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Welcome

Newly Hatched Chick with Curled Foot -- Jo, 03:40:52 09/16/12 Sun [2]

Hi there, I just read your thread with Donna with a similar problem. Thank you for sharing your story, Donna & thank you for sharing your wisdom.

My little chick hatched yesterday morning. She's a very cute little Silver Laced Wyandotte & I have named her Boots. Going by your advice to Donna, I taped her feet last night & made her some cardboard chick shoes to wear. Then this morning her right leg was splayed out to the side, so she's now hobbled too. How long would you recommend I keep these things on her? I can send photos if necessary.

She's currently residing in the incubator with another chick for company. I've put crumble & water in there for them. The rest of the hatchlings are in a bigger brooder. I wanted to keep Boots separated.

Thank you! Jo (in Australia)


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Replies:

[> Re: Newly Hatched Chick with Curled Foot -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 07:25:15 09/16/12 Sun [1]

Jo, have you read my article that is in the information base
of the UPA website?
www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/1/
The leg that goes to the side suggests to me that the
Achilles tendon has been displaced from the groove. This
can happen when a chick kicks off the eggshell or can be
caused by injury.
Yes, send me a photo close up of the leg joints taken from
the rear of the bird.


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[> Re: Newly Hatched Chick with Curled Foot -- Jo, 08:57:27 09/18/12 Tue [1]

Thanks DC. I thought I'd post in here an update because the updates from another conversation you've had on here with Donna was very helpful to me, so I figured others may get benefit from our story too.

Little Boots had her shoes removed after 36 hours & her feet were much straighter than before, and she could walk, but still her middle toes in particular were twisted. The hobbles remained on for another day.

After sending photo's, DC thought it was not an Achilles tendon problem for Boots, and instead it may well be a twisted tibia.

Tonight I took Boots' hobbles off to see how she was standing without them. Her leg seems to bend outwards at the hock joint & it looks like she'd be quite knock kneed if we did nothing to help her. I've had another chook before whose legs were so badly crossed over at the hocks that he had to be put down. He was a very lovely rooster called Postman Cheesey (named by my then 3 year old) but he couldn't walk properly & spent much of his time sitting down.

Is this a sign of a twisted tibia? Or is there something malformed in the hock joint? I put new shoes on her tonight to straighten her toes more & more hobbles. This time Lisa Simpson band-aids. :)

I'll email more photo's to you now, DC. Your help, this forum and people sharing their stories is invaluable. Thank you so much. I just hope we can help poor little Boots. I'm rather attached to her now!

Jo


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Chick splits! -- Malia, 17:17:39 09/17/12 Mon [3]

Hi! I'm hoping you can help with my poor little chick! She's 4 weeks old and has been fine up until 3 days ago. She's been in a brooder with 14 other chicks and 3 days ago we found her not able to use her legs. One goes straight out in front of her and the other shoots straight behind her. She flaps around helplessly in the splits position. She's eating and drinking and seems in otherwise good spirits. She does not seem to be in pain when I 'exercise' her legs, bending and flexing. If I tuck her legs and help position her, she can hold her position, but the moment she tries to move her legs go right back to the splits. I've taken a few pictures which I will send to your email and can take more if you need to see something specific. I tried to show her on my hand in the 'perch' position, as well as the splits, a couple of upside down pics and with her legs hanging straight down. I just have no clue how to help her, or even if she's 'help-able'. Anything you can tell me is greatly appreciated!


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Replies:

[> Re: Chick splits! -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 20:50:06 09/17/12 Mon [1]

The problems is illness....most likely botulism. I have
seen this happen to just ONE member of a group. Source is
said to be fermented food or eating an infected maggot but
this has happened where NO maggots could be found.
Botulism is a toxin that brings paralysis to muscles
when nerves are hit by the toxin. (same toxin now used to
remove human wrinkles) In my many years of experience most
birds will survive if given tender loving care. Symptoms
vary. Some have neck twisting and must be hand fed. I once
hand fed a cockerel for eight very long weeks before he
quite suddenly began to recover.
A sling chair or padded basket could be used to keep your
chick comfortable during recovery.


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[> [> Re: Chick splits! -- Malia, 22:07:50 09/17/12 Mon [1]

I can do tender loving care! We keep the brooder clean. We change out the pine shavings frequently and disinfect the waterer and feed dish. There may be a random fly, but definitely no maggots or fermented food! I made a 'chick chair' for her this evening out of a large sponge, so that her legs can hang down below her. She's eating and drinking fine on her own. She's getting 'Broiler Booster' in her water which includes vitamins, electrolytes and biotin. We use Southern States 'Start 'n Grow' chick feed. Is there anything I can do or give her to help boost her recovery?

Thank you so much for this wonderful service you are providing! For those of us out here wondering how to help our little chicks, you are a Godsend!


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[> [> [> Re: Chick splits! -- Malia, 23:25:13 09/17/12 Mon [1]

I have managed to actually read down your posts a bit more and found your previous, very helpful, detailed recommendations for this. I am going to try the prednizone and hard boiled eggs and keep up the vits. Hopefully, she'll pull through this! Thank you again for the time and help that you give to so many!


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Duckling can't stand -- RL, 10:37:33 09/05/12 Wed [1]

I have a duckling (Peking, I believe) that was purchased from the feed store on 8/31 (Friday). The shipment had come in the day before (late afternoon). The duckling was fine when I purchased her (or him, I can't tell at this point).

Three days ago I noticed that she was moving by dragging herself around by her wings. Her legs would move a little but not well, and sometimes would overreach in the process and the feet would end up on top of her wings.

I have tried to give her supervised water activity so she can move her legs without weight (she seems fine but still doesn't move her legs much). I have tried to have her push against my hand with her feet (they seem weak).

It is likely that she hurt herself in the brooder with her buddies. None of the others seem affected; they seem strong and energetic. This is why I'm guessing the cause was an injury and not a contagion.

I read the posts here and you usually ask for a picture of the duckling. I have obtained the email address from this forum and will send a picture shortly in anticipation that you will ask for that soon.

Any advice would be appreciated, as I have tried to find answers elsewhere with no clear answer.


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Replies:

[> Re: Duckling can't stand -- D C T - friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:40:08 09/05/12 Wed [1]

We are already in contact by email.
Best wishes to you and your ducking.


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Slipped Tendon on 2.5 yr old Barred Rock Hen -- TK (sad), 11:49:44 08/24/12 Fri [2]

We found our 2.5 yr old barred rock hen (7.5 lbs) unable to walk 5 days ago. We took her to a vet who specializes in birds and has seen poultry. he said she has a slipped tendon. He taped it thinking it might help. He also said she is too heavy. I checked her hock today and it is very swollen so I removed the tape thinking the compression was affecting the swelling. I have her in a sling now. How long per day should she be in a sling? What's the chances of her recovering? We love her but don't want her to suffer. She eats and drinks okay and otherwise seems okay.


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Replies:

[> Re: Slipped Tendon on 2.5 yr old Barred Rock Hen -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:20:42 08/24/12 Fri [1]

If you have read very far down on this forum you have
seen that I want to see a photo of the problem and since
I finally updated to DSL I even can accept video clips
from i-Phones even though I do NOT have one of those due
to a negative cash flow at Townsend house. To get my email
address you have to click on my name where it appears in
blue.
I aggree that this hen needs a lighter load on her feet.
Though she can not live entirely on raw vegetables she
needs to have some chopped celery, romaine lettuce and
raw brocalli.
It is unusual for an adult bird to have this problem.
Most displaced Achilles tendons are caused by a chick in
having a hard time kicking off the eggshell. I have a
very colorful four year old rooster that I treated for
this problem just as soon as his chick fuzz was dry. He
spent just one night in a "chick chair" and was cured
completely.


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[> [> Re: Slipped Tendon on 2.5 yr old Barred Rock Hen -- TK, 21:27:34 08/24/12 Fri [1]

Thanks so much for responding. She's sleeping now, but tomorrow we'll some pics to your email address. Thank you again!


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young turkey about 6 weeks old -- Alona, 00:13:11 08/22/12 Wed [1]

I have hatched out some turkeys from eggs from my son. They do fine and then about 6 weeks into it, there shoulder starts to turn out and then they can no longer walk. I have them on the food especially for raising wild fowl/turkeys


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Replies:

[> Re: young turkey about 6 weeks old -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:52:06 08/22/12 Wed [1]

Alona, I do not know what you mean by "shoulder starts to
turn out"....
A photo of the turkey may help me understand what is wrong
so that I can suggest a treatment.
There is no way to post photo on this forum but you can
put photo on villsgephotos.com or photobucket. Then post
link here. OR you can send directly to me by just clicking
on my nsme to get my email address


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baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 12:33:57 05/13/12 Sun [42]

hello my name is donna and i hatched baby cochins in a new incubator, i have eleven, but two had bad legs from the start. they are three weeks old and one only stands on the hocks, i have hobbled her and also put her in a poultry chair. she doesnt seem to be making much progress. the other one doesnt put weight on the bad leg and it has a slight twist at the ankle so the foot is held flat. that foot shakes a little also. i put a shoe on it and it manages to get it off most of the time. does anyone think that there is anymore that can be done to help either of these little ones walk. i cant bring myself to cull them. any advice would be appreciated.


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Replies:

[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 18:31:22 05/13/12 Sun [1]

Poultry orthopedic techniques are most effective when used
on newly hatched chicks (one day old)
When a chick with damaged joints or tendons struggles it
will damage the skin and inflame the joints causing
swelling that makes it even harder to get things back in
place.
I would need to see photos of the legs of these chicks to
say if there is anything that can be done. A photo of the
chick standing, one of chick's legs as you hold it on its
back for close up of problem and perhaps a video clip from
i Phone. Do not send too many photos at one time. My
computer is NOT the newest and best due to cash flow
problems at my house.
You seldom have to "cull" a chick in this circumstance
because they often die if you fail to repair them.
I can understand being reluctant to kill something after
a grand effort to cure it. I have kept failed orthopedic
projects who lived several years.


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 00:59:59 05/14/12 Mon [1]

thank you so much for your prompt reply. I will try to send you photos of my two little peeps as soon as possible. I have to get another printer and will go tomorrow to get one and hopefully send you the photos. the only other thing i could do until then is send photos on my cell phone. i dont have an ipod. i dont think i mentioned that they hatched two days later than the others , also they have some wing feathers and these two have the same markings, dont know whether they came from the same hen though. in all i had four late hatchers and lost two before they got out of the shell and then these two. hopefully will have the photos tomorrow. thank you again donna


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:24:28 05/14/12 Mon [1]

You are welcome. I exist to serve my Creator by helping
His most helpless creatures.
Do NOT waste time on printing pictures to send by snail
mail.
Somebody sent me a cell phone photo of her chick which came
through so clearly that it seemed to be in my living room.
Just hold that chick on its back in your hand and get a
close up of its legs.


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[> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- not to sound totally stupid, 11:25:58 05/14/12 Mon [1]

not to sound totally stupid , but when i take the photos with my cell phone, what address do i send them to with my cell phone. thank you so much, donna


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 14:50:06 05/14/12 Mon [1]

just click mouse on the blue letters of my name at the top
of my posts. A message box will appear asking you to copy
a few letters and numbers and if you get it right they
give you my address. If you make a mistake they let you
try again. This strange device is to keep robots from
harvesting email address for spammers in this strange, sad
old world. But it seems to me that ALL the spammers
already have my address


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 01:01:10 05/15/12 Tue [1]

I sent three photos , two of the one and l of the other. hope you got them. thank you donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- Jessica Olvera (Scared, desperate), 14:25:59 07/24/12 Tue [1]

Please help me! My baby chick is sick!! I think your the perfect person to help! Please email me at inchinaspringgir@aol.com I'll send u the pictures of his foot! I'm very very worried! Please help


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 12:43:49 07/25/12 Wed [1]

Jessica,

you buried your post in the middle of somebody else's
thread. But if you send me picture of your chick I will try to help you.


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 01:03:58 05/15/12 Tue [1]

i sent the photos and not sure i did it right. thank you donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:34:40 05/15/12 Tue [1]

YES....
Three messages with photos reached my Outlook Express and I
have replied to each of them. Photos were a bit fuzzy but
I identified displaced Achilles tendon and a twisted tibia.
I wish that treatment could have started on the chicks the
day that they hatched.


