This is the worst case of splayed legs Ive ever seen

[soehls]

This is a peachick but he needs some help. The splayed leggs might explain why he wasn't able to unzip on his own. It was odd, after he hatched his toes stayed curled for several hours. He is 18 hours old. Otherwise he's healthy, alert and loud.
It looks like his right leg has some swelling at the joint. It doesn't bend, and I'm afraid to splint his legs because forcing his legs together might damage them.
Suggestions?

 

[KsKingBee]

The reason the chick is having problems is because it was having trouble getting out of the egg. First, once the chick is breathing air the bones start to harden, the toes are still compressed by the shell and held in a curled position. After getting out of the shell those toes needed to be fitted with shoes to flatten the toes in the correct position, you only have a few hours to attend to this. If not attended to the chick can not get traction and the legs are held out in an un-natural position straining the thigh ligaments causing the leg to splay. The splay can be addressed immediately and remedied but if you wait the chances are not very good that you could fix it. Another problem I see is that you have a slick surface for the chick that also makes it harder to get traction adding to the cause of the splay.

 

[KsKingBee]

I don't know how long it has been but there is a chance if this is done soon. Cut a square of cardboard from a cereal box and make two holes. Poke the feet through the holes and tape them flat to the bottom of the board. This will flatten the feet and toes and align the legs at the same time. Leave the chick on it for a day and then remove, if the chick can not keep its feet under it then put it back on the board for another day.

 

[KsKingBee]

Post a pic of the back of the knees so I can see if it has a slipped tendon.

 

[soehls]

The reason the chick is having problems is because it was having trouble getting out of the egg. First, once the chick is breathing air the bones start to harden, the toes are still compressed by the shell and held in a curled position. After getting out of the shell those toes needed to be fitted with shoes to flatten the toes in the correct position, you only have a few hours to attend to this. If not attended to the chick can not get traction and the legs are held out in an un-natural position straining the thigh ligaments causing the leg to splay. The splay can be addressed immediately and remedied but if you wait the chances are not very good that you could fix it. Another problem I see is that you have a slick surface for the chick that also makes it harder to get traction adding to the cause of the splay.

I never knew about the bones hardening after they start breathing air. That's really interesting. Goats hooves are similar. As soon as they are born their hooves go from feeling like stiff jello to a squishy hardish hoof. His feet did uncurl. We held him for a few hours cupped in our hands. We kept his legs tucked under him and they relaxed enough for me to splint them. He was hop-walking a few hours afterward.