The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Bumblebear on June 17, 2014, 08:05:31 pm

Title: Chick with deformed legs
Post by: Bumblebear on June 17, 2014, 08:05:31 pm

Hi all
We had a(nother) surprise brood of chicks and one of them can't stand up.  When we looked closer it seems that it's feet are pointing the wrong way i.e. up instead of down.  I know we should probably cull it but as it's cheeping and healthy in all other respects we just cant face it without exploring all avenues.  Has anyone had this before?  Any ideas for remedial action? 

Title: Re: Chick with deformed legs
Post by: Eve on June 17, 2014, 09:37:01 pm

When you pick the chick up can you gently turn the feet upwards or are they fixed in the wrong position? We had one that walked on the top of its toes rather than the underside, but a few days with a sandal made of a bit of cardboard and elastoplast sorted it, and a few days later you couldn't even tell which chick had had that problem - it was only 1 foot, though.


 :fc:

Title: Re: Chick with deformed legs
Post by: HesterF on June 18, 2014, 12:07:57 am

Yep, see if you can tape it into the right place first - may be all it needs.

Title: Re: Chick with deformed legs
Post by: Marches Farmer on June 18, 2014, 03:58:02 pm

What kind of surface does it have to walk on?  Thick shavings or corrugated cardboard can help leg problems.

Title: Re: Chick with deformed legs
Post by: Bumblebear on July 15, 2014, 11:05:23 pm

It's feet were actually pointing upwards on both legs, couldn't twist them back down to tape them.  They were born outside and we only noticed when the hen and her brood ran off and this one  stayed in the nest. We ended up dispatching it :'(