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 18:34:34 05/15/12 Tue [1]

thank you for your help i appreciate you replying to my emails. I honestly started to work with these little guys within a couple days. The incubator said to leave them in for 24 hours and the wire on the bottom caused some irritation as they were scooting around and i didnt realze it. I started the taping of the hocks top and lower parts right away with vet wrap. I didnt find your site till later and wish i had as it may have made a big difference for these little ones. they hatched two days late. not sure if that was an issue or not. I am so glad there are people like you who help dummys like me. I have honestly been trying for weeks now with these two. the one with the turned foot, is there anyway i can keep it in a proper position to see if it will eventually help be a little more normal. I know i am being a pain at this point but i do want to try whatever i can. again thank you so much. I was afraid my photos would not go through as never tried that before. life is a learning experience


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[> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:27:54 05/15/12 Tue [1]

You are welcome.
Speaking of your incubator being new I remember that back
in 1976 Mother hatched some chicks in an incubator that I
had ordered by mail from Sears. I was away on a trip when
she hatched them but when I got home I found that she had
put six very messed up chicks in my bedroom. Two of them
had straddle legs--new to me then but after a week they
were OK. (now I treat that for less than a day) Two had
incomplete joint capsules and my great efforts did them no
good. Two had twisted tibia which I did not even
understand but I blundered around and got one of those
to walk.
I do most of my incubating under chickens but usually
take eggs before hatching and put them in a cheap
styrofoam window top Hova-Bator to hatch. But as soon as
chick fuzz dries the chicks or peachicks are moved to
brooder. If a chick is weak and has to stay in incubator
longer I will wrap it in Kleenex tissue keeping it off the
hardware cloth. But sometimes I have a natural event with
a peahen in the shallow hole that she digs to incubate her
eggs until peachicks hatch (always inside a secure pen)
================AND NOW if you have read this far I will
tell you the treatment for twisted tibia that may or
may not help your chicks.
Get some thin sponge material and cut a piece to wrap
around one whole chick leg. Wrap and tape with any kind of
tape -- I use clear scotch tape. This is to prevent hock
joints from pressing together and rubbing. JUST ONE LEG
wrapped in sponge...does not matter which one.
Then bring lower legs firmly together and tape them from
above feet to below hock joints. Do not tape joints or
above them. Joints should be free to bend.
Do this overnight and REMOVE DRINKING WATER to prevent
drowning while helpless. In the morning remove all tape
and sponge. Do this every night for at least a week and
take note of progress. You are not likely to see any
the first night you do this.


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 15:04:07 05/16/12 Wed [1]

thank you so much, I tried a shoe again last night and it was off in minutes. I really appreciate this, i have 6 hens setting and so far none have hatched unless they are killing the chicks, they are year old hens. two old girls are setting also. cant figure why theirs are not hatching. I do have an egg eater in the bunch of old hens. I cant thank you enough and will keep you updated on the babes. thanks donna


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:58:24 05/16/12 Wed [1]

Chick shoe is not useful at this point.
If a hen kills her chicks it is due to "failed bonding".
When any bird hatches, dries its chick fuzz and becomes
able to walk....it looks its mother in the eyes and
"bonding" happens. If not, murder can follow. Some hens
bond better than others. Years ago I had a hen that would
hatch and bond with any kind of poultry...and I wish that
she could have lived forever.
My method of removing eggs just before they hatch to put
into cheap Hova-Bator to hatch and then move to brooder
will avoid this problem.
-----There is NO egg eating problem in my chicken coop--
because I give them eggs, shell and all tossed at the wall.
This works far better than trying to keep them from
finding out how to eat eggs


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 21:35:40 05/17/12 Thu [1]

I never knew that about the bonding. i know that this bunch of young hens keep switching nests and dont know if that will create a problem or not. I think tonight i am going to candle a couple of the eggs and then maybe do as you said put them in the incubator. years ago i had an aracauna hen, probably spelled wrong and she was just the best mother hen she would attack anything over her babies and even try stealing a few from the other hen. They certainly all have a different personality that is for sure. I have one buff orpington hen and she is the egg eater. but she is funny, she seems to chatter all the time, never shuts up.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:34:04 05/17/12 Thu [1]

Bonding is a lovely thing to see. One more thing--a chick
will bond with a human. I treated a pea chick with air sac
disorder. After I relieved his pain he bonded with me.


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford (frustrating), 23:45:19 05/23/12 Wed [1]

my two baby chickens with the bad legs are still having issues. the one with two bad legs is still hanging on but is not very big at all and just has wing feathers, the others are almost completely feathered and much larger i have to make a mash for her as she seldom drinks water. Her one leg will not straighten out it seems to be locked up at the hock. she hops to get around. the one with the tibia issue is almost the size of the others, but that foot is still twisted so that she walks on the side of it when she does use it. any more help or suggestions would be appreciated. thank you donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:45:34 05/24/12 Thu [1]

Donna, I thank you for the update because knowing "the rest
of the story" is helpful to me even if there is a sad
ending. The Achilles tendon problem that I mentioned has
to be the reason that the chick leg joints do not function.
A displaced Achilles tendon can usually be put in place IF
it is treated right after hatching but each day of delay
causes harm as the chick walks on its hock joints rubbing
off the skin causing inflamation and swelling. After that
it is not possible to move the tendon to the center of the
joint


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 12:11:43 05/24/12 Thu [1]

you know i think i can feel that tendon on the inside of the leg. i was trying to work the leg of the one with the twisted foot and in the process i could feel something like a cord or could be a vein on the inside of the leg. could that be the misplaced tendon? in your opinion should i keep trying to work with these babies legs or just continue to keep them separated or the worst have my husband put them down. i just cant do that. call me a wimp but cant put a death sentence on them .would have to get my husband to do the dirty deed. I can only say again that i wish i had found your site in those first crucial days. thank you donna


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[> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 18:44:35 05/24/12 Thu [1]

I can feel your pain. I have kept crippled poultry. Most
died young of natural causes--sparing me from having to
kill them. I provide sudden death only if I can see that a
bird is in pain. I had baby peacock with messed up legs
that lived seven long years (a healthy peacock can live for
thirty years)
But if death must be provided I suggest sudden removal of
the head is MUCH kinder than using any sort of chemical
to "gas" the bird.
If you want to send me a close up photo of the joint
under a good light I will look at it but can not say that
it will do any good.


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 21:06:49 05/24/12 Thu [1]

thank you , i will try to send you photos on my cell phone. they dont seem to be suffering, but the one is not a whole lot bigger than when it hatched. both of these with the bad legs are marked and colored exactly alike, none of the others are colored like these two which is kind of odd. thank you so much. hope i get photos sent right. donna


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:37:00 05/24/12 Thu [1]

I just looked at the four pictures that you sent.
I wish that I could help.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 23:52:39 05/24/12 Thu [1]

I know it is so frustrating and the little one is not going to last long i dont think as it just barely drinks and it feels like the food is a hard knot in her craw . she likes her mash though but really doesnt eat all that much . I got one of those round baby chick feed treats and it eats that sometimes, but otherwise i have to hold her and then she eats. I am really surprised it has lasted this long as it is very thin. the other ones leg is turned a lot. it misses the others as i have put them in a raised pen outside as they have gotten fully feathered and it is warm here. I think if i put her with them i will have to wrap that foot and leg so she doesnt damage it on the wire. Thank you so much and i will keep you posted donna


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:29:05 05/25/12 Fri [1]

A small mirror helps. A bird thinks that its reflection is
another bird. Also a really small plush toy bird is good as
both a pillow and a companion. Most chickens love raw
ground beef. Vitamin/mineral suppliments such as Vionate
can be mixed into this


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 17:07:02 05/25/12 Fri [1]

thank you i didnt know about the hamburg. will offer her some. the vionate, where do i get that? I want to thank you again for your concern and help with these little guys.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:26:48 05/25/12 Fri [1]

Donna, you are welcome.
Vionate is a suppliment for pets. It may be found in feed
stores or in catalogs from hatcheries. I remember ordering
from Stromberg's a few years ago.
Other things enjoyed by poultry and full of vitamins are
green leafy vegetables chopped finely and served raw.
Romaine lettuce, brocalli and cabbage. I hunt wild greens
on my property for myself and my poultry. There is wild
lettuce that looks like an ugly weed that can grow eight
feet tall but I eat it and the chickens and peafowls are
wildly enthusiastic about it.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 23:13:26 05/26/12 Sat [1]

Thank you , i am going to give them some greens and see if i can find the vionate at one of the feed stores here, if not i may be able to find it on the internet. I am tempted to set them out on the grass in the next day or so and just watch them. it is very warm and humid here in pa. right now. maybe they would enjoy it and could peck their own greens. Thanks so much. you have been so nice to keep in touch with me over these little guys. will keep you informed how things go. thank you donna


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- Maggie (Learning as I go along...), 01:51:45 05/29/12 Tue [1]

I just found this thread and I feel warm and fuzzy by just reading it. Both of you are so kind and generous. Thank you for sticking with each other and for making your "conversation" open for others to learn from and enjoy. It makes me feel good to know there are people in the world like you two! -Maggie


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 10:21:11 06/05/12 Tue [1]

just wanted to let you know that the two chicks with the bad legs are still hanging on, actually doing better growth wise but the legs will always be an issue i guess. The one with the one bad leg is doing really well and the tiny one has started to grow .AT times i put her in the chair, she seems to like that especially after she has hopped around a lot. I got these round food treats that hang up and now with that the little one can feed herself much more easily, got them at tractor supply. I think they are called baby cakes. wonderful for these guys since their balance is off. hoping to get them set up in an outdoor pen that will do for them soon. Just wanted to keep you updated since you have been so good to help with these little ones. again thank you donna


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford (spoke to soon), 19:37:39 06/05/12 Tue [1]

well on my last message i thought things were going ok, but i guess i spoke to soon. The smallest one is not eating today and feels like her body temperature is dropping. I did notice she had like an air bubble between her neck and wing joint which seemed to get bigger as she ate more,which i thought was just part of the craw, and now it is gone. not to sound gross but she also had a very large pile of poop in her box today not the usual. She is very droopy and i think she wont make it through the night. She has developed a sore on each hock. she has been a fighter , i have to say that, but she never gains weight even though she is growing now. Rather than see her look miserable ,i hope she passes quickly. Also the large one has frizzled feathers and the little one has them on her wings also. well will go for now , you are probably sick of hearing from me, but you have been a big help. thank you donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 00:00:29 06/06/12 Wed [1]

Donna, Thank you for the update even if the news is not
good. If you keep the chick as comfortable as possible you
will miss it when it dies but at least you will know in
your heart that you did your best. Or you can remove the
chick's head suddenly if the suffering seems to be too
much. But I think that it will die soon saving you from
this.
hmmm...."air bubble"? in an otherwise healthy chick that
can easily be cured. I had a phone call today about a
pea chick....the owner pricked it as I instructed him and
that pea chick was OK...but this information may be
useless to you
and, NO, I do NOT get "sick" of hearing from people who
have love in their hearts for their birds


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford (very sad), 11:03:56 06/06/12 Wed [1]

My little chick passed away last night, put her in a small box with paper towel under the lamp as she was getting cold. she just seemed to sleep away. was going to try to feed her again but she just looked tired and i didnt want to upset her. I know it is for the best and she seemed to have given up the fight. she was always a fiesty little one. you have been such a help and want you to know that i appreciate it so much , some people think you are crazy to worry over a little chicken but all living creatures have a personality and feelings. It is good to be able to get advice from others who have gone through similar situations and who care enough to help when they can. thank you so much. now hopefully the other one will continue to do well. again thank you donna


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[> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:26:25 06/06/12 Wed [1]

Donna, You are welcome. I appreciate having the whole story
of your chick's life. Having it here may help somebody
else. You mentioned being in Pa. I was born and raised in
Forest County in the northwest of that state. In my better
days I rode my half Arabian horse in the hills by the
Allegheny River


