The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: It-needed-a-home on October 04, 2011, 08:33:41 pm
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Advice please !!!!
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There are methods of tying splints to legs but as I believe it to be hereditary I cull any I have :(
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Think were gonna give her a chance see how she gets on !! Thanks anyway
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Get a pipe cleaner, or a small sticky plaster or even a rubber band, and arrange it so the legs can't splay but the chick can still move about. After a few days the legs should be strong enough for it to be removed
Splayed legs can sometimes happen if the chick is allowed to walk on a slippery surface before its joints/muscles are strong enough, and once the splay has developed it cannot right them itself
Give it a try to see how it gets on.
All the best
Sue
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see my other reply to you
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You can do it with an elastic band with a solid flexible sleeve over the centre like electric wire plastic or similar with the wire pulled out and the band inserted. You can DIY it or get them from ebay at the link
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Splayed-Leg-Correctors-Quail-Turkey-Goosel-Chick-/140613885737?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&hash=item20bd3d9f29 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Splayed-Leg-Correctors-Quail-Turkey-Goosel-Chick-/140613885737?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Birds&hash=item20bd3d9f29)
Not sure if i go entirely with the hereditary theory as some time chicks can damage themselves if on a slippy surface / some times its a nutrition problem and some times it is genes. The band only takes a day or two to sort it
If you enlarge the ebay picture you will see what i mean
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I agree that it is usually recoverable, what ever the cause. Usually a slippery surface. Have a look here:
http://www.poultrychat.com/forum/index.php?/topic/362-orthopedics-for-poultry-made-easy/ (http://www.poultrychat.com/forum/index.php?/topic/362-orthopedics-for-poultry-made-easy/)
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They will grow straight if splinted in one of the ways described, providing they are not so badly splayed that the legs are stuck out at right angles to the body
It is not hereditory, but caused by a lack of the B vitamin Riboflavin in the diet of the breeding hen.
Many people who hatch eggs do not realise that, unless the hens are free range, they need a breeders' ration as a layers' ration only provides enough vitamins to produce an egg. For the egg to hatch into a healthy chick requires a better quality diet. Free range hens obtain the necessary nutrients from the grass etc. that they have access to.
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Splayed leg is not hereditary and can be easily and quickly fixed in the majority of cases by taping the legs.
About a week is usually sufficient.
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All fIxed now so a good wee bit of tape goes a long way !
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its a brill feeling when its worked ;D ;D ;D ;D :thumbsup:
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Hi there,
Just trying this on my new chick. It's one day old so put an elastic band round his legs (not very tight though, just enough to bring them the distance apart that I think they should be) and put him on a tea towel so it's not slippy. Fingers crossed. p
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It works if you can do it within first couple of days - quite amazing to see. I have found that the lone solo hatches that I had from a dud inci tended to produce this problem, but I have been told that it can also be down to a lack of the vitamin B diet in the breeding stock. breeding feed pellets, usually fed over the winter period get round this.