The Poultry Keeper

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

HI, I have had my First Brahma chick hatch 8.30am today, it seems very slow compered to other chicks I have hatched it is Nealy 11 hrs old and is like a beached whale, it does not cheep very much just sleeps legs splayed,it does move around the rest part of the incubator pushing with its legs and it,s wings a little. Are Brahma,s slow because of their size? or just a lazy chick? Or is something wrong with it?
The other 2 eggs have not hatched and don't look like they will.

NannyP · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject:

This is just a thought, whilst others may have better ideas.
She may have something called spraddle leg. What you need to do is make a soft spilnt for both legs, maybe a cut down cotton bud or something similar and then tape these to her legs and then bring the legs together to a more normal position and tape again to hold them there. Hopefully this will help and after a couple of days, you can remove the splints and see how she does.
Mojo hopefully (or Deb and Knobby) will come and say more.
HTH Confused

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Bring me into this will ya. Wink

Is she/he dry enough to go into the brooder yet? If so, put a towel or something non-slippery on the floor of the brooder. See if that will help without any other intervention. If not, I suggest doing as Nanny P said....soft string, not tied too tight. Leave on for two days, then check....if not ready yet, put it back on.

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

yes she is dry, I have 4 other chicks that hatched yesterday in it (3 Wyandottes and1 dutch bantam)normally I would move her in there but really don't want to with her been as she is, she has some none slip shelf stuff and the bottom so she is comfortable and safe, Bri is out with the chickens when he comes in I will do her legs with him

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

The other 4 chicks are in the brooder Rolling Eyes

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

sorry to hear of your problem with the brahma chick. Sorry I can't add anything to what everyone else has suggested. Maybe it's a combination of spraddle legs and extra weight. Hope you get it sorted out.

Aussie Chick · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:51 am Post subject:

Could you post a Picture for these Cleaver peeps to see. Maybe that will also help.

NannyP · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:12 am Post subject:

Courtesy of Feathersite

Just thought you might want to see this photo, not quite the same, but it is often used to resolve issues early on, whilst their bones are still soft and malleable Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 8:50 am Post subject:

this site has goog pics and instructions on how to tape the legs Laughing

http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

thanks everyone, web site was a great help chick is doing a lot better now now, will post some pics in a while, bri is working on comp at the moment, have set up a brooder box on her own, I am hoping to move her in the the rest of the the chicks Very Happy

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Good news! I am thrilled that you were able to save her/him. Wink

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a118/skyegirl1/CHICK2.jpg[img]

She's doing really well, walking upright with her band aids. Thanks for all your help.[/img]

debcat · Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 11:32 pm Post subject:

great pic

that's one big chick Shocked

I'd nearly forgotten they came that big (the last lot were pekins)
try taking it off after 2 - 3 days and if her legs aren't right put another plaster on, my last one took 10 days

skye girl · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Posts: 638 Location: Isle of skye

Still learning with loading the pics, my second one didn't come up on my last message, so here hopefully it is !

Knobby · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 7:46 am Post subject:

Cute Chick !!!
My first ever egg to hatch contained a chick with spraddle legs Sad

I was a complete novice and was desperatly searching the net for tips on what to do, thought I may have to cull her as I realy didnt think the "plaster" method would work, but after 2 days of her looking like a "kidnap victim" she was fine !!!

Well done for your hard work & perseverence !!! Very Happy