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 11:19:10 06/20/12 Wed [1]

its me again with an update on the last of my crippled cochin babies. I would like to send you a photo again and see if you have any suggestion on wrapping it or bracing it to keep it from getting sores. I have put( him i think) out a couple days with the two little silkie babies in a crate i have. today is going to be very hot and humid, do you think it would be better to keep him in the basement while it is so hot? also any suggestions on the wrapping would be appreciated. that bad leg quivers all the time and it hangs lower from the hip joint now. photo will be coming Your pa. pain donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 11:23:56 06/20/12 Wed [1]

will need the address to sent the photo by text, for some reason it is not in my list now. thank you donna


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[> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 18:13:38 06/20/12 Wed [1]

OK, I just sent you an email. But remember you can get my
email address right here by clicking where my name is
in blue print


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[> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 23:52:49 06/20/12 Wed [1]

sorry about that, did not think to click under your name. i have kept this young one in a large plastic tote with two baby silkes, i would like to put them outside in a wire crate with a wood chip surface, do you think i should put some vet wrap around the hock joint to keep from getting sores on the hock? That whole leg know hangs down lower at the hip and the foot looks larger than the good one. I think it may be a rooster, It seems content and is filled out nicely. the little silkies like him a lot. will have to probably keep them in a rabbit hutch and run as we now have foxes, they broke in at the chicken yard gate and killed two hens and one of the two guinies i have and three hens missing. happened at seven in the morning was very brazen and stood there and looked at me till i ran at him. saw couple others in field. afraid it may be a rough summer for my hens i usually let them out during the day, now i cant. very upsetting when they just kill for the fun of it. sorry didnt mean to write a book any suggestions on wrapping the leg would be appreciated and will it be more vulnerable to the heat, very hot here in pa right now. thanks, donna


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 12:41:27 06/21/12 Thu [1]

Donna, Sorry that I am slow today. I seem to have caught a
summer cold that has given me "tired blood".
I have looked at the two new photos that you sent me. Those
did not show the parts of the leg I wanted to see BUT I
solved that problem by finding photos that you sent me
before so I can guess about how leg is now.
----
I had a baby peacock that came from somebody else's
incubator and my efforts to repair him failed badly.
But poor Murphy (named for Murphy's Law) lived with me for
seven very long years. I created a special pad to protect
his hock joint. I used material from pipe insulation
soft enough to cut with scissors but solid enough to
last for a while before wearing out and needing replaced.
This material was in hollow tube shape. I cut a piece
long enough to cover a leg and took out a "V" shaped piece
from middle in order to make elbow style angle and then
secured the bend with duct (duck) tape. I used more duck
tape to hold it on Murphy's bad leg.
I hope that this information helps you with your chick
but if you have questions--just ask. As long as God keeps
my computer working and keeps me able to use it I will
be here for you.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 22:17:38 06/21/12 Thu [1]

ugh i am trying to get over a cold also. even with medicine it is hanging on. Thanks so much for the information on wrapping the leg, that sounds like it will work perfect. i dont want to let it bare as am afraid it will get a wound and then infected. this should work out perfectly. your peafowl and chickens are very fortunate to have you for an owner and people like me are also lucky to learn from you. thank you , hope your cold is better. donna


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:54:33 06/21/12 Thu [1]

Donna, you are welcome. I am glad that you found the
information useful. Too bad you are sharing my miserable
cold.


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[> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- donna crawford, 21:50:03 07/17/12 Tue [1]

I am sending an update on the young cochin with the twisted leg. He seems to be doing well and is very pretty, the leg really hinders him trying to get around. Looks like he would be better off with the lower part taken off as the foot and toes stick up in the air. I have the wrap around the joint and part of leg so he doesnt get any wounds on it. What about putting him in a sling on a rod, to see if he could move more freely once in a while? I know that your specialty is orthopedics, but i am sure you are very knowledgeable on other problems with chickens and peafowl also, so i am going to ask another question about a 5 or 6 year old cochin hen i have. yesterday she seemed droopy looking and today i left them out for the first time in three week, i picked her up as she seemed to not want to walk much. She has a large swollen area the size of a large orange on her belly, not near the vent. It drags when she walks and there doesnt seem to be a wound but it is a purplish red and the feathers are gone. I dont know what to do for her. do you have any suggestions as to what it could be or what i could do for her. it is very hot here in pa. and hotter tomorrow. She seems to be breathing in a labored way. got on byc, but havent received any info. there. Sorry i know i am a royal pain, but i know you have probably treated about everything to do with peafowl and chickens, thank you donna


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[> [> Re: baby chick cant walk, just flops around -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 00:29:37 07/18/12 Wed [1]

Donna, it is good to hear from you again. I would say that
email would be the way to go BUT, believe it or not tonight
my email is NOT working and when I called tech-support all
I got was answering machine and my call was NOT returned
so perhaps there is a problem at Pineland. I hope that is
can be repaired soon because I want photos of your
chicken's swollen part and a look at the leg of the cochin,
too.
Remember--I live in Georgia in a house with out air con-
ditioning. Recent rain did raise the humidity so I spend
most of day with towel wiping face again and again.....
-----
hmmmm.....I have seen poultry legs so messed up that they
seem to just be in the way but I try to think about how
the bird would feel about an amputation and feel the bird
yelling "NO". Perhaps somebody wealthy could have a
professional orthopedic surgeon repair it with anesthesia
but who is wealthy???
.....Try sending the pictures when you can. I am up late
having watched horse videos on You-Tube waiting for my
computer to receive pictures from another person with
a poultry orthopedic question. But must turn off this old
machine and go to bed. Perhaps email will be working in
morning


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Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- Lauri, 15:18:11 07/15/12 Sun [9]

We purchased 4 Emden goslings three and a half weeks ago. We kept them in a children's swimming pool in our back bathroom, which is undergoing total renovation, for nearly three weeks. We used pine shavings for beddiing and they did have traction under their feet. They grow so fast that we recently put them in a stall in the barn because they were 'falling out' of the swimming pool. The day after we put them in the stall, I took them out for a walk and noticed that one of the little boys was having trouble keeping up. He held his leg out to the side and kind of hobbled to try and keep up with us. We tried to splint his leg with some Q-tips and Coban and despite our efforts to the contrary, must have gotten it too tightly wrapped as his foot swelled up. We spent all morning this morning massaging his foot while running it under cool water to get the swelling down. We tried splinting it afterwards with lateral strips and Q-tips but are having difficulty getting it to stick. We don't notice anything visibly wrong with his hock joint but that seems to be where the pain is coming from. He's such a sweetheart and tolerates our efforts with great patience. Please help because we know not what we are doing and this guy deserves a good chance at life.


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[> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 16:31:59 07/15/12 Sun [1]

I need to "see" the problem (in close up photos of the
legs or a short clip from i-Phone send by email or posted
at villagephotos or photobucket.
I am not certain if I can help but will try. Young water
fowl grow very fast and have delicate legs


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[> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- Lauri, 21:51:29 07/15/12 Sun [1]

I hope that was enough pics. So sorry the video did not come through because it would show you how he favors that one leg. My phone says it's too big to send. We so greatly appreciate your help! The little guy is managing pretty well, he just can't keep up with the other babies when it's time to go out and play. They wait for him when they can, but I find it's just easier to carry him for now, and less stress on his bad leg. When we get to the pasture where the clover and grass are thick, then I let him down to graze.


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[> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:48:48 07/15/12 Sun [1]

OK, the photos arrived but I do wish that the video could
have come, too. Other people's videos were able to get
here and were quite useful, too.
I am always cautious about any taping or splinting except
when it actually part of a specific treatment.
I could see the swelling of your gosling's hock joint but
can not be certain how it is injured. It was good that it
was on beautiful grass which is a natural non-skid surface.
I do not have any geese now but when Mother was living she
did raise some so I learned some hazards to avoid.
One time a baby goose was in a box in the house over night.
It escaped while we were sleeping and chewed on carpet.
When I woke up in morning it was dead having choked itself
on carpet fibers and some of Mother's long hair that it
found in the bathroom. If there is trouble a goose will
find it. A nearly grown goose is awkward and can drown in
a five gallon water bucket just like a human toddler.
Perhaps you can find a vet that treats poultry near you.
I do know that they are hard to find unless you are in a
state that has poultry labs. These do exist here in
Georgia because this state has large poultry and egg
industry.


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[> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- Lauri, 22:59:29 07/15/12 Sun [1]

We do have a vet here that is fairly good with avian medicine but I don't know if we have the means to take the little guy in. My husband recently lost his job and then the doctor I worked for retired. I do know that the tendon doesn't seem to be slipping and do feel it is a genuine injury. I have our own vet's email address and might shoot her a line and see what she thinks. Do you think it would be best if we isolated the little guy in a little dog crate with food and water so he can't move around much? They are such social creatures that I hate to cause him more trauma than he is already undergoing. We isolated a chicken with a hurt leg recently in a dog crate(she hurt it going down the ramp out of the coop)and she recovered.

Thanks so much for your help and consideration!


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[> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 23:00:13 07/15/12 Sun [1]

More photos arrived but really did not see anything that I
had not already seen. I can tell that you are concerned
about your injured gosling. Keep if from too much
activity and try to keep it from gaining too much weight
since a sore leg does not need an extra load. Another thing
I learned from Mother's geese is that too much rich
protein can cause a deformity of wings called angel wing.
One way to prevent that is for baby geese to eat more
grass and less starter feed.


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 23:07:08 07/15/12 Sun [1]

You might have your gosling sleep in a "chick chair" or
body sling (feet should be able to touch floor) but I think
being there full time would make him too miserable.
And you would need to use materials that a goose can not
chew and swallow.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- Lauri, 23:16:35 07/15/12 Sun [1]

Oh my! You might be on to something with the 'body sling'! The stall in the barn has rafters and we could probably rig up a system where he could move about but have his weight supported. Yes, we found out that geese will nibble on whatever, even if it's not good for them because they tried to eat the insulation in the bathroom when they got out of the tub once. Bad, bad, bad! I was afraid I was going to find dead baby geese in the bathroom the next morning but they appear to be just happy little geesterbirds. Okay, out to the barn I go! Thanks so much!


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- Lauri, 23:08:27 07/15/12 Sun [1]

Thanks so much again! Yes, we heard it's called 'bent wing' so we are giving them a HUGE pan of greens multiple times a day and have diluted their food with oats and cracked wheat to decrease the protein percentage. We were told we had to do this until they were 16 weeks old. Yes, I just love these little guys to pieces. Enormously. It hurts me terribly to see this little guy in pain. We greatly appreciate your advice and all that you do for those of us who do have poultry and care about them so much.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Injured Embden Gosling Leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 23:39:02 07/15/12 Sun [1]

You are welcome. I exist to serve my Creator by helping
His most helpless creatures.
I hope that your gosling's leg recovers. Please update me
on his story.


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Hour Old Keet -- Ruth, 14:43:29 07/11/12 Wed [1]

We have a keet that just hatch and its bottom beak is off set to the top beak. Its "jaw" doesn't want to separate to open.
Is there anything we can do to save the keet?

Once again, thank you for all of your help, past and present.


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Replies:

[> Re: Hour Old Keet -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:59:12 07/11/12 Wed [1]

Ruth, you are very welcome. I am happy that God has helped
me to stay online and even to upgrade to DSL so that I can
download video clips from i-Phones as well as photos of
baby poultry in need of treatment
-------------
hmmmmmmm......it seems that your poult has "cross beak".
This is extra bad if a bird is hatched with beak already
crossed. I have had chickens that had a genetic defect that
caused beaks to cross when chicks were about six weeks old
due to one side growing faster than the other. If this
happens slowly it is possible to do corrective trimming
which has to be done a tiny bit at a time because of nerves
and blood vessels in beaks.
If your poult can not get beak open to eat it will die
even before you can kill it to end its suffering.


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Baby Chick Feet -- Lori, 14:55:10 07/10/12 Tue [3]

Hi. So VERY happy to find your posts! Thank you for so much help and advice you offer!

I have a baby chick just hatched yesterday. We are VERY new at this & our 2nd chick has some feet issues. I emailed you a few pictures for your opinion on how to help the little guy. I sent a bit of a description in the email, but thought posting here also may help others with a similar issue.
Our little chick is having trouble standing. His feet are curled under so badly & it looks like he has an extra toe also.
If you need more or other photos, I'll be happy to send them. The little guy wants to live and we want to help him.

Thank you for any help you can offer!


