Hi all, I took a chick from a nest about a week ago now as it had been pushed aside , had sevear splaid legs and was near death. I have been hand rearing since and the chick is coming along really good now but... I tried the make up sponge idea for the splaid legs and the chick wasn't impressed but put up with it but by day 4 his feet were slightly purple, so I removed the sponge and his legs are still very splaid! Please help, what do I do now? I dont think the sponge was too tight, do I put it back on or try something else I have been giving calcium syrup too

I would use Kaz's make up sponge idea again. Make sure its not too tight and not too big. I've made one before and it worked pretty well.

Did your chicks protest when you put it on? He just seems to lay there flat on his stomach and can't really move at all, poor little thing

When I first put it on I was worried because it really restricts the birds movement.

Having both legs tied together I was worried that it would not be able to lift its head up to be fed.

It really depends on how old the chick is. The fact that you are handraising it is good because the mother may reject the chick if she sees a sponge on its feet. How old is the chick? If its not too old then it would be better because most young chicks just sit in the one spot waiting for food anyway. Aslong as it can lift its head up I see no problem.

 

These are just my thoughts.

Thanks heaps for that pearce, the chick is about 2 1/2 weeks old now. I know that it sounds silly but I've become really attatched to this little guy and just want him to turn out as normal as possible!

I become attached to chicks I handraise also. You see them grow every hour of their life.

2 1/2 old is fairly old. I cannot think of any other way of curing splayed legs other than Kaz's idea. do you have a picture of the chick?

Edited April 10, 200916 yr by Pearce

Yes I've taken heaps but I'm still learning how to get the photos on to here! I'm not that great with that sort of stuff but am working on it! Will hopefully send some soon, I'm trying to work it out now.

I dont think that the chick you have will be able to be saved , you really need to act the very day you find a splayed legged chick , 2 and a half weeks he would have already popped his hip joints and now grown into that position .

go to www.photobucket.com or tinypic.com

Upload your pictures and copy and paste the links here

Edited April 10, 200916 yr by Pearce

By saved do you mean he will stay like that forever I'm going to try anyway, who knows it might still work I'm going to give him a chance because I'm desperate!!! :sad:

Really hope you get him through this!

The sooner you do this the better, so try again. The holes werent big enough and cut off the circulation. Cut away all excess sponge once its on so it isnt too heavy or makes him topple over. Use drinking straws split lengthwise to wrap the legs and slip through the holes. Post photos so we can advise any adjustments you need to make. Sometimes the legs need to be closer in to each other than you might think etc.

 

I fixed this boy....

 

 

 

and others

Edited April 10, 200916 yr by KAZ

I've seen birds with rickets and splayed legs lead normal lives. It would depend on how severe the case. Post a picture.