There is a bit to this and I know posting off boards is discouraged - but in order to make me pay for the bandwidth instead of the board operators - the question and picture is at:

 

Pictures of Chicks here

http://graemejwsmith.com/budgies/

 

Promise no scams or hi-jacks or spyware or pop-ups - but if folks could look and let me know if you think I have a problem with this chick - I would love to hear from you.

 

Promise also to post back the answers I receive off board.

splayed legs you could tie the legs together for 7 days but the chick could be a little old now it has worked once for me

Yep - you put me on the right track - Googling "splayed leg budgies" got me a nice wealth of contradictory advice as to how it happens!

 

In our case I suspect a mix of outgrowing his speed of calcium absorbtion and too smooth a nest box floor so it is hard to get purchase to stand up.

 

The consensus as to the "fix" in nearly every case was tieing the legs together. Many pages said that you could start as late as 10 days and get a result - so we had a little scrimmage on the table while we bound the poor blighter.

 

24 hours tied and already one leg is coming around and seems to be correctly positioned. The other is at least in the right place - though he is not holding it there yet.

 

We will see in 7-10 days because that seems to be the consensus as to how long to do it. But with one variation - will release for a few minutes each day to clean up his vent which is pooping all over the string!

Edited January 29, 200520 yr by graemesmith

Follow up Feb 9th - Day 30

 

This is the best link I got offered that describes what has happened - because it appears to be based on RESEARCH rather than well intended opinion.

 

http://www.tuxford.dabsol.co.uk/masterbree...ap9chicks17.htm go about 2/3 of the way down the page.

 

It also offers the best method of hobbling the bird that actually worked - using tape rather than hard to fight on twine.

 

Unfortunately for Daisy (aka Gimpy) we didn't identify the problem till a little late so one leg has come around while I still don't know if the other will. But the leg CAN be manipulated to the correct position so we give her physiotherapy every time we pass the cage. She is beginning to grip and half perch on the good leg.

 

Interestingly Daisy's wing muscles are way ahead of her sibling's. She sort of "swims" around the cage using her wings.

Glad you are finding a way to rectify the situation. :fear That website has a lot of very good information on it - have you read the whole way through? Takes awhile, but is informative.

 

Interestingly Daisy's wing muscles are way ahead of her sibling's. She sort of "swims" around the cage using her wings.

 

And mother nature usually finds a way around little deformities like that, doesn't she? I'm not surprised her breast muscles are stronger. I wouldn't have thought about it, but it makes perfect sense. I'll bet she will be a strong flyer. Hopefully the other leg will come around just fine.

Yeah - I read it RIGHT through after I found it.