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Replies:

[> Re: Baby Chick Feet -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:30:15 07/10/12 Tue [1]

Are you the same Lori that sent me an email with chick
photos?
If so I have replied to your email.


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[> [> Re: Baby Chick Feet -- Lori, 08:42:32 07/11/12 Wed [1]

I am the same Lori & I got your reply. Thank you. We were hoping it was just his feet. But when we put the chick shoes on, we noticed he still can't stand. I'm afraid there may be something wrong with his legs. He doesn't seem to have enough strength to get up on his legs, so gets around on his hocks & wing tips (using his wings to scoot himself around). I'll send another picture of the top of his legs.

Thanks so much for your help!


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[> [> [> Re: Baby Chick Feet -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:03:33 07/11/12 Wed [1]

You are welcome. I feel that God gave me this talent so I
MUST share it while I have it.
Please send me the photos of the chick legs from front,
back and side. And a photo of how the chick stands


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8 week old chicks - one leg rotates -- Liz (Concerned), 19:23:13 07/10/12 Tue [1]

Hello,
I hope you can provide some guidance. I have two 8 week old Icelandic chicks that I hatched in an incubator. About two weeks ago the rooster started limping and then I noticed a swollen hock. It got so bad that the leg now completley rotates so it looks like he is walking backwards on one leg. I took him to the vet, who said it was because of a Magnesium deficiency on the mother hen that was passed on and there was nothing I could do. If I taped the joint it would put pressure on the hip. She said he should adjust.He drops his wings to balance himself, but, other than that he is fiesty and holds his own. Problem #2, his sister has a little periosis of the spine. She sometimes just falls down and cannot get up. IfI massage her spine it helps. Again the vet said there was no vitamin or anything I could do. What do you think? Thank you so much.


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Replies:

[> Re: 8 week old chicks - one leg rotates -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:39:06 07/10/12 Tue [1]

I need to see photos (close ups of legs and joints)to see
if the Achilles tendon has been displaced or if the tibia
is twisted.....or if the chick has both problems.
Treatment will be difficult for a bird that old.


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Baby turkey twisted leg -- Amanda Turkey, 14:24:52 07/10/12 Tue [1]

I have just had my 2nd clutch of turkeys, to stay as pets not food and I resuced one as it couldn't walk as well as the others and I lost one from my 1st clutch and was not willing to loose another. I have spent days online looking into this but hobbling doesnt seem to work. Little Elvis' leg turns out at a right angle to the side of his body and it seems the problem is at the hip joint and not lower on the leg, when we have hobbled him, his leg still sticks out. I am brooding him in a box by my bed and am with him constantly so I think he has imprinted on me, it would have me in pieces if I had t have him put down. But it sticks out so much he walks around in circles, but he does eat and drink well and has healthy poos, and does not seem to be in pain...plase please please someone out there help me asap. My heartfelt thanks to any inof, Amanda


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Replies:

[> Re: Baby turkey twisted leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:53:58 07/10/12 Tue [1]

I strongly suspect "twisted tibia" but MUST see photos (close
up) of the rear of hock joint (the joint between where
feathers end and scales begin) in order to be certain that
the Achilles tendon is not displaced.
There are treatments for these problems but they require
daily taping and untaping. There is NO guarantee of success
but it is certain that things will always get worse if
you do nothing. If you do the treatments then you can
know that you did your best. I have repaired baby chickens
and baby peafowls with my "methods" but turkeys are extra
hard to treat due to their fast weight gain. Perhaps
a lower percent of protein would slow the growth or the
addition of raw green leafy vegetables would give strength
without increasing the weight.


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Day old chick with legs over her wings -- Nina, 00:17:52 07/07/12 Sat [1]

I just found your site and I hope you can help. I have a day old Bantum that can't stand. Her legs don't go out to the side, like spaded legged, but instead go in front of her. She gets them up over her wings as she struggles to stand. She can't hold her weight. After doing my reseach, I found the hobble with a bandaid idea and put one on. It's keeping her legs from going over her wings but she still can't keep them under her. I know timing is important in fixing legs, so I hope you have an idea. Thanks.


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Replies:

[> Re: Day old chick with legs over her wings -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:09:18 07/07/12 Sat [1]

Please check out the information at this link...
especially the "chick chair".
Some years ago I had a peachick that was on its side
trembling. I was told that its mother had not had enough
B vitamins while forming the egg and that there was no hope
for the peachick. But I put this peachick in a "chair"
and hand fed it. Water was offered occasionally in a spoon.
After a few days it fought its way out of "chair" and was
walking.
http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/problems/


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chick having probs standing -- cindy, 09:55:46 06/25/12 Mon [1]

i have a chick about 7 weeks old having problems walking now right at her ankle part where toes are doesnt seem to lock and her legs fold under her she was normal before what can i do and is it fixable?


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Replies:

[> Re: chick having probs standing -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:10:55 06/26/12 Tue [1]

The most likely cause for this problem in a chick that age
is botulism. If you had just read other posts on this
forum you would have seen other cases simular to this one.
Your chick has a good chance of recovery if give tender
loving care


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HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- Khymn (Meckley), 20:42:00 06/03/12 Sun [8]

Hello,
I found your thread through Backyard Chickens and I am in great need of some insight and advice. A month ago we got 6- 2 week old chicks that were incubated. Everyone has been healthy until last week. ONE of the chicks, now named Spenee (Special Needs), stopped standing up and walking. He/She is able to get around, but flops to the right side flapping it's wings to get around. He/She also shakes or has tremors that were not present prior to last week. He/She is eating (medicated Start and Grow), drinking and pooping just fine. Spenee wants to interact with the other chicks, but now cannot keep up:/.

I asked at the feed mill and they thought it sounded neurological. I bought Save a Chick to put in their water. I also bought Poly Visol Vitamins and have been dosing Spenee with a few drops 2x times daily. Sometimes when I pick it up it sounds like a pop at the hip? Spenee is losing some feathers around the neck, although I am wondering if that is from the vitamins dripping down? I considered using hobbles, then took them off because they seemed to make things worse. I will try anything to help him...any suggestions. I uploaded a few pictures to Photobucket, here is the link. If these do not help...please tell me what kind of pictures to take and I will add them tomorrow. Thank you in advance for any help.
http://s526.photobucket.com/upload/albums/Luciansmommy/


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Replies:

[> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:43:22 06/04/12 Mon [1]

I clicked that photobucket link but all I saw was somebody
doing bungi jumping.
Actually do NOT even need picture to know what is wrong
with your chick having seen and treated this several times.
Your chick is the right age to get botulism which more
often than not will hit just one member of a group while
the others show NO evidence of illness. The toxin is the
same one that is injected in people's faces to paralize the
muscles that make wrinkles. In nature it occurs in maggots
or feed that has become wet so that germs grow in it
creating the toxin. But I have failed to find maggots or
rotting feed around victims of this.
The symptoms vary but the neck and/or leg muscles are
usual target. There will be muscle spasmz or paralsysis.
The neck may twist. Legs may spraddle and flop. Toes may
curl. There was once a cockerel that did benefit from
having toes taped straight as he was recovering but this
is NOT an orthopedic problem.
Yes, vitamins and minerals help with recovery. I have had
to hold and hand feed victims to prevent them from
starving. ALL vitamins are helpful but especailly A, B-
complex, C and E do help with the recovery of the nerves
that were damaged. Cortizone (prednisone) has an
anti-inflamitory effect that also helps those nerves to
heal.


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[> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- Kimberly (Meckley), 15:52:26 06/08/12 Fri [1]

I am sorry, I just saw your response. Thank you so much for your advice!!! I will get those vitamins and start them in addition to the Poly Visol. The legs are always in a spraddle position. It sits on it's hocks...should I put hobbles on to help him or just leave it be. The chick has been like this for 2 weeks now...do you think it has a chance of making a recovery after this long? Thank you again. I am grateful for your insight!!!


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[> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- Kimberly (Meckley), 22:36:01 06/08/12 Fri [1]

What are your recommendations for the amounts of vitamins and for the prednisone? Or do you have a suggestion of where to look? Thank you again for your valuable insight.


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[> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 23:46:05 06/08/12 Fri [1]

Try giving half a prednisone tablet each day for a week.
For vitamins you could go the "natural" way and use raw
green leafy vegetables such as brocalli,cabbage, kale
and others finely chopped. Be certain that they are fresh.
Vegetables lose vitamins as they become stale.
Some chopped hard boiled eggs would help, too.


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[> [> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- Kimberly (Meckley), 21:48:22 06/09/12 Sat [1]

Very grateful for your advice. Thank you so much.


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[> [> [> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 13:16:40 06/10/12 Sun [1]

You are very welcome. I exist to serve my Creator by
helping His most helpless creatures.
Please tell me how things work out for your chick


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- Kimberly (Meckley), 23:26:51 06/18/12 Mon [1]

A quick update...I am seeing mild improvement with Spenee. She/He no longer relies on her right wing to get around. She seems to be standing a little bit more, although now falls head first. Wondering if I should hobble her splayed legs to help...but will keep will keep up with the vitamins for now. Thanks again.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: HELP! 5 week old chick stopped walking and has tremors -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:02:37 06/19/12 Tue [1]

Kimberly, Thank you for the update. I am happy to know
that the bird's health is improving.
Years ago I had a cockerel that suffered paralysis in feet
and toes. I used some stiff adhesive tape to hold his
toes straight and even supported his wobbly legs with
some stiff tape. As the legs got back their strength I
removed that tape and last of all took off the toe tape
as he recovered from the nerve damage of botulism.
Any bird that does not die at the beginning of this is
likely to respond to tender loving care. I had a chick
that I had to hold and hand feed for eight very long
seeming weeks but his recovery came rapidly so that he
got up and went back to his brothers and sisters.
You can try any sort of taping method and see if it works
but always be cautious A BIRD WITH TAPED LEGS CAN DROWN
IN DRINKING WATER


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Turkeys cant stand on legs -- Maria, 23:27:49 06/17/12 Sun [3]

Hello I have 4 day old turkey chicks. I notice when I moved one from the incubator to the brooder that it can not stand or walk. I can pull and move its legs but it seems to be using his knee joint (which is larger and swollen compared to the rest) to move himself. When laying he can not keep his legs under him. He also seems to step on his wings when moving around. Any suggestions ?


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Replies:

[> Re: Turkeys cant stand on legs -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:20:05 06/18/12 Mon [1]

I suspect that the Achilles tendon may have been displaced
from its normal position as the turkey was kicking off the
eggshell. When this problem is found the same day that it
occurred this tendon is easy to push back into place. But
each day that it is out of place the bird will injure
itself by walking on joint. This causes internal swelling
and external skin damage....and this just makes it very
difficult to get that tendon to return to its natural
groove and stay there.
------But in order to know for certain what is wrong with
YOUR turkey I would need to see photos of its leg
showing the rear of the injured joint.
It is VERY important to repair this right now or sooner
because this problem is certain to get worse if untreated.


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[> [> Re: Turkeys cant stand on legs -- Maria, 09:29:27 06/18/12 Mon [1]

Thank You for the information - When I went to the brooder pen this morning the chick had died. I guess it is better that way.
Thanks again anyway.


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[> [> [> Re: Turkeys cant stand on legs -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:32:40 06/18/12 Mon [1]

Maria, You are welcome. I am sorry that your little turkey
died but am glad that if is not suffering.
And thank you for giving me the end of the story.


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6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- Jessica (worried), 21:54:17 06/05/12 Tue [8]

Help! My 6 week old Barred Rock has suddenly developed leg problems. It's right leg is twisted outward and it's foot is backwards. It's joint is bent the opposite way and has round swelling. It has always had a crooked middle toe on that foot and had a hatch mate exactly the same that we had to cull at 3 days. "Tootsie" has made it a long way and is actually my favorite chick. Is there any way to help? It has been this way for 2 days but is still eating sleeping and getting around. My box has newspaper and wood chip flooring. We did put a roost in there so she may have had an accident. I can provide pictures if you tell me how. Thank you.


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Replies:

[> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 00:07:42 06/06/12 Wed [1]

I suspect that Tootsie has "twisted tibia".
The tibia is the main bone in the part of leg that is
called a "drum stick" by Kentucky Fried Chicken.
But go ahead and take pictures of Tootsie's legs for me.


