What's wrong?

[cattbird]

Suddenly one of my Silkies, who is 10 weeks old can't walk/stand. One leg is slipping one way and the other the other way? At first it was just on my kitchen floor and I thought he just had a weak leg, but yesterday I found him flat out. I've taken a photo to show you what I mean.

I do remember thinking at hatch one of them had really long feet by didn't think twice about it. Has he damaged himself or is this like a delayed form of spraddle leg? Maybe as he is getting bigger/heavier his legs can't hold him?

What I really need to know is.. Will it get better? Is there anything I can do to help it get better? Or should I give up and.... Okay, I'm too weak to do that!

 

[Renee']

I think you might need to go to the google search on BYC and type spraddle. I think it will have your answer.

 

[dani2]

All chickens especially young growing chicks need good footing slippery footing can cause this problem I would get them off the slippery wood floors.

 

[amyparrotflock]

Try putting him on newspaper/shelf liner/pine/aspen bedding/old t-shirts and seeing if he can stand up and walk then. if not he's splay legged or spradled. In parrots they make a splint out of a hard foam, but you have to catch this fast when they are young. Here's a link if it is- this can be modfied for larger birds

http://www.parrotparrot.com/splay/

 

[cattbird]

Thanks.

In their brooder they have 2" pine shavings. The chick was just on the kitchen floor for the photo. I have put a towel under the shavings now too.

Can chicks develop spraddle leg at 10 weeks?

Thanks.

 

[cattbird]

Just bumping in hope someone else has saome answers?

I have tied the chicks legs but it couldn't walk and fell flat on it's face? So given up on that as it wouldnt be able to get to the food/water.

Is 10 weeks too old to correct spraddle leg?

It looks like one leg is bent the wrong way at the knee.

 

[Timmy]

I have fixed this in pigeons with two leg bands tied together with a rubber band.