Spraddle Leg - Splay Leg Treatment Instructions

[PoultryPedia]

Can I use this method with an adolescent chick? I took him to the vet when he was 2 weeks old, but vet said I should just put him down. I didn't. He hops around on his elbows. I'm afraid he will get too big and get ulcerations on his abdomen.

Very sorry to say that it is my experience that the vet's prognosis is correct.

In the Splay Leg section on the Poultry Podiatry page on my website linked in my sig, you can see photos of a chick with problems at 2 weeks old. I nursed her until she was 5 months old but it was a LOT of intense work & she endured a fair amount of pain as I tried to keep up on designing & making adjustments for bandages constantly to minimize chafing or constricting her legs too much. However, she was a sweetheart & had good times of happiness & comfort, too. I put her down as her increasing weight was continually putting more pressure on her bones & deforming them more.

I have heard of some people who haven't bandaged their birds & some birds sounded like they had some sort of positive lifestyle. I can't figure out how this worked out for them & wonder if the owners perhaps didn't notice some physical suffering the birds endured? Though there may be some leg conditions that can be worked around with reasonable comfort.

It is very hard. That is very kind of you to care for his well-being. My sympathy and best wishes to you.

 

[Chrystal Dawn]

My little chick passed this morning. I wrapped her in some paper towels, buried her beside the fig tree and planted a lavender plant above her. It's a happy, sunny place in the yard where no one can get to her to dig her up. I'd hoped she would make it but obviously she was doing worse than I had thought.

Thank you everyone for your time and your information. It means a lot to me.

 

[Jesus Chick]

It sounds just like mine. I didn't think it was working either but I just continued with the bound legs, making sure she ate and drank. I did not leave water in with her for fear she would drown. After about 4 days she began to straighten up and learned to gain balance. Now, I can hardly tell her apart from the others. I hope this helps

 

[Tncowgirl1903]

thanks

 

[Liane]

. Can I still fix him?

 

[PoultryPedia]

Liane,
Very, very sorry--I definitely would say the legs can't be fixed at this point. It looks like the tendons got slipped a good while ago & unless you know what to do when that happens, it becomes unfixable after a few days.
I'll bet you have given your bird much TLC to get it this far.

 

[Liane]

Thank you for responding. I'm so angry that my vet didn't tell me that I might have been able. He is, however, a lovely guy. I will make him as happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

 

[Jesus Chick]

I am sorry about your chicken. While I am no expert, I am like you seem to be with the power of positive thinking. Since you are willing to try and work with her you can always splint or hobble the legs and say some healing prayers. It may seem silly to some, but God wants us to enjoy his creations so I believe He can heal. I experienced the power of prayer with quite a few of my chickens. We have a chicken that's leg was broken and just hanging on by the skin, she lost her leg but she gets around just fine now on her nub. She even lays one egg a day! Just make sure that she isn't being picked on, can't fall into water and drown and that she has food. Many blessings!!

 

[PoultryPedia]

Thank you for responding. I'm so angry that my vet didn't tell me that I might have been able. He is, however, a lovely guy. I will make him as happy and comfortable for as long as possible.

Unfortunately, most vets know little about treating backyard chickens. The field is having a hard time catching up with the spread of interest in chickens as pets receiving specialized care. There are health problems in backyard chickens that are not covered in vet training for treating flocks in factories or perhaps even treating other pet birds. It may be helpful to ask a vet how much experience they have in treating BACKYARD chickens before you use them.

There is a good chance your vet didn't know how to to treat the problem, which is very frustrating when you pay money to try to find expert assistance.

 

[Liane]

I am sorry about your chicken. While I am no expert, I am like you seem to be with the power of positive thinking. Since you are willing to try and work with her you can always splint or hobble the legs and say some healing prayers. It may seem silly to some, but God wants us to enjoy his creations so I believe He can heal. I experienced the power of prayer with quite a few of my chickens. We have a chicken that's leg was broken and just hanging on by the skin, she lost her leg but she gets around just fine now on her nub. She even lays one egg a day! Just make sure that she isn't being picked on, can't fall into water and drown and that she has food. Many blessings!!