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[> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- Tracy Perez, 08:23:54 06/12/12 Tue [1]

I would love to know the outcome of this, I have a Barred Rock now 5 weeks old with the same thing and the heavier she gets the less she can get around, it is so sad. I think soon we will have to put her down.


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[> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:26:49 06/12/12 Tue [1]

Tracy, I could NOT find the end of this particular story,
perhaps that chick's owner did not send pictures. There
have been other twisted tibias. Some were cured and some
were not.
I can tell you for certain that this problem gets more
difficult to treat as the chick grows and soon becomes
impossible for my methods to treat.


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[> [> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- Tracy Perez, 09:45:26 06/12/12 Tue [1]

Thanks so much for your response. I thought I may try to make a soft splint, like a knee immobilizer for her but I am thinking it may be more humane for my husband to put her down. This is my first attempt at raising laying hens. They are thriving and I can literally see them growing each day. They are really getting big and heavy at only a few weeks old. I don't want her to become easy prey or get picked on. Her leg used to just bend in medially like a person with polio, now it collapses and literally bends forward with her foot facing her tail :( What are your thoughts?


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:39:18 06/12/12 Tue [1]

In order to suggest a treatment or sudden death I have to
"see" the problem in a photo or short video clip from an
i-phone. I do not have one of those but the clip can be
emailed to me.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- Tracy Perez, 10:58:56 06/12/12 Tue [1]

OK great, it is pouring rain but when it lets up I will get a video and email it to you, thank you for your help!


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- Tracy Perez, 12:05:45 06/12/12 Tue [1]

Video sent to you, did the best I could with other chicks in the way.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: 6week old chick gets twisted leg overnight! -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 14:17:47 06/12/12 Tue [1]

OK, Video arrived. Certainly appears to be "twisted tibia"
Please scoll down this forum and read the posts and my
repiies for Donna Crawford's chicks. Your chick could
benefit from that.


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Dislocation of hip -- Robin Gorton, 14:27:11 05/31/12 Thu [1]


I have a 2-3 week old chick, his hip is out of joint i believe it happened when moving from one pen to another yesterday, not a birth defect- here is a few pics, is there a way to splint it or tape it to realign it? thanks so much! I sent you some pics so you can see what is going on


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Replies:

[> Re: Dislocation of hip -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:49:20 05/31/12 Thu [1]

Reply was sent by email.


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A PLACE TO FIND INFORMATION -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 17:14:14 05/28/12 Mon [1]

http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/problems/

My old magazine article on
ORTHOPEDICS FOR POULTRY and other information can be
found if you paste that link into your browser


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2 day old isa brown chick with dislocated or broken leg -- Selene, 11:42:31 05/28/12 Mon [1]

I have a two day old isa brown chick that was fine when it hatched but now has one leg that sticks out to the side. It seems to be dislocated right at the hip. I am not sure if the other chicks crowded it or the hen stepped on it. She was being a good mother then suddenly abandoned the chicks out in my greenhouse and tried to kill a few. One already died and I would really like to save this one if I can. What can I do to fix the leg? All she does is lay on her side and keep that leg up off the floor. When she tries to walk she flops around and can't stand.


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Replies:

[> Re: 2 day old isa brown chick with dislocated or broken leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 14:54:16 05/28/12 Mon [1]

It is tragic when a hen fails to bond with her chicks.
Some hens are much better than others at "bonding".
-----
A picture is worth even more than a thousand words. To give
good advice I need a good photo or i-phone video clip.
This can be posted at villagephotos.com or photobucket and
the link put here. And since my recent upgrade to DSL you
can send small numbers of photos to me. Please do not
overload my less than state of the art old computer.


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3 week old turkey dislocated leg -- Linda Sciple, 15:51:32 05/19/12 Sat [3]

My son has a 3-week old turkey that he hatched in an incubator. The baby appears to have dislocated one of its legs. Does anyone know what to do? I have pictures to send if needed.


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Replies:

[> Re: 3 week old turkey dislocated leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:28:25 05/19/12 Sat [1]

The photos that you sent do NOT show me the rear of the
hock joint so that I can tell if the Achilles tendon is
displaced or if this is a twisted tibia (drum stick bone)
or perhaps both of these problems.
And you did not tell me if this problem just occurred now
or if the turkey hatched that way.
------
As soon as I can see what the problem is I will try to
provide a plan of action.


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[> [> Re: 3 week old turkey dislocated leg -- Linda Sciple, 22:24:29 05/19/12 Sat [1]

He was not born like this - this happened Thursday 5/17/12. We'll take some more pictures tomorrow and send them to you. Thanks.


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[> [> [> Re: 3 week old turkey dislocated leg -- Linda Sciple, 15:31:05 05/20/12 Sun [1]

I sent some pictures to your email address.

thanks,
Linda


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BABY DUCK NEEDS HELP -- JACKIE, 22:22:17 05/19/12 Sat [1]

I HAVE A BABY DUCK THAT WAS BORN WITH ITS LEG STICKING OUT BEHIND IT,ITS JUST GOING THE WRONG WAY. I CAN PUT IT THE RIGHT WAY BUT AS SOON I LET THE LEG GO IT GOES BACKWARDS AGAIN IT DOESNT SEEM TO BE IN ANY PAIN,BUT IT CANT USE THAT LEG AND I DONT WANT TO PUT IT DOWN, ITS NOW 4 DAYS OLD, ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPERCIATED.


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Replies:

[> Re: BABY DUCK NEEDS HELP -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 13:08:50 05/20/12 Sun [1]

Jackie, as I keep telling people--I need to "SEE" the legs
of the poultry (your baby duck). Photos can be put at
villagephotos.com or photobucket or sent to me (just a few
at a time) I can even view short video clips made with
i phone but sent to me by email because I do not have any
sort of cellular phone due to a bad cash flow problem at
the Townsend house.


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Chick with Dodgy leg -- Trish Matherson, 19:45:25 05/15/12 Tue [1]

Hi, I have an Orpington chick who had a badly splayed leg (just the one). I managed to get the leg in a bit by hobbling it, but each time I took it off to see how much strength there was in the leg, it was clearly not ready, soi kpt going. Now it seems the hock has dropped in, and the foot is again going out, still not as bad, and the chick still uses it. The right leg is fine, but the left hock is slightly swollen (probably at least in part because of all my fiddling around with it).
Aside from limping abit the chick moves around, eats and drinks happily, but it does lie down a fair bit and I'd really love to see it chargingaround with the others.
At the moment I have strapped a wedge shaped piece of foam underneath it, and between its hocks, to hold the joint straighter, whilst also hobbling it lower down - no mean feat when it's legs are pretty short anyway.
Do you have any better suggestions because I don't imagine the wedge is going to stay in place long? I tried doing a wider hobble with stiffening in the middle but it didn't hold the hock out.
Grateful for any tips - thanks.


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Replies:

[> Re: Chick with Dodgy leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:35:32 05/15/12 Tue [1]

I need to see a photo of your chick's legs in order to
know if the Achilles tendon is displaced or if the tibia is
twisted (or both of these problems)
You can place photos at villagephotos.com or photobucket
and put the link here or you can email pictures on me.


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Replies:

[> XXXXXX--ABUSE--(SPAM)--XXXXXX -- D C T - SPAM FIGHTER, 09:27:50 05/15/12 Tue [1]

TAKE A LONG WALK
ON A SHORT DOCK
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL FIFTY YEARS AGO
AND
DO NOT NEED YOUR SERVICES.
--------------------------------------
THIS FORUM IS HERE TO HELP PEOPLE WITH BABY CHICKENS,
PEA FOWLS, TURKEYS, GUINEAS OR OTHER BIRDS.


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not splayed legs, they are faced straight down?? -- Samantha, 10:25:03 05/14/12 Mon [1]

Hello, and thanks for help. 2 day old chick both her legs are stretched out at 6 o'clock. She lays on belly wont eat or drink. Only drinks the "save a chick" solution water when I help her. Her hock joint looks okay. Thinking they are splayed but just in a diferant position. Tried wraping her legs but that makes no sense because she still just lays there. Seems like it must be in her hip joint area. She was in egg over 24 hours are she peeped her beak out, we thought she had died after starting to come out, then out of nowhere next day we heard her peeping. So stressed for sure. Thing is I keep thinking I need to cull her, as it all I try seems useless and she is suffering. But then I go to do it and those eyes look at me. Not Vet material thats for sure! Any ideas of ways I can help. I work full time and cant be with her 24/7 just happen to be around for a good part of today. Thanks again.


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Replies:

[> Re: not splayed legs, they are faced straight down?? -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 14:56:07 05/14/12 Mon [1]

Send me a close up photo of those legs. Read other posts
for ideas of how to do that. I have to go to an
appointment now but hope to be back online tonight.


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Turkey Legs -- Jenny (worried, they cant walk), 17:22:00 05/01/12 Tue [3]

I have 3 baby turkeys, they are almost a month old. When they were smaller they had no problems walking. In the past week they have been struggling to walk, and when they lay down their legs stick out. On the bottom of the fenced in area is a tarp that has a flannel sheet over it, and about 2 inches of bedding over that. I take them out a few times a day and try to help them walk. Their legs don't shake when their weight is put on them, but the moment I let go of their bodies they fall down. I'm not sure what to do, can you please help? I have read through the other postings on the page and I understand you will want photos of their legs. I have them, and am ready to send them if you have the time to look at them.


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Replies:

[> Re: Turkey Legs -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:12:10 05/01/12 Tue [1]

It is interesting that all three of these turkeys have the
same problem. There may be a problem with slipping on what
is underfoot OR a food borne illness such as botulism.
A picture might help....and certainly will not hurt.
A video clip from an i phone can be emailed since I do not
have one of those phones.


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[> [> Re: Turkey Legs -- Tommy, 16:35:29 05/13/12 Sun [1]

I'm having the same problem. My little girl has three turkeys (born around Apr. 25th, 2012). Just yesterday one turkey started push its self around the pin (on leg out to the side). I'm new in the poultry life and this is the first year with turkeys. Right now they are in a border ( I think that's right), a box 3x4 with heat lamp, feed and water. Been using newpaper bottom. Running around with 10 seabright bantams, all the same age.

Is there away I can fix it's leg.


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[> [> [> Re: Turkey Legs -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 18:42:42 05/13/12 Sun [1]

I strongly suspect a twisted tibia but need photos to be
certain.
I would not keep tiny bantams with turkeys but would have
separate brooders.


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Swollen Gullet -- Ruth, 23:57:03 05/08/12 Tue [1]

We now have a problem with our 6 week old Silky Bantam. She is not digesting her food (medicated chick feed) and expels it when you hold her. What can we do to relieve her discomfort?
Thank you once again,
Ruth


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Replies:

[> Re: Swollen Gullet -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:03:41 05/09/12 Wed [1]

I have to ask
"Is any feed in the chick's crop"?
The "crop" is found on the right side of the front of a
bird and it stores food before food moves along to the
gizzard to be digested.
So I am trying to understand if the food is being blocked
before it gets to the crop or afterwards OR if the
blockage is even farther along the digestive tract.
--------If you can find a good avian vet near you I would
suggest having the chick examined.
--------I will try to help you but this is a serious
problem that needs advice from other sources


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Baby Chick born with legs splayed out, wont work -- Allison Forsberg (Help!), 00:05:35 04/02/12 Mon [3]

We incubated a chick. It had some kind of hair wrapped around it when it was pecking out of the shell. The chick was out of the shell for hours and flat on its face. The other chicks were laying on it. My husband cut off the "hair" that was wrapped around it. It's legs don't move and are stickig out-L at a 10 o'clock angle and R at a 2 o'clock angle. The chick just wobbles back and forth. It is 3 days old now, full of spunk. I have been feeding it wet chicken mash and water throug an eye dropped. Is there anything I can do? It just breaks my heart watching her struggle!


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Replies:

[> Re: Baby Chick born with legs splayed out, wont work -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:51:02 04/02/12 Mon [1]

Perhaps this is a simple case of straddle legs if hip
joints popped out from injury. If so the "hobble brace"
can be used to treat it. Find my article and a picture of
it at the UPA website:
www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/1/
This brace can be made of tape, yarn or even a band-ade
wrapped around legs just above feet connecting them about
two inches apart so that chick can walk.
--------
But if the Achilles tendon has popped out of place a
different treatment may be needed.
If you can take pictures of the chick's legs and send
them to my email address or store pictures at village-
photos.com or photobucket and post link here I will look
at photos and try to help you with the treatment.


