- Sep 14, 2014
- 90
- 7
- 89
Sadly, one of the Buff Sussex that hatched overnight has splayed legs. :-(
My daughters were soooo concerned. We read this post on BYC about using zip-ties and newspaper to immobilize in these cases, so we tried it.
My 11 year old daughter very bravely helped, and the 8 year old took photos.
We weren't able to roll the chick up properly (in the newspaper) with legs underneath, so we decided to try a sock! Chick was content for a few hours, then... NOT. SO. MUCH. It took me a while to get the zip tie off (was probably too thick, but it's all we had on hand and I thought: the sooner the better- It was clearly rubbing and the chick was distressed. I'd crossed the legs (as shown), so it couldn't stand at all, if we left it out of it's wrap.
Scissors didn't work and I ended up needing to use wire snippers to get the zip-tie off, which worked a treat. Then I ended up holding the little thing for much of the afternoon. Hopefully it didn't get too cold.
Called hubby to get coban (vet-wrap) on his way home from work. The little "w-sitter" is now in the brooder in a separate little box, because the others are pecking at it. We've now done the Chicken Chick approach (coban ring on each leg, with a tether of coban) and occasionally the chick seems to get the legs under him/her, but frequently cheeps in distress (will this adversly affect the other chicks??) , and often sleeps on its back (***IS THAT OK?? TO SLEEP ON IT BACK? ***I hope it's ok for it to sleep on its back, or it'll be a long night for me!!)
Left alone on a flat surface it ends up on its back, or slightly in it's side, often panting but sometimes looking ok. It was happy in a low circular tupperware for a bit, but then it fell out. Feisty little thing! lots of flapping going on.
Any recommendations what to do overnight?
My daughters were soooo concerned. We read this post on BYC about using zip-ties and newspaper to immobilize in these cases, so we tried it.
My 11 year old daughter very bravely helped, and the 8 year old took photos.
We weren't able to roll the chick up properly (in the newspaper) with legs underneath, so we decided to try a sock! Chick was content for a few hours, then... NOT. SO. MUCH. It took me a while to get the zip tie off (was probably too thick, but it's all we had on hand and I thought: the sooner the better- It was clearly rubbing and the chick was distressed. I'd crossed the legs (as shown), so it couldn't stand at all, if we left it out of it's wrap.
Scissors didn't work and I ended up needing to use wire snippers to get the zip-tie off, which worked a treat. Then I ended up holding the little thing for much of the afternoon. Hopefully it didn't get too cold.
Called hubby to get coban (vet-wrap) on his way home from work. The little "w-sitter" is now in the brooder in a separate little box, because the others are pecking at it. We've now done the Chicken Chick approach (coban ring on each leg, with a tether of coban) and occasionally the chick seems to get the legs under him/her, but frequently cheeps in distress (will this adversly affect the other chicks??) , and often sleeps on its back (***IS THAT OK?? TO SLEEP ON IT BACK? ***I hope it's ok for it to sleep on its back, or it'll be a long night for me!!)
Left alone on a flat surface it ends up on its back, or slightly in it's side, often panting but sometimes looking ok. It was happy in a low circular tupperware for a bit, but then it fell out. Feisty little thing! lots of flapping going on.
Any recommendations what to do overnight?
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