Spraddle Leg/What To Do?

[Patchesnposies]

I had my worst hatch ever 2 days ago. I managed to hatch 16 out of 30 eggs in spite of the fact that my stupid LG's temps kept fluctuating wildly at the end. Most of the chicks that made it out by themselves seem healthy enough, but for the first time I have two chicks who are spraddle legged. (The same breed, but I don't know if it is genetic or too small of an egg or the temps.)

I have never had a chick with this problem, so I didn't pay enough attention over the years to other folks' posts about how to fix this.

I tried searching and couldn't find any info on what to do. I think maybe it has been too long anyway....but decided to try.

If anyone has info about how to go about correcting this problem or even a link, I would appreciate it so much!

Deb

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Here is a link I found. I hope it helps...
http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

 

[Patchesnposies]

Thank you!

Ironically, the two chicks I have with this are Silver Spangled Hamburg just like the ones in the demo! One of the chicks was doing so poorly, that I went ahead and culled it. I think she fell under the light and was dehydrated and too far gone when I found her.

The one chick that I taped is not fond of it, but I can see where it will help immensely.

Thank you so much! Who would have thought it would be so easy? I pray his little legs get strong now.

Deb

 

[biddybird]

I have used vet wrap in the past making a figure 8. Had very good success. In the future get some of the rubber no slip cabinet liner and put it down for the first 5-7 days. Since I have been using it(about two years) I have had NO spraddles. I used paper towels before that and they worked also however sometimes the chicks would shred them. You can cut the rolls to fit any brooder box and wash and reuse.

 

[angelbabyamy]

I hatched some chicks for a friend recently. One chick pipped at the wrong end and was not making progress, so I intervened and helped him out. I was shocked at how crippled he was and thought we were going to have to cull him. I am guessing it is because he was in the egg backwards. Around 12 hours after he hatched, I decided I was going to try and help the chick. He looked at me with these bright little eyes. We hobbled him with bandaids and put him in the incubator. The next morning he was more upright and was trying to lift his head, I gave him water and put him back. 2 hours later he was standing! After about 10 days of hobbles and some chick shoes made from tape, he is doing well.

We are still taping his left foot- I am not sure if we are going to be able to keep his back toe from curling. Does anybody know what kind of chick he is?

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

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Glad I could help!

 

[Patchesnposies]

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I do have some of that, I used to use it in my incubator. But found I prefer egg crate cut to size. This is the first time I have used paper towel in the brooder, I usually put old kitchen towels...the terry cloth kind. They are worn though so the babies toes do not catch on the terry cloth. I would have to venture a guess that the paper toweling was too slick.

Lesson learned!

 

[Patchesnposies]

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Thanks for the photos! You did a great job for your little one! (It sort of looks like a barred rock or maybe an australorp are those possibilities?)

I had one other chick, a Delaware, that had one foot entirely curled back, so that he was walking on top of the front of his ankle. I did have the presence of mind to take a craft stick (like a Popsicle stick) and broke a piece off to tape his foot to with the toes in the right position. I made a figure eight around his ankle going around to the bottom of the "cast" to brace his foot in the right position. That one is doing fine.

I just didn't have a clue what to do with the chicks who were doing the splits. The answer was so simple I am embarrassed.