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[> [> Re: Baby Chick born with legs splayed out, wont work -- Allison Forsberg O'Neill (Thankful but sad...), 00:49:51 05/05/12 Sat [1]

DC, I just wanted to thank you for ALL the great advice and ideas to help me fix my chicks legs. I tried the splints and the chick chair. Unfortunately, none of these helped my chick. I believe her legs and feet were to damaged from being born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her and not being able to stand. I managed to keep her alive for almost five weeks by hand feeding her and keeping her warm and clean. She died on May 3rd (born March 28). She never got any feathers except for her wings. I really took her death hard but I am glad she died on her own because I couldn't cull her. Again, your advice and and she was so small (but fiesty! The information you sent was so valuable and I really appreciate you taking your time to help one of God's creatures.


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[> [> [> Re: Baby Chick born with legs splayed out, wont work -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 07:09:25 05/05/12 Sat [1]

Allison,
You are welcome. I am sorry that your chick died but you
know in your heart that you did all that you could do for
her. "Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain
mercy".
It was in some of my failures that I learned useful things
that saved other poultry.
Thank you for sharing "the rest of the story".
I hope that you may have another chick, a healthy one to
enjoy your loving care


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Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov (sad and scared), 19:40:51 04/23/12 Mon [15]

I have a Welsummer that was bought this past Saturday and is about a week and a half old. She seemed okay yesterday (that is to say I didn't notice anything), but today she can hardly walk. When she does attempt it, she limps heavily on her right leg, and hobbles so badly that she often looses her balance and must use her wings to hold herself up. She is still getting herself to the feeder and eats hungrily. I haven't seen her drink very much... As standing seems to cause her discomfort, i put a special dish in the brooder close to the ground so she could be laying down and eat easily.
She does stretch her legs a lot, both of them. She also has been preening a lot. Mostly, though, she spends her time laying down...

I thought it might be botulism, but I haven't seen any other signs that point to that... also, there's already antibiotics in their water and the feed is medicated. Is she sick or injured? What should I do?


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Replies:

[> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:38:52 04/23/12 Mon [1]

Antibiotic means anti-bacteria and is NO protection from
a toxin such as botulism. Botulism can weaken the legs or
cause twisting neck spasms. Years ago I had a cockerel
a week or two old that would run backwards and then fall
unable to rise. He also had neck spasms so severe that I
had to hold him and put feed into his beak for several
weeks until he recovered.
But your chick may have an orthopedic problem. I need to
understand exactly what is wrong before I can make a plan
for treatment. If you can take a couple photos of the
legs and/or a short video clip of the chick trying to
walk and email them to me it would help. People use their
cellular phones or I-phones to send very good pictures of
poultry problems. Just click on my name and follow the
instuctions in the window that pops up to get my email
address.


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[> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 23:13:09 04/23/12 Mon [1]

Should I await your reply here or via email?


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[> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:20:28 04/24/12 Tue [1]

I like to have "the rest of the story" here for other
people to be able to get useful information but sometimes
this does not happen. After you email a couple of photos of
the chick's legs or a video clip of chick trying to walk
I will have your email address (which you have NOT posted
here)so I can send information by email and/or put it here.
If you need to keep your email address private---you can
place your photos at villagephotos.com or photobucket
and put the link here so that I can see them.
If you email me put "POULTRY" in subject line because all
the spammer/scammers on Earth already have my email
address and my internet provider has installed a
Red Condor Spam Filter that catches 80 or more messages
every day.
I always reply as soon as I can....but sometimes failure
of computer or something keeping me busy elsewhere can
delay me.


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[> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 21:04:05 04/24/12 Tue [1]

did you receive the pictures and video I sent you?


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:25:57 04/24/12 Tue [1]

NOTHING yet. But I just sent an email to you. To avoid
addressing error you can reply to it...that is if you
got it.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 23:13:17 04/24/12 Tue [1]

I got the email... and emailed the photos/video back again, we'll see if it works...


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopdist, 10:49:01 04/25/12 Wed [1]

NO, nothing....and I scrolled through 78 items caught in
the Red Condor Spam Filter just to be certain, too.
Very recently a person sent a video clip from an I phone
of her chicken trying to walk and there was NO problem.
This is frustrating because any orthopedic problem of young
poultry always needs treatment "right now or sooner".
----
Before I upgraded from dial up to DSL my computer was very
limited in what it could recieve but afterwards I was
delighted with the improved ability to "see" poultry and
help the owners to treat their orthopedic problems or
broken legs.
----
NO, I do NOT have an I phone or any sort of phone except
for the kind that has a cord. There is an accute cash flow
problem at the Townsend house


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov (frustrated with her email!), 22:27:23 04/25/12 Wed [1]

Okay, I'm trying something else: this doesn't seem to be a picture problem so much as an email problem because for some reason you're not actually getting the messages at all. However, I did receive your message. Since I cannot post pictures or videos here, is there somewhere else online I can do that so you'll be able to see them? I'm a member of backyard chickens... maybe I could post the pictures there and send you the link to the forum page? I don't think they allow video though...
Any ideas? Email obviously isn't working.

Update on the Welly: there has be almost entirely no change. She still limps, heavily favoring the right leg and often using her wing for support when she walks. Standing seems easier for her. She has been eating and drinking, but when not going to/fro water or feeder, she spends all time sitting.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 22:28:48 04/25/12 Wed [1]

Just had a thought... have you tried using your email's search application to search for my address, "teepov@gmail.com"? that will look through EVERYTHING, even if it was sent to the spam or trash folder...


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov (hopeful!), 22:45:42 04/25/12 Wed [1]

I signed up for photobucket and created an album with the video and pictures!! Copy and paste this link:

photobucket.com/teepovslimpychick

Thanks so much for trying to help and sticking with me through all the technology issues! You have no idea how much I appreciate your willingness to help.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 11:47:11 04/26/12 Thu [1]

Congratualations!!! I finally did get to see your chick...
even if I had to struggle a bit with a pesky "pop up"
from Blue Cross ...because any free service does have to
have a sponser.
But after viewing photos and video several times I am
still preplexed. I need a good close up photo of the
hock joints. Hold the chick on its back and get a view of
the rear of the joints.
-----My Outlook Express shows me how many unread messages
that I have...and I did do a search anyhow but it is NOT
hiding there. I also checked pineland web mail which was
empty because it automatically forwards to my Outlook
Express. AND--I scrolled through the Red Condor Spam
Filter. I do this dailly and, so far, NO request for
poultry assistance has been caught there but all these
have made it to Outlook Express where I have replied to
them.
Back when all I had was "dial up" some downloads of photos
could take way over an hour to download so am very glad
to not have that problem now.
Try sending me just one photo at a time.
I am very sorry that this is being extra difficult for you
and I hope that I can help your chick. After all, that is
why I am here.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 21:54:36 04/26/12 Thu [1]

I think it makes more sense to keep using the photobucket as long as it's working... I've uploaded a bunch more photos. It looks to me like that left joint is a little swollen? I've also put another video. As far as her walking and her willingness to move around, there hasn't been any change. I did notice, however, that sometimes when she sits/lays down, she curls the toes on her left food.

photobucket.com/teepovslimpychick


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:59:16 04/27/12 Fri [1]

Yes, you are correct about the swelling of the left hock
joint. I am glad to be able to see that the Achilles
tendon is in place and hope that it stays in place.
The origen of this chick's problem remains a mystery.
(what caused the swelling). There is likely to be some
inflamation in the joint which may get better or worse
in the future. I always appreciate hearing the "rest of the
story". And if my old computer and I are still here I will
help you any time you ask.


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- Teepov, 22:21:50 04/27/12 Fri [1]

thanks so much! you have no idea how much you've put my mind at rest... I will definitely let you know what happens and/or if I ever have any other chicky leg issues...
Also, I have recommended you to other people, so you may more posts than you care to answer soon, but I think you're fantastic!

In the meantime, is there anything I should do for her? Do I need to wrap her leg or separate her from the others?

Thanks again and cheers


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[> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick with sudden trouble walking -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 07:59:36 04/28/12 Sat [1]

You are welcome. I thank God for the ability to do what I
do.
Never do any taping or bandaging without a good reason for
it. You need to be able to see those legs and joints.
As for being with the other chicks--you must observe them
and unless there is a problem they should be together


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Spradle Leg in 3-4 week old chick.... -- Amanda, 01:25:22 04/26/12 Thu [1]

I have a 3-4 week old lavender orpington. She was hatched with spradle leg well I think it was this one.... I fixed it using the band aid brace. For the first 2-3 weeks I watched the chicks every night after work to make sure that nobody else had signs of spradle leg and that she was moving normally... They all seemed fine. . The other night I saw one chick struggling to get up leg out behind her .... I thought she was really sick but what it turned out to be was her leg sticks out behind her and it is bent at the "knee" about 90 degrees... It seems like this happen over night ... When I move the leg I do not see how I can fix this... I tried making a brace to help her get some traction and she kept falling over so I took it off.... I don't know what to do for her or if there is anything. Is there anyway I can help my chick?? Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks!


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Replies:

[> Re: Spradle Leg in 3-4 week old chick.... -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 11:18:01 04/26/12 Thu [1]

Can not be certain without close up photo of leg joints
but after considering your chick's history I do suspect
that the Achilles tendon may be displaced.


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Young Turkey new feathers -- Denise (Dynamic), 19:48:58 04/25/12 Wed [1]

I recently bought a couple chicks and a couple turkeys at my nearby farm store. One bronze and one white turkey. I have had them about 2 weeks. They are getting their feathers pretty quickly..However the problem is one of the Bronze's legs has turned completely backwards. This is hindering him to stand properly. I had the same problem with turkeys that I purchased before (several years ago). They ended up being about 4 months old and eventualy they lost the use of their legs. It wasn't because they were overfed or overweight and I thought perhaps our pony had stompped them, I just wasn't sure. I ended up putting them out of their misery, but I dont know what happened or what the problem was. The 2 young turkeys I have now are under a heat lamp and can not get outside as yet, but what am I doing wrong? Perhaps feeding chick food is a problem? Any help appreciated.
With best regards,
Denise


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Replies:

[> Re: Young Turkey new feathers -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:24:49 04/25/12 Wed [1]

Without photos of the legs can only guess at what may be
wrong.The problem could be in the hip socket.
Or the Achilles tendon could be displaced (Hock joint
injury)
Or the most likely thing is that the tibia (bone in
drum stick) is twisting. The modern breeds of turkeys
grow fast and this puts stress on soft bones and joints.


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2 quail chicks -- Greg, 03:29:56 04/06/12 Fri [2]

Hi, I had 2 quails hatch two days ago. Both have bad legs and feet (I fear bad breeding from where I bought the eggs). One is getting around ok, though using its knees, the other falls backwards a lot, and ends up on the floor on its back. One is feeding fine, the other not so. I do not want them to be in pain. What would you suggest?


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Replies:

[> Re: 2 quail chicks -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 11:00:55 04/06/12 Fri [1]

Baby quails are so tiny and fragile that by the
time that you read this they may already have died.
Actually I have never tried my orthpedic methods on
anything smaller than a baby pheasant and was not able
to do much with them. I did repair some badly crooked
toes on a very tiny peafowl-guinea hybrid and then it
died of something else.
--------
Some orthopedic problems are due to wrong temperature
or humidity during incubation. This can also cause
the chick be in the wrong position in the eggshell.
Being too dry can cause a problem when the chick tries
to kick its way out of the eggshell thereby displacing
the Achilles tendon usually on one leg but sometimes
both. This can be pushed back into place if you find it
and do it on the first day of life because if the chick
struggles it creates inflammation that blocks the
return of the tendon to its natural groove on the end
of the tibia.


