Three week old chick developing splay leg

[featheredroots]

My three week old australorp seems to be developing splay leg, she can walk, but her stance is extremely wide. I tried using a band aid, but she refused to walk, and thrashed and flung herself around the brooder. I was afraid she'd hurt herself so I took it off. Is there another way to splint her legs?


I also would like to know if anyone has had trouble with their MPC chicks. I've lost four in four days, to what seems to be neurological issues. This australorp and one golden comet are all that's left of our order of six. Other than having angel wings the golden seems to be strong and healty, but all of the others have had feathering and developmental problems. Does anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[TheChickMan]

the bedding is the only problem i could think of. if you dont have pine shavings for bedding i suggest getting it. if you do have that im not sure. hope he/she gets better

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have ordered in the past from MPC and was pleased.

I am sorry to say that if at three weeks you are seeing "splay leg" that it is not the traditional spraddle leg they get when they are brand new. Pine shavings are fine, but I would investigate the food you are feeding them.

Here is some information regarding neurological problems and vitamin deficiencies:
http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Nutrient_deficiencies.html

From what I have read, three weeks is too early for it to be Mareks. Additionally, there are other conditions such as moldy feed that can cause neurological problems.

http://www.apa-abayouthpoultryclub.... SYMPTOMS FOR DIAGNOSING POULTRY DISEASES.pdf
Truthfully, if it were me, I'd set aside the bag of feed I was feeding...go buy another bag from a different source or another brand, and see if that made a difference. Also I'd put a vitamin pack in the water.

"A vitamin E deficiency accompanied by a sulfur amino acid deficiency results in a severe muscular dystrophy in chicks by ~4 wk of age. This condition is characterized by degeneration of the muscle fibers, usually in the breast but sometimes also in the leg muscles."
from
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206924.htm

There are several vitamin deficiencies mentioned in merck:
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/206921.htm
scroll down to select

To see how dramatic a vitamin deficiency can be and how quickly they can recover in certain situations, I urge you to watch the video in post # 11:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/592825/chick-with-wry-neck-treated/10

There are many threads on BYC regarding how to administer extra vit E and selenium, also B vitamins if needed.

 

[featheredroots]

Thank you for the replies. I wish I could use pine shavings, but I'm allergic to them. I was thinking that maybe I could use paper towels, and just change them often.

I'm on my way to the feed store now to get some new food. Hopefully that, along with some supplements, will get her back to normal.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you for the replies. I wish I could use pine shavings, but I'm allergic to them. I was thinking that maybe I could use paper towels, and just change them often.

I'm on my way to the feed store now to get some new food. Hopefully that, along with some supplements, will get her back to normal.

Paper towels are fine! Just make sure they don't slip and slide around as they walk on them. I have used old clothing rags for grip before and it works fine too.

I need to give you this website to see if needed, too:
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[featheredroots]

I'm back from the feed store with electrolytes and vitamins, but I'm afraid I may be too late. Neither one is acting right, and the australorp isn't getting up to eat and drink anymore. I've been going in and dipping her beak in the vitamin water, but I haven't seen any improvement yet. I'm also seening a decline in the golden, but she's not nearly as bad.

I feel terrible that I failed them, but I'm greatful to have this new information. Once we get these girls straightened around, we'll be getting more chicks to replace the ones lost, and armed with this new knowledge I'll be better prepared to care for them properly.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I'm back from the feed store with electrolytes and vitamins, but I'm afraid I may be too late. Neither one is acting right, and the australorp isn't getting up to eat and drink anymore. I've been going in and dipping her beak in the vitamin water, but I haven't seen any improvement yet. I'm also seening a decline in the golden, but she's not nearly as bad.

I feel terrible that I failed them, but I'm greatful to have this new information. Once we get these girls straightened around, we'll be getting more chicks to replace the ones lost, and armed with this new knowledge I'll be better prepared to care for them properly.

Oh I am so sorry. It is really guesswork with all these problems and you have been doing all you can!!!

 

[featheredroots]

Oh I am so sorry. It is really guesswork with all these problems and you have been doing all you can!!!

Thank you, and thanks again for all of the links, they were really helpful.