Splayed Legs - "Gimpy" the Sicilian Buttercup

[sarabeth53]

I hatched five chicks a couple days ago and one of them has what I think is "splayed leg syndrome" but I'm not sure what to do about it. She (and I only say "she" out of hope) seems to have one normally functioning leg and one that is constantly extended and she cannot bend the "knee" or ankle joint to walk. When I bend it carefully for her, she doesn't seem to be in pain. However, she is in pain getting trampled now

Any suggestions on what to do about Gimpy?

 

[Miguel Perera]

I have a couple of mature hens that have displayed this same predicament, with both there feet. I ensure they have water and food nearby, as they are unable to move around. They feed and drink a lot of fluids and within a week they are up and about. I am unable to find a cause to this predicament.

 

[Chicklette 1]

You can repair splayed legs easily with a bandaid hobble. Check the forum for splayed leg treatment and you will probably find some photos.

 

[sarabeth53]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It looks like she still isn't doing any better. The problem seems to be with only one leg that won't bend at the knee joint. I built a "chick chair" so that she is building leg strength and being held upright, but she still isn't eating much (if at all) and I have to syringe-feed her water.

At this point her chances seem slim, any suggestions on last measures? I would really like to see this chick live but that darn leg just won't walk for her.

 

[wsonphan80]

I just hatched out 20 chicks 2 weeks ago and 1 had similar symptoms with one leg at first not being able to straighten out after hatching, but now it sticks straight out and doesn't bend at the knee. The first couple days after hatching, she couldn't even sit upright or move, she just flopped about. I felt horrible and was about to cull her, but on the 3rd day she was able to sit on her own and make a couple hops. I was having trouble deciding what to do with her but seeing she was eating and drinking well and didn't seem to be in much pain I decided to give her a chance. It's always the ones with the handicaps/struggles that I always get attached to. LOL. She seems to be doing fine on one leg now but I should have posted for advice right away, hopefully it's not too late to fix my little chickies leg too. It's not a life threatening injury but hopefully she'll be able to eat and drink on her own soon so she can live a long happy life. Thinking positive...