Encore les abandonnes!

[roitelet]

Thanks Richmond Hens, They are feeding once I put some crumbs on the floor of the box. They are not squalking but just constant cheeping, they don't sound distressed.

What do you think I should do about the 2 with leg problems? The obvious or wait and see?

[RichmondHens]

Are they splay legged (both legs sticking out to the side and the chick sitting on its bum)? If so you could try splinting for a couple of days to see if that helps. If the legs are normal but they are just weak and not getting about then I would think they wont last too long, but why not wait and see, just in case they surprise you.

[roitelet]

Hope I will be suprised!!!

[Nicos]

Aww- they look lovely!!

If it is spraddle leg- have a go at spliting- it's easier to do than you think.
I did one of mine and I've no idea which one it was now.
Only took 2 days to sort itsef out .
Pity to waste a potential eater- but I'd ring them in case they are gals so you know nt to breed from them again.
(Mine was a Marans chick which struggled to get out of it's shell- not one of yours)

This is the link I followed- mine wasn't that bad I have to say- just sat on it's heels with feet about 2" apart

BackYardChickens Forum / Spraddle Leg - Splay Leg Treatment Instructions

[Hilary B]

Interesting pics. It's news to me the condition being caused by mishaps after hatching. I was under the impression it was some combination of a genetic defect and slightly 'off' incubating conditions.
The few I've seen responded well to a hobble made by tieing something soft (DK wool is reasonable, but my favourite is kitchen-towel-roll-string) in a figure 8 around the legs.
The reason I like the kitchen-towel-roll-string is that being papery, as it gets damp (and it will), it gives up and falls off about the time it stops being needed.

[walldanzig]

I used a plaster for spraddle leg and it worked a treat the cotton bit in the middle is just about the right distance apart. I never thought it would work but it does.

[roitelet]

Don't think it's spraddle leg just weak legs. I've seperated the two weak ones and am waiting to see what happens

[elizajay]

Are they Cayennes roitelet? They are beauties, hope the 2 weak chicks make it.

[roitelet]

Yep, cayennes. All still here this morning. One of the weak ones looks a little better but the other

[roitelet]

Good news! The very weak chick is looking much better and now standing. I splinted both of them and it works. Sad news though one of the others has died.

[Nicos]

Well done with the splinting...it's so simple ( though a tad fiddly) and gives such fantastic results doesn't it?

Pity about the loss of one of the others- how weird- and idea why??

[Glutton4...]

Awww, sad news. Time for more pictures though!

[elizajay]

That's sad, but glad the weakling fought through!

[roitelet]

Just a qiuck update.

The blond chick has had it splint taken off and even though it is still a bit wobbly it is doing well given that it spent the first two days of its life 'swimming' in the bottom of the box. The other one is still splinted and seems to have trouble with one leg. The other 3 are fine and today as the weather was lovely and sunny I put them out in their boxes and they loved it except that they were frantic when a wasp decided that it liked the mashed egg I had given them! Had to put an insect net over them. What am I like? Even the kids didn't get that sort of treatment!

I will try and take some pics tomorrow.

[Nicos]

Oh yes...great Uncle Paxo and AuVin would love to see piccies of their relatives!!...as would the rest of the 'tribe'

Oh my...deja vu of 'Who do you think you are?' going on here!!!