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[> [> Re: 2 quail chicks -- Greg, 15:51:49 04/24/12 Tue [1]

Hi - thanks for this. One of them died very early on, the other is (although walks with a shuffle/limp rather then 'normally', i think one leg maybe slightly longer than the other, and she walks with one leg out but gets around ok) eating fine etc., and has 4 friends to go with her/him. It's now 3 weeks old, and doing ok, but will always be small - but hey, i will look after it as best I can! i don't know if there's anything else I can do - it looks like splayed leg a little, but seems very hard to correct? Thank you so much for your help.


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3 week old Peking duckling with turned in feet -- Brigid, 16:47:28 04/21/12 Sat [1]

I noticed yesterday that one of our peking ducklings (3 weeks old) had feet that are turning in, causing her to step on her feet and making it difficult to walk. Also, and I am unsure if this is related or not, the area around both eyes looks dry, or darker than the other ducklings. I purchased a vitamin/electrolyte supplement today and have addded this to their water to see if it is a deficiency. She does not seem to be in pain. I don't know if making the hobble brace for her will work or not or what to do. I know it will cause her a great deal of trouble if she grows up with them like this.

thank you.


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Replies:

[> Re: 3 week old Peking duckling with turned in feet -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 20:37:42 04/21/12 Sat [1]

Baby ducks and geese grow very rapidly due to the high
protein in the starter. When my mother had geese I
learned that giving them less starter and letting
the babies eat plenty of grass would prevent "angel
wing". I am not sure about the cause of your duckling's
foot problem. I have observed leg problems in baby
turkey's of the large breeds as they gained weight.
A photo of your duckling's feet might help me to
understand its problem


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Torn ligament -- Luan, 14:11:57 04/21/12 Sat [1]

Hi

Our 6 month old silkie hen has torn the ligament in her one leg (at her hock) very severely. She does not move her toes at all and the bird vet thinks she has nerve damage.

It's been about 10 days now since her injury. We've given her devil's claw for pain and inflammation. She is getting a B12 injection every 7 days. We have kept her in a limited space, sleeping at ground level. She's perky and doing well. Our vet recommended that we allow her to come out the coop as this will allow movement of her leg so that it does not freeze in one position. So we are doing so.
She is now placing her foot on the ground, but without any pressure. Hopping on one leg when she wants to move. She still shows no movement of her toes- her foot is always open. I realise this may take a long time to heal. She does show movement in her shoulder and has started to make little kick movements with her leg. She can straighten her leg and bring it forward.
Is there some physical therapy we could or should do to help her? We are very very lightly massaging her foot and toes every day.
We would appreciate knowing how we can further help her.
Thank you
Luan


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Replies:

[> Re: Torn ligament -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 20:27:13 04/21/12 Sat [1]

It would help me to understand the problem if you could
email me a close up photo of the hock joint or even a
short video clip. Some people do amazing things with
their "smart phones". From your description I suspect
that the Achilles tendon may be displaced. This tendon
connects muscles along the tibia to the bone of lower
leg-- passing down the rear of the hock joint. When the
Achilles tendon is out of place it often causes the toes
to curl and the lower leg loses power to move.
Rest in a body sling or a "chick chair" may permit
healing. After all, humans with sports injuries are
told to rest during healing.
If you send me an email put "POULTRY" in the subject
line to avoid being mistaken for spam.


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Male silkie tips forward, runs crooked and limps -- Kendra Sherrod, 19:58:40 04/16/12 Mon [2]

Hi. I have a four month old silkie that I think is a rooster but hasn't starting crowing yet. When I got him at 4 weeks he was fine. At about two months I noticed a spot on his leg just above his foot where there was no covering and I could see ridges that looked like bone, like he'd injured his leg. He could still walk and had a slight limp. Progressively he has started tipping forward and resting on his breastbone. When he runs, he runs diagonally and stumbles. It looks like he swings one of his legs around. He can't stand, rests on his breastbone and falls over occasionally. He eats and drinks, is otherwise healthy, and tries to keep up with the flock but can't often make it into the coop without help. There is still some ridge visible on one foot where there are no scales.


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Replies:

[> Re: Male silkie tips forward, runs crooked and limps -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:26:45 04/16/12 Mon [1]

To help me "see" the problem you need to take a couple
of close up photos of the legs. You can put photos at
villagephotos.com or photobucket and post the link here or
you can email them to me (not too many at a time, please)
Get my email address by clicking on my name where it
is blue and then follow instructions in the window that
pops up


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[> [> Re: Male silkie tips forward, runs crooked and limps -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 14:42:29 04/17/12 Tue [1]

It seems like it may be a broken bone. There is some swelling of the
toes that is most likely caused by the injury.
He might have accidentally hung his foot on something and was
hurt as he pulled free. Or something could have fallen on the leg
where the injury is visible.
He needs rest, calcium with cod liver oil....along with a diet
rich in vitamins and minerals. Fresh green leafy vegetables,
finely choppled. Hard boiled eggs can be mashed--including the
eggshell finely pulverised (calcium source)

Please keep me updated on his progress


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chick with peeled skin on toe -- Erin, 00:14:12 04/14/12 Sat [3]

My chick has some skin peeled back on it's toe. The others haven't noticed, so they are leaving him alone. Should I do something and what should I do? Thanks!


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Replies:

[> Re: chick with peeled skin on toe -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 11:09:24 04/14/12 Sat [1]

Ordinary white sugar does two things. It kills germs
by drawing moisture from them. Sugar also is a blood-
stopper (stops a cut from bleeding).
The peeled skin will dry up and fall off as new skin
grows to cover the toe.
It is good news that the others have not discovered the
injury because they can become blood-thirsty little
flesh eaters.....
Seeing a band-aid could attract their attention and cause
more harm than good


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[> [> Re: chick with peeled skin on toe -- Erin, 14:48:33 04/14/12 Sat [1]

Thanks so MUCH! It makes me feel better that it will resolve itself.


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[> [> [> Re: chick with peeled skin on toe -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:15:11 04/14/12 Sat [1]

You are welcome. I exist to serve my Creator by helping
His most helpless creatures.
Please tell me how your chick's toe looks tomorrow and if
it gets worse take a closeup photo and send it to my email
address which you can get by clicking on my name.


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baby chick help please -- a black (sad), 23:35:11 04/10/12 Tue [1]

Went to our local big r store and I came home with a chick doing the splits feet are backwards it has 3 extra toes on both legs when it breaths it feels like something is clicking inside I don't know what to do and why the people they order from when send this chick please help me!!


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Replies:

[> Re: baby chick help please -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 08:36:50 04/11/12 Wed [1]

Read my article at UPA website
www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/1/
The clicking that you hear when the chick breaths
could be from the "air sac"....there is a system
inside birds that supplies air to hollow bones to
make them light enough to be able to fly.
There are some breeds of chicken that have three toes
in front and two in back but sometimes these breeds
will have some extra ones.
I think your chick has straddle legs which should be
treated with a hobble brace. If toes are not straight
they need chick shoes.
Also if you can take a a couple photos of your chick
and email them to me I will have a better chance of
diagnosing and suggesting treatments for its problems.


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24 hour old baby chicken -- KCFarm (Worried), 02:15:32 04/10/12 Tue [1]

I have a chick that hatched yesterday at about 9pm. It was my last chick born and it is not walking. It has the desire to move but it just scoots on its belly. I have tried hand feeding and watering but it doesn't seem very interested. It now has sores on its legs at the joints and I am worried its going to die. I called a local vet and they said that I could put neosporin on its legs. I have also been gently stretching its legs and massaging them to see if I can get it to use them. Please help I want to know that I did everything I could if he does go. Thanks for your help!


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Replies:

[> Re: 24 hour old baby chicken -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:46:32 04/10/12 Tue [1]

Can you photograph this chick and email photos to me?
Take one photo from above it. Then hold it on its back
for another photo showing legs and leg joints close up.
Treatment must begin RIGHT NOW OR SOONER......
A chick seems to destroy itself as it tries to force its
damaged joints to function.


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Turkey poults -- Amy may, 18:39:46 04/08/12 Sun [1]

I have a 6 week old turkey poult who's right leg is crooked. It almost looks like it is broken because it twists all the way to the side and causes her to stumble a bit. It doesn't seem to cause her any pain but the leg almost turns completely around sometimes and I'm wondering if this is fixable. Please help I feel so sad for the poor thing. I have no idea what is going on. This is my first time raising turkeys. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.


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Replies:

[> Re: Turkey poults -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:01:04 04/08/12 Sun [1]

Turkeys grow fast and the heavy breeds of turkey can
have problems from this. There could be injury to the
hock joint or (more likely) twisting of the tibia.
The tibia is the bone called "drumstick" at Kentucky
Fried Chicken.
I have treated twisted tibia in chicks and pea chicks
with some of them getting a complete cure. The older amd
larger a bird is the harder it is to treat.
I suggest taking a photo or two of the poult's legs
viewed from the rear. And hold it on its back to take
photo of leg joints. Then email photos to me or put
photos on website such as villagephotos.com or
photobucket and put the link here.


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What to do for our Bardrock ? -- Ruth, 00:04:27 04/06/12 Fri [3]

Our 18 month old Bard Rock hen, who is normally antisocial to us, began to stay close and not run away. Within a week, she began to limp and lean. During the next week she began to hunch and lay against the barn all day. During this time, she moved to and from the food and water then back to the wall. This week she is walking on her knees and trying to balance herself with her wings. She is becoming weaker each day. Today, her head is now pointing to the ground. The comb is still in good color and the feathers seem fine. The poop is brownish green with yellow mixed in the white. The vent seems to be normal. The only changes that have occurred is a move into a new chicken coop, which we have now determined is a little too small for the group, instead of the barn. We have moved some of the birds back to the barn. The chickens were given Vetrx last weekend, after they were showing signs of diarhrea.

Any light you can shed on this problem will be greatly appreciated.
Ruth


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Replies:

[> Re: What to do for our Bardrock ? -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 10:41:15 04/06/12 Fri [1]

There are two things that I can think of that can bring
weakness or paralysis to legs or neck. There is Marek's
disease or botulism.
Victims of either of these may recover with care or might
die even with care. B-complex vitamins may help along with
vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E.
Some chopped hard boiled eggs and raw dark green leafy
vegetables are helpful, too.
A box with soft comfortable bedding under her will help
circulation in legs or a body sling could be made.


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[> [> Re: What to do for our Bardrock ? -- Ruth, 23:25:43 04/06/12 Fri [1]

Thank you for your quick response. We purchased electroliytes for the new guinea chicks and thought this might help the Bardrock. I will pick up the vitamins tomorrow and adjust her diet.

She seems to be a little more alert today. Maybe we will be lucky.

Ruth


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[> [> [> Re: What to do for our Bardrock ? -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 17:19:48 04/07/12 Sat [1]

You are welcome.
Am happy to hear that she is "more alert" now.
Try giving her a baby Asperin or a Prednisone tablet if
you can get one. Why?--because an anti-inflammitory
medication helps heal damaged nerves.


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2 week old chick now cannot walk -- Vikki Bilbey, 05:28:12 04/07/12 Sat [3]

Hi I'm hoping someone can help. I've got 2 chicks in my brooder which were both doing great, then 3 days ago, the girl started to limp and fall over. Now she can't stand at all. She can't seem to bend her achilles heel to stand, so she just lays on one side. I've looked at her legs and they seem fine, her heels bend when I move them-its like she has lost strength in them. He toes were curled so put shoes on her and also have put a splint between but she still lying there-she tries every now and then to get up. Her poo is fine, she eats when I put food in front of her and drinks when I take her to water. The brooder is a good temp and I've given her vitamins-im out of ideas, I've no idea why this has happened and I'm worried she will die. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks


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Replies:

[> Re: 2 week old chick now cannot walk -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 12:39:15 04/07/12 Sat [1]

It would unusual for a two week old chick to pop an
Achilles tendon out of place. The main time for that to
occur is when the chick has popped off the big end of
the eggshell and is trying to kick off the other end of
the shell. Or there can be injury from being stepped on.
There is the remote chance that the tibia is twisting but
I strongly suspect botulism which is a common cause of
weakness in very young poultry. Some die. Some have a
staggering spell, seem to recover, and then get worse.
Another symptom of botulism (not always present) is
spasms of neck twisting sometimes crying out in pain.
Have been told by poulty lab doctors that eating an
infected maggot causes this BUT I have seen it happen
when NO maggots or their parents the flies were there.
Feed that gets wet in hot weather can produce the botulism
toxin (yes, this IS the same stuff that is injected in
people to cure wrinkles--but I will keep my wrinkles)
----You can try emailing me a photo or two of your chick
showing me how it stands and a view of the legs from
behind. Or hold chick on its back to photograph the leg
joints.
Some years ago I had a cockerel that was with his mother
and other chicks. He went down with botulism and really
was a "basket case" because I kept him in a basket thickly
padded with sponge for at least six weeks having to hold
him and hand feed him every day until as the hormones of
puberty arrived his neck staightened out and his balance
returned. Note that his brothers and sisters did NOT get
sick at all.


