help with splayed legs please

[its hilly]

One of the four chicks I've just hatched has splayed legs. I remember that someone had pics of hobbles to sort it out but cant find them. Can anyone help?
I think I need to keep the legs straighter, but cant think how.

[Nicos]

Hi there!
T'was me...and I have to say that it worked a treat!
Good luck!!

Here's my thread with the links I followed...

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...leg_46220.html

[jessmorris]

Hi IH,
Ive just done this for a silkie with a hair bobble and some band aid. Its very fiddly, and will be much easier if someone can hold the little beggar for you! theres lots about this on tinternet too if you just put 'spraddle leg' into google.....
Good luck,
JM

[its hilly]

Thanks Nicos. That first link is an absoloute mine of information. Will try again, it's similar to what i've done but far better.
I'm not sure if this little'un will make it. It's not having any sucess with trying to stand so far, and it's half the size of the others now, but it's got a round tum, so it's eating something. It's a little fighter anyway so fingers crossed.

[Nicos]

I have every confidence in your abilities- and good on you for giving the little chap/chapess a chance!!!

As jess says- it's really a 2 man/lady job.

My chick turned out to be a male so ended up in the freezer- but after about 3 days made a remarkable recovery. (I think it depends on if it's muscle imbalance or hip deformity causing the problem.)
One week on I had no idea which chick had had the problem!
Good luck...tis very rewarding if it works!


Any chance of some piccies????

[Hilary B]

I used to use a very soft 'string' made from kitchen-towel-roll. a 2-square piece, it will tear into long strips, you need one less than a quarter the full width, twist it gently so it rolls into a sort of string, then use it to tie the legs loosely together with the string making a figure 8 aound the legs. It will be just about long enough for the right spacing with a reef-knot. As the chick grows and gets to stand without help, the string gets damp and disintegrates, so you don't need to bother taking it off, one way or another it falls off as it ceases to be needed.

[roitelet]

I had one chick with spraddle leg last year which spent the first few days of its life on it's side 'swimming'. After hobbling it was standing in a couple of days. Turned out to be the only hen in the clutch and now although small she is laying.

[jessmorris]

Hope it works out IH. Mine looked dreadful and was all over the place pre-strapping. He pulled all the hobbles off until I used a stretchy one and foiled him! He was straight in 3 days and I have left them off now as he seemed quite depressed. He was bigger than the rest of the chicks and has got very long legs -I hope he's ok now. I guess if its a hip thing it may be more tricky, but don't give up. If chick is eating and drinking then at least its showing willing.
Interesting that one of mine had the same thing eh?
Cheers for now,
JM

[BigShot]

As jess says- it's really a 2 man/lady job.

Of course, it can be done with one of each too.
Boom! Boom!

My chick turned out to be a male so ended up in the freezer- but after about 3 days made a remarkable recovery.

That's incredible! I've never heard of something recovering after 3 days in the freezer.
That must be some kind of miracle.


I'll get my coat.

[Nicos]

That's incredible! I've never heard of something recovering after 3 days in the freezer.
That must be some kind of miracle.


I'll get my coat.

Cheeky monkey!!.... * passes hat too!

[BigShot]

Cheers... I'll pull it low to hide my face after those awful gags.