Super Spraddle

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

If different length legs are the only issue, that shouldn't inhibit quality of life too much. i have a little MF D'Uccle with a lame leg that makes it significantly shorter than the other. She hobbles around, can't scratch in the dirt, but seems to be doing just fine other than that.

As a person who sees their chickens as primarily pets, i lean towards a "wait and see" approach. i wouldn't want to euthanize too soon if they have a chance at a decent life.

 

[zowieyellowflame]

Yes, I hope you give it a bit more time and try a couple of things, just in case. From my own personal short experience, the chicks that are not quite right end up, down the road not making it. But I did have one that had spraddle legs, was small and appeared to be dying. She is 2 months old now and seems to be fixed and healthy. We will see.

 

[Highland Moongazer]

I found it curled up on its back, chilly, and breathing heavily last night. It died ~10 minutes later as I was trying to warm it up. I think that its appendages weren't the only thing that was mismatched and that it was unable to digest once the yolk was absorbed.

Thanks for all the help, though. I'm glad I tried to save it, but I think next time I'll personally be compelled to put it down before it gets to the frozen and wheezy stage, that was pitiful.

 

[Nif]

He definitely needs something to stand on that isn't slippery...this will only exacerbate the problem. Holding him upright in the correct position as often as you can throughout the day, making sure his feet are laying flat, would be like physical therapy for him. Check your other thread, I just wrote about my roo that I saved with hobbles and he turned out just fine.
The towel is a great suggestion, as he won't slip on that kind of surface and will give him something to grip onto.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i'm so sorry for your little one.

You did your best, but sounds like it just wasn't meant to be.

 

[Nif]

Bummer...it would be really hard to cull a chick unless it was blatantly obvious that they were in pain.

 

[kathyinmo]

Oh shucks, I am so sorry. Well, you did everything you could do, so yeah for you!

 

[Nif]

I just found my 2007 calendar when I had my baby Chinito and he had major splits and his hocks started to bend the wrong way. My calendar states it took 9 days of hobbles and rehab, and he was 90% better, 11 days he was back to normal. He was probably 3 weeks old when it happened.
Vitamins, grass clippings cut tiny, and good chick feed combined with some physical therapy is what I would personally do.
But I can't see the chick, so you have to be the judge.
I would love to have Nathalie's opinion on this thread.

EDIT! duh! I was reading in the middle of this thread and replied to something on the first page...sorry!