Me again.. 🤕
The same chick that has the crooked beak/cross-beak has splayed legs. I noticed about a week ago that she had little balance, but I thought it was possibly related to the beak.
Now I feel confident that it is splayed legs. I have read that I should act as quick as possible, and that she likely had them from hatching. I have seen a short video online that showed somebody had made a sling for their older chick to help it stand. I think it was tiktok or similar but I can't find it again.
I attempted a splint/legs brace but because she is older than the ones that I have found online, I don't know if I should make it above or below her 'knees'.. (A quick search says I am referring to their ankles & heels)
When I put it below her ankles, it didn't really seem to help and was more restricting, but above them and I am not sure that i had it on correctly.
I don't have a photo of the 'splint' on, but there isn't one on at the moment, because I couldn't figure out the best option.
Sorry for the long video. About 40 seconds in you can see her sliding on the floor (I removed the newspaper to help) but no matter how much bedding I put in, the others kick it away and the floor becomes slippy for her (she was never slipping before the past week).
Picture of her feet (if it helps at all?)
6 Comments
TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1d
Probably the less cruel thing is to put her down.
schmorpel@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 23h
It sometimes is, although sometimes you can do miracles on younger animals.
Someone gave me an older chicken the other week, it was clearly genetically unsound to begin with (too many toes) and couldn't walk anymore. I made it into soup quickly. It just makes more sense for everyone involved to keep a healthy and robust flock. If we humans don't get involved with that ourselves the buzzards will.
BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 10h
I've been thinking this for days. I've just kept out of the discussion, because I don't want to get OP down. But TBH it sounds like this chick is going that way already, maybe not prolonging the suffering is the most ethical choice?
I'm the biggest softie myself. I'm the one who has to save the last wonky chick in the incubator, and my wife is always after me for doing it. I have to admit these things, because otherwise I'd feel hypocritical. Culling this chick seems like the most humane thing to do.
southsamurai@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 1d
Yeah, the hobbles are supposed to go below the ankle. I've never done it, but there's plenty of instructions for it. That's the term to use to search, as a sling is a different thing afaik.
Babalugats@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 23h
Thanks.
This is similar to the sling thing that I saw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43w52xkXP4w
southsamurai@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 19h
I've seen similar slings done online. Seems like it should work as well as hobbles do, if with a bit more work on the human end, what with the extra feeding and watering needs.