We have two 7 week old babies, one of which left the nest yesterday. The other one is still in the nest and has splayed legs. I checked this site out and followed the instructions for using the make-up sponge to pull its legs back together, left the 'splint' on for about a week. i took it off and he seemed okay for a day, but now they are splayed again, so i've put another splint back on. is he too old to fix the problem? Any other suggestions about what i can do?

Do they get a calcium supplement?

Do they get a calcium supplement?

 

 

just picked it up from the vet today, it's been on order for weeks. should i put it in his water or down his throat? thanks for your reply

Put the makeup sponge back on and give a drop to the beak each day, also I am fairly convinced that a good supply of protien is important for recovery from things like this as it helps muscle development and good muscletone will help support the legs in their correct position. Can you get some whole egg powder or even some protien powder from a healthfood shop?

Put the makeup sponge back on and give a drop to the beak each day, also I am fairly convinced that a good supply of protien is important for recovery from things like this as it helps muscle development and good muscletone will help support the legs in their correct position. Can you get some whole egg powder or even some protien powder from a healthfood shop?

 

 

Thanks... will give him the calcium now, they all have a 'biscuit' mixture that has protein powder in it, but i'll raid my son's protein supplement as well.

I have used one with vanilla flavour in it in a pinch but I wouldn't use chocolate, it might be fine I just don't feel the need to risk it.

Fixing splayed legs is best done at the 2 week old stage onwards. 7 weeks is leaving it a lot too late. Pity you didnt catch it sooner. Do you check your nests twice daily when you have babies and look for possible problems or is this the first time you have expereinced this kind of thing ?

Here is a good article that helps with raising babies

 

Care of baby Budgies in The Nest

Fixing splayed legs is best done at the 2 week old stage onwards. 7 weeks is leaving it a lot too late. Pity you didnt catch it sooner. Do you check your nests twice daily when you have babies and look for possible problems or is this the first time you have expereinced this kind of thing ?

Here is a good article that helps with raising babies

 

Care of baby Budgies in The Nest

 

this is the first time it has happened, i didnt really notice it until late being new to it. what happens if it can't be fixed? he is a really friendly little thing.

I have a hen with splayed legs in my aviary, she's a cute little thing and gets herself around just fine

I have a hen with splayed legs in my aviary, she's a cute little thing and gets herself around just fine

 

 

I guess it shouldn't affect them flying, when do they start to fly? Just walking around, still they can get around. These are our first babies and the parents are great, 7 weeks and still in the nest and being fed. Our kids (6 of them) love the birds, as do we. I love this website...so helpful and quick replies. Thanks for your reply

At seven weeks you need to kick them out of the box, mine start flying around at about 5 weeks. Yours are just being lazy

At seven weeks you need to kick them out of the box, mine start flying around at about 5 weeks. Yours are just being lazy

 

 

That would be right! But I'll wait till Ollie and Crystal get sick of them, but I'm glad they are good parents. maybe it's because they are Gen Y, why leave home when Mum and Dad still provide everything you need...

MB is right ...7 weeks and still in the nest is unusual. You counted their age from date of hatching ? or from the eggs being laid ?

All it takes is your first splay legged baby to make you check closer next time and look for signs. We all go through stuff like that in our early breeding experiences . The article link I gave you will help you prepare for a next time.

Your splay legged baby may need extra help in the way of ladders and platforms. You can guage what it needs and tryy and help it get around.

We have some great topics that will also help you to recognise the signs next time you have babies. Read up also on food stuck in the beaks as thats another one where chicks end up with issues if we dont catch it early enough.

Love to see some pictures of your babies

MB is right ...7 weeks and still in the nest is unusual. You counted their age from date of hatching ? or from the eggs being laid ?

All it takes is your first splay legged baby to make you check closer next time and look for signs. We all go through stuff like that in our early breeding experiences . The article link I gave you will help you prepare for a next time.

Your splay legged baby may need extra help in the way of ladders and platforms. You can guage what it needs and tryy and help it get around.

We have some great topics that will also help you to recognise the signs next time you have babies. Read up also on food stuck in the beaks as thats another one where chicks end up with issues if we dont catch it early enough.

Love to see some pictures of your babies

 

7 weeks from birth. Definately will know what to look for next time. I may need to put him in a normal cage and out of the aviary. Thanks for your help

He should be fine in the aviary, the hen I have climbs branches which go down to the ground and gets around everywhere in the aviary just fine

Are you able to show us a photo of the "splint" to make sure that it is on correctly ....

Are you able to show us a photo of the "splint" to make sure that it is on correctly ....

 

 

The splayed legged one also has a curled tail and wings, would this be related to the splayed legs? The sibling is an albino yellow, who has left the nest and is feeding and climbing, not yet flying and has one wing shorter than the other. Should we let the parents brees again? Or is this a one off?

Curled wings is one symptom of possible french moult,,,,,time will tell. I would NOT breed them again considering the issues you have had. Any chance the parents are siblings ?

Edited November 24, 200816 yr by KAZ

Curled wings is one symptom of possible french moult,,,,,time will tell. I would NOT breed them again considering the issues you have had. Any chance the parents are siblings ?

 

 

possibly, they are from the same breeder

Edited November 24, 200816 yr by KAZ

Kaz did you mean would or wouldn't breed them again?

Kaz did you mean would or wouldn't breed them again?

Sorry ...typo...I would NOT breed them again

I thought that might have been what you meant

Kaz did you mean would or wouldn't breed them again?

 

 

I did some research on french moult and that is what it sounds like. I think the yellow albino one, Goldie, is a runner budgie, but is feeding itself and running and climbing around the cage with no probs. The splayed legged one, Special, is out of the nest and getting around in its' own way, not yet eating by itself, but the parents are still feeding it, so all is okay. Both so cute!

Healthy chicks will leave the nest between 4 and 5 weeks. If they are still in the nest at seven weeks they must have some serious health or nutritional problem which has probably contributed to the splayed legs. The problem with the feathers may be caused by the same thing rather than french moult. If their is a posibility that they are very closely related that could be the cause. The pair certainly should not be bred again.

Healthy chicks will leave the nest between 4 and 5 weeks. If they are still in the nest at seven weeks they must have some serious health or nutritional problem which has probably contributed to the splayed legs. The problem with the feathers may be caused by the same thing rather than french moult. If their is a posibility that they are very closely related that could be the cause. The pair certainly should not be bred again.

 

 

Your advice is much appreciated, thankyou