it back in the incubator overnight. The next day the toes were curled, which we fixed by making a shoe, but its legs were fine.

What you're doing may just work though, so I'd give that a full day as you should see some improvement if it's working. If not, let us know as there's a few more tricks, like chick chairs to get it off its feet, etc.

I would give it/them some vitamin water, preferably Poultry Cell as that can help it heal too.

 

[KHolder]

Were both legs doing that before you bound them or just it's left one? If both, then you're doing the right thing. It could take about 2-3 days. I gave mine a break twice a day and let them just stumble around to use the muscles for a bit before putting it back on.

If it's just the one, and seems as if it's hip is out of joint, I fixed one by fitting it backward into a plastic toothpick container and putting it back in the incubator overnight. The next day the toes were curled, which we fixed by making a shoe, but its legs were fine.

What you're doing may just work though, so I'd give that a full day as you should see some improvement if it's working. If not, let us know as there's a few more tricks, like chick chairs to get it off its feet, etc.

I would give it/them some vitamin water, preferably Poultry Cell as that can help it heal too.

Thank you! It’s just the left foot. We tried a hair tie/straw yesterday and almost immediately saw improvement, but it kept kicking it off so we gave up and did some more research. Today we put it back and a little bit tighter so it won’t fall off but we haven’t seen improvement like we saw yesterday.
I have poultry cell on hand and I’ll add that to the water! It’s in there with one other chick, I assume that chick can have the poultry cell too?

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you! It’s just the left foot. We tried a hair tie/straw yesterday and almost immediately saw improvement, but it kept kicking it off so we gave up and did some more research. Today we put it back and a little bit tighter so it won’t fall off but we haven’t seen improvement like we saw yesterday.
I have poultry cell on hand and I’ll add that to the water! It’s in there with one other chick, I assume that chick can have the poultry cell too?

Oh yes, all chicks/chickens benefit from it now and then. It's usually for special occasions like this though.

Since you've seen improvement, that means it is getting better so I'd keep going!

 

[KHolder]

Oh yes, all chicks/chickens benefit from it now and then. It's usually for special occasions like this though.

Perfect! I’ll add poultry cell, someone on a Facebook page suggested adding a little bit of raw egg yolk as well. What do you think about that?

 

[Debbie292d]

Perfect! I’ll add poultry cell, someone on a Facebook page suggested adding a little bit of raw egg yolk as well. What do you think about that?

I've known to feed raw egg if they are weak and not eating or not eating well. It's good for adult chickens too who are sick.

It sure can't hurt though!

 

[KHolder]

I've known to feed raw egg if they are weak and not eating or not eating well. It's good for adult chickens too who are sick.

It sure can't hurt though!

Perfect, I’m going to add the poultry cell and some egg yolk. Hopefully I can get this little one healthy!