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[> [> Re: 2 week old chick now cannot walk -- Vikki Bilbey, 13:54:09 04/07/12 Sat [1]

Hi, thanks for the advice. Its sounds like botulism, as she has neck spasms. Have no idea how she would have got that in the brooder! The other one isn't sick. Think I will keep looking after her to see what happens-maybe she will recover?


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[> [> [> Re: 2 week old chick now cannot walk -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 17:12:12 04/07/12 Sat [1]

You are welcome. I believe that this chick has a good
chance of recovering. Please tell "the rest of the story"
here when the treatment is done


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Day old Guinea keet with leg sticking out behind -- Chad Peterson, 20:36:56 03/01/12 Thu [1]

I have a newly hatched Guinea keet that keeps its right leg sticking out behind it. It looked fine upon hatching, but got its leg caught in the umbliical cord and I'm guessing that caused some problem with the leg. Since I noticed this and cut off the unbilical cord, the keet has been holding its right leg (the one that was caught) stretched out behind it, even when lying down. I don't think this is an achilles tendon slip, because it can straighten the leg, but I'm wondering if this a sprain or a type of spraddle legt? Or could the leg joint be out of socket? Thanks in advance for your help!


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Replies:

[> Re: Day old Guinea keet with leg sticking out behind -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 07:41:21 03/02/12 Fri [1]

You can check the Achilles tendon by looking at the hock
joints (where chick fuzz ends and scale covered shin bone
begins)--Look at rear of both legs and compare them.
A displaced tendon will bulge to one side of joint instead
of being centered in the groove where it belongs.
==========================
But from what you tell me the problem is more likely to be
straddle legs. The two causes of this are weakness or
injury. The treatment for straddle legs is the "hobble
brace". A picture of this can be found at
www.peafowl.org/ARTICLES/1/
You can photograph your guinea's legs close up and post
photo at villagephotos.com or photobucket and then put
the link on this forum or you can try sending photo
directly to me


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Baby chick born with crippled leg /chicken -- Cheryl Palmer (sad), 15:13:02 02/24/12 Fri [1]

I have a baby chick that was born through an incabator. It had a hard struggle to get out of the egg, as a resualt it holds its I think its left foot next to its body. When I feed it & give it water it does well with but with the food it trys to stand on its bad leg too. It. never could straighten out the leg. It is only 5 days old or so the other chicks are fine. It is extra tiny I hope I can get it to eat more food. It tries to walk but can't. I want to use a chick chair?


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Replies:

[> Re: Baby chick born with crippled leg /chicken -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 19:19:01 02/24/12 Fri [1]

This is VERY likely to be a displaced Achilles tendon
which often occurs when a chick has a hard time kicking off
the eggshell. This tendon connects muscles on the back of
the tibia (drum stick) to the lower leg (the part that has
scales) The Achilles tendon belongs in a groove in the
ends of the bones but injury can push it to the side.
When this happens the lower leg can not move. You can see
this problem by comparing the bad leg with the good one.
You will see the tendon bulging to the side of the joint.
It is easy to push it back to the center with very gentle
squeeze between thumb and finger. If this is done very
soon after the injury it may stay in place and look just
like a miracle. But if there is swelling du to inflamation
that "chick chair" is used to rest the leg so that it can
heal.


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bum leg -- Robin Peskoe (sad), 12:54:24 02/18/12 Sat [1]

My 8 month old buff orpington is unable to put weight on her left leg. We inspected it and it does'nt seem to be any wound on the foot. Her leg is slightly bowed outwards. Perhaps a slipped tendon? Please help.


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Replies:

[> Re: bum leg -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 20:45:56 02/18/12 Sat [1]

Displaced Achilles tendon is more likely to be found on
newly hatched poultry.
The larger breeds can have problems from growing too fast.
Some close up photos of this chicken's legs might help me
understand her problem. Photos can be put on website such
as villagephotos.com or photobucket and then the link to
them can be posted here.
I will do my best to help.


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Young Bantam hen with leg issues -- janee novak (novak), 14:09:14 02/13/12 Mon [1]

We have a young bantam hen that was attacked by some older chickens. I think it was a rooster because of the injuries on her head. Pulled out feathers on back of head and also her developing comb. She was bruised badly, but all of that is healing quiet nicely. She seems to have a broken leg or foot. She tries to walk, but falls down because one of her feet does not cooperate and goes backwards.
We have her inside and she is eating well, seems to be in good spirits, and healing nicely...except the problems with her legs and feet. Help!!! She is such a sweet girl.


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Replies:

[> Re: Young Bantam hen with leg issues -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 22:45:39 02/13/12 Mon [1]

If you want me to see her you can take close up photos of
her feet and legs.Then store photos at villagephotos.com
or photobucket and then post the link here
You can construct a body sling for her to rest her injured
foot. A body sling is cloth such as an old tee shirt
attached to box or frame to support it. Cut two leg holes
and a hole for manure to fall through.
I will try sending you a photo of my "chick chair"
because I do not have a photo of a body sling.


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baby turkey keeps falling over -- Tina (worried), 17:24:48 02/10/12 Fri [1]

I just hatched my first baby turkey and it is having trouble walking. When it tries to walk after a couple of steps it falls side ways and always to the right side. It is almost 24 hours and I do not know if this is normal or if there is something I should do to help it.


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Replies:

[> Re: baby turkey keeps falling over -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:09:51 02/11/12 Sat [1]

This could be muscle weakness but might be a displaced
Achilles tendon. To check for this look at hock joints
(where fuzz ends and scale covered shin bone begins)
The Achilles tendon crosses the rear of the hock joint
connecting muscles above joint to bone below joint.
You can compare legs to see if one has tendon bulging to
side of joint. Gentle finger pressure can move tendon back
in place. Sometimes this is all the repair it takes but
sometimes swelling in the joint capsule prevents tendon
from staying in place and a "chick chair" is used to rest
the joint so that it can heal.
I will try to email you a photo of this "chair"


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Good One -- Sarah Micheal, 06:47:19 02/01/12 Wed [1]

I have read few of the articles on your website, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorites blog site list and will be checking back soon.
article writing


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Replies:

[> Re: Good One -- D C Townsend, 10:28:46 02/01/12 Wed [1]

I do my own writing and the only help I accept is from my
Creator in Heaven. And the really GOOD NEWS is that He
NEVER sends me a bill for His services. And better news--
He provided a way of salvation so that I will go to Heaven
when I die.


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Guinea's toenail is missing -- Ruth, 22:13:09 01/29/12 Sun [3]

We have a 7 month old guinea who lost most of the back toenail yesterday. The nail was pulled forward under the foot. We cleaned it with alcohol, put crushed aspirin on the stump and wrapped the toe with gauze. Today, we found a small piece of nail where the nail connects to the toe. Can you tell us what else should be to care for her foot and will this piece of nail become the start of a replacement of the one that is missing or do we need to do something to help her regain her balance (the gauze wrap seems to be taking the place of the missing nail?)

Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated!

Ruth


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Replies:

[> Re: Guinea's toenail is missing -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 11:30:56 01/30/12 Mon [1]

Ruth, I have seen many injured toes and toenails and the
good news is that none of the birds with those toes died
and most healed and grew back the claw.
White sugar would be better than crushed aspiren. Sugar
kills germs by pulling water out of them and, better yet,
sugar is better than a styptic pencil for stopping
bleeding.
Years ago when Mother was with me she had a male ringneck
pheasant that was so accident prone that I called him
"Old Bandage Toe". One day I saw blood spurting from one
of his toes. Had to catch him (in pen) and apply pressure
with thumb and finger to stop the flow. I tore a thin strip
of duct tape to wrap his toe.
====================
If the living center core of your guinea's claw is still
there it will grow a new outer shell. This outer shell is
dead just like human fingernail or toenail and has no
feeling and can not grow but is continally replaced from
the living cells at base of the nail.
Because your guinea is young she should be able to grow
a new claw.


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[> Re: Guinea's toenail is missing -- Ruth, 00:50:04 01/31/12 Tue [1]

I had forgotten about the sugar on the wound.
Once again, "thank you for your help and reminding me of the treatment." The guinea is doing fine. We thought she would be coop bound but she goes out with the group bringing up the rear. I was concerned the group might turn on her but so far, so good.

Once again, "Thank you!"

Ruth


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[> [> Re: Guinea's toenail is missing -- D C T friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:44:07 01/31/12 Tue [1]

Ruth,
You are welcome.
And thank you for giving me good news about your guinea
hen. I appreciate any updates but good news is indeed rare
and precious.
D C T, friendly poultry orthopedist
serving my Creator by helping His most helpless creatures.


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Chick born unable to stand -- Hannah Garner, 05:01:39 10/02/11 Sun [6]

hi i wonder if you could help me,
i received a baby chick born yesterday, its legs bend at the sort of elbow joint but its feet are pointing upwards and touching its face, it seems to be most comfortable laying on its back with its legs in the air.
it cant stand on its feet but can move a little on its elbows but is very unbalanced, it twitches its feet a lot seeming to be trying to move them but is unsuccessful.
i wondered if you could help me and give me any suggestions on what i should do? sorry i havent explained it very well.
thankyou so much


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Replies:

[> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- D C T--friendly poultry orthopedist, 09:23:41 10/02/11 Sun [1]

Hannah,
I just sent you an email with photo of "chick chair".
Perhaps your chick is having a problem getting muscles
co-ordinated. Being kept in upright position with feet
able to touch floor may help.
If there is also an orthopedic problem more treatments
will be needed. Please tell me if you got that photo and
give me an update on your chick here on this forum.
----
one more thing--offer chick starter and water to the chick
after you have settled it in the chair ---or just hold it
in you hand to give it food and water. Also try offering it
a bit of crushed hard boiled egg.


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[> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- hannah, 14:07:20 10/02/11 Sun [1]

i havent got an email could you possibly try sending it again please?
thankyou so much
also is chick crumb and water okay for it to eat and drink? aswell as the crushed boiled egg?


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[> [> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- D C T--friendly poultry orthopedist, 15:50:36 10/02/11 Sun [1]

the message I sent bounced back to me. I sent it again and
it bounced again. Go to this Shagbark bantam link for photo
http://www.shagbarkbantams.com/faqleg.htm
but try this simplified method of making this chair.
For the interior or seat of chair use a painter's dust mask
and if you do not have one of those just cut up a sock.
Cut two leg holes and a hole placed correctly for manure to
fall through. Then use stapler to attach this to the
Kleenex box shown in photo.
You can use bread crumbs until you can get some proper
medicated chick starter.
You can try sending an email to me directly
townsend@pineland.net
and perhaps I could reply--or at least try to reply.
Computers and internet connections are very contrary.
Put "POULTRY" subject line to avoid getting lost in spam.


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[> [> [> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- hannah, 13:18:51 10/03/11 Mon [1]

unfortunately the chick was dead when i woke up this morning, not too sure why as it was eating and drinking fine up until then, but hopefully it wasnt in too much pain :(
but thank you so much for your advice it was very kind of you x


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[> [> [> [> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- D C T--friendly poultry orthopedist, 21:28:50 10/03/11 Mon [1]

Hannah,
You are welcome. I exist to serve my Creator by helping His
most helpless creatures.
Your chick was blessed by belonging to someone who did her
best to seek care for it.
Perhaps it had an infection or the hen that layed the
hatching egg needed more vitamins. Some chicks are just
not able to live even with the best of care


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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Chick born unable to stand -- D C T - SPAM FIGHTER, 15:02:30 01/03/12 Tue [1]

this post was placed for purpose of bringing this topic
to the top in order to
BURY SPAM FROM "ONLINE DIPLOMA"


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