Spraddle leg?

[Ksmitty_89]

My 2 day old chick cannot stand up. One of its leg over extends towards the back. I have it in a band-aid to try to help the correction. Anything else I can do? I am unable to load a video.

 

[MadamContrary]

Is there resistance when you try to move the leg into the proper position? Spradle usually goes out to the sides. You can try the drinking glass lined with a paper towel to help strengthen the legs in the proper position, or a couple small rubber bands connecting both legs, for "physical therapy". Without seeing it I can't say for sure, but it could also be a leg deformity as well. Was it an assisted hatch by any chance?

 

[Ksmitty_89]

Is there resistance when you try to move the leg into the proper position? Spradle usually goes out to the sides. You can try the drinking glass lined with a paper towel to help strengthen the legs in the proper position, or a couple small rubber bands connecting both legs, for "physical therapy". Without seeing it I can't say for sure, but it could also be a leg deformity as well. Was it an assisted hatch by any chance?

Yes. This one was an assisted hatch. It bears weight on its legs with no resistance when I tried to move it into position. I can hold the feet into position and the check is able to hold itself up favors leaning to the right side.

 

[MadamContrary]

Well, it looks like it has a chance if you're willing to work with it. Is it able to eat and drink on it's own?

 

[Ksmitty_89]

Well, it looks like it has a chance if you're willing to work with it. Is it able to eat and drink on it's own?

If I bring it to water - yes. It has not shown interest in eating yet. When I’m at work I have it in a make shift cage in the brooder with the others to keep it safe but is unable to eat or drink without me bringing it food / water. The chick favors leaning towards the right and the right foot doesn’t alway lay flat.

 

[MadamContrary]

Awww poor baby. I don't want to be negative, but with your having to leave it unattended for long periods and it not showing an interest in food, that it may not make it and you should prepare mentally for how you wan to deal with the situation. Hatching out of the egg is the first test of health for birds, when something is wrong they can't make it out. I know incubation is not exactly a natural scenario, and we often feel like thier inability to hatch is due to something we did (and it is occasionally) but sometimes they just don't develop correctly, failure to thrive is a common occurrence, particularly with shipped eggs. I'm sorry you and the poor peep are having to deal with this

 

[Bizzy Betty]

I think I have a very similar situation. This little chick was an assisted hatch. It was trying to pip way lower than the air cell and couldn't break through. Finally we had to help it out.

It was weak and kept falling over, rehydrated it with a homemade solution and it lasted through the night. This morning it looked like it had spraddle leg so I taped them. It's standing better though still with a tendency to fall back on its bum. Starting to peck at a bit of food though I think it's not drinking on its own. I use a syringe to drop some rehydration solution every few hours.

Question for the experts. Did I space the legs correctly? I had them slight closer but chick kept falling over so I let it out a bit. But it looks a bit far apart.

Hope your chick is doing better.