Spraddle Leg - Splay Leg Treatment Instructions

[PoultryPedia]

The symptom of holding one leg forward sounds like a possible sign of Marek's disease.

There is some info on that, and additional references on the Poultry Podiatry page on the website linked in my sig below.

However, most sources say birds don't show symptoms until they are at least 4 weeks old. But I am thinking I have seen posts on BYC that said that occasionally a chick will show signs younger than that. So you might search for threads on that, or contact the people who wrote the sources linked on the PP page.

--If you do end up needing to use a hobble, try using sports tape. It holds better than other tape (excepting duct tape, which you shouldn't use on chickens' legs, of course).

 

[campchickens]

Right now we're dealing with vent gleet AND epic constipation... if we survive this, sports tape is the next step! Thanks for the resources. The campers are pretty emotionally invested in this little chick, who we named Lucky, so I'm doing all I can!

 

[PoultryPedia]

You're having to face many problems at once! That sounds so hard!

Be aware that if it is Marek's disease, it is a serious condition that is contagious to the rest of your birds, so it is important to identify soon.

If the cause of the chick's problem is a movement learning problem such as Spraddle Leg, that usually can't be fixed unless it is corrected within a few days of hatching. Even though such problems are rooted in "thinking" (brain patterning) problems rather than a physical deformity, almost all birds who don't get Spraddle Leg corrected will end up needing to be euthanized. There is additional info on Spraddle Leg & its prognosis on the Poultry Podiatry page, also.

Bless you for your efforts!

 

[cliffinswg]

can the leg start going bad like 5 weeks later when he was just fine up until theN?

Hello. I have one chick that started out fine, & the ankle part which bends back (normally) started to go right, which made his body go left. This was @ about 8 weeks. Sorry; got cut off. Full response, below.

 

[cliffinswg]

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[cliffinswg]

Hello. I have one chick that started out fine, & the ankle part which bends back (normally) started to go right, which made his body go left. This was @ about 8 weeks.

sorry; I got cut off. Completed response, below.

 

[cackling-hen]

Hello
I recently hatched chicks from my incubator. I have one with curled toes. I made a "shoe" which has been working wonders! It has been three days and all of a sudden she is limping on the other leg. She can extend the leg but now is limping. Suggestions?? She was doing wonderfully until 30 minutes ago.

 

[cliffinswg]

Hello
I recently hatched chicks from my incubator. I have one with curled toes. I made a "shoe" which has been working wonders! It has been three days and all of a sudden she is limping on the other leg. She can extend the leg but now is limping. Suggestions?? She was doing wonderfully until 30 minutes ago.

it may just be an adjustment period. Make sure her tendon hasn't shifted. See posts on shifting leg tendons

 

[PoultryPedia]

@cackling-hen
How's your chick? Did it look like she might have had a problem with one of her tendons? A slipped hock tendon can cause a chick's toes to be curled in on the corresponding foot.

 

[cackling-hen]

Thank you both for responding. Nugget my little chick is doing wonderful! I separated her and a buddy and in a couple of days she stopped limping. We have removed the shoe (following your protocol) and her toes are straight! Thank you Speckledhills for the detailed description of creation and application. She is still separated from the rest as she is a runt and very small but now she is up and running.