Super Spraddle

[Highland Moongazer]

I have an early hatcher who prefers to have the right leg kicked out behind him. I've tried to hobble it, but instead of it going forward, it drags the left one backwards.
Most chicks this age (28 hours) at least try to walk around, this one won't even move enough to fluff himself out.
I've been holding it wrapped in a paper towel so that it doesn't make the issue worse, but is there something else I can do?


Thanks in advance.


Oh, and a pic:

 

[kathyinmo]

Check this out, and see if it would work...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=51112

 

[Highland Moongazer]

Booties installed, but when I set him down, he will just scoot forward on his chest and then stick his legs out behind him.
Returning him to an upright position multiple times yields the same result, or just falling straight sideways, then rolling on to his back (with legs straight out, usually).

 

[kathyinmo]

Hhhmmm, I don't know. There is a post somewhere about a "chair," that is made with a coffee cup, and they are inside the cup, held up with something, and two pop bottle caps are attached to the cup for the food and water. But, I can't remember what this was used for... an injury or something likely. I will look for it ....

 

[Billy7871]

I know what you are talking about....look up chicken orthopedics I think that is it. There is a lot of info on it. The only question I had was how long did I leave the chick in it??? I found the post after it was already too late for my little chick.

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is a thread that has the same problem, and makes reference to the coffe cup thing.... I'm still looking for it...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=221067

 

[Highland Moongazer]

http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces is SpeckledHills' page that I found.

Thanks, I'll try to make one, see if that works.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i had a similar issue with a chick this spring. Tried the bandaid method but he just fell straight forward. So i came to assume the problem wasn't spraddle leg. i set him up in his own cage with a towel in the bottom. i created cups in the towel (bunching it up and hollowing out a cup shape) so he could sit upright.

Unfortunately, he never got better, only worse. Did take him to the vet for their advice. i was told it was probably a neurological problem, not necessarily genetic - something could have happened in the egg. When my little one was born he was really large for the egg, so maybe things got squished.

Anyhow, i tried my best to accommodate the little one for about four months. He never got better and as he grew i could see he was very deformed. i finally came to the realization that he would never get better and had very little quality of life. My vet euthanized him for me.

Don't want to worry you or introduce a sad possible scenario. But mention it only because i wish i would have euthanized earlier. Sometimes there are things wrong that we just can't fix.

i hope you little one gets better. You might try what i did and use a towel and create a cup shape in it so it can sit upright. i used a parakeet waterer for my little one, and just sprinkled feed near him on the towel. He was able to feed and water himself that way so i didn't have to wake up every two hours to feed and water him.

 

[Highland Moongazer]

The quails I've had with this have been culled, but as this was the only one to hatch out of an expensive order (that ended up spending 3 days just randomly sitting in the post office, so much for overnight shipping!), I wanted to try to do something.

I'll give this one a day or two in the coffee mug (much easier than the chair, still keeps it upright) before I cull him. If he doesn't look 100%, I won't torment him.

His eyes are a little odd, too, so I'm thinking he "just ain't right".

 

[Highland Moongazer]

I've come to notice that this chick's legs are different lengths.... Do you think it could lead a pain-free life despite this or should I put it down now?

It seems to have a will to live, so far.