Dark Roll
7 posts
Aug 29, 2006
4:04 PM
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I've got a 17 day old squeeker in the nest that's become straddle legged(right leg).
Is there anything I can do to straighten the leg out?
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STARFIRE
52 posts
Aug 29, 2006
6:08 PM
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Hi Dark;
Put two bands on the legs and tie them together.Leave them till you see him standing and trying to hobble around.If the leg is splayed at the hip you have to tie the leg above the foot-band.Sometimes it works and sometimes not.Depends on how soon you tie them up.Leave about one inch between the legs,when you tie them.
Stan Arnold
STARFIRE
Last Edited by STARFIRE on Aug 29, 2006 6:10 PM
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Alohazona
181 posts
Aug 29, 2006
8:09 PM
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Sounds like its alittle oout of the window for fixing the leg.If you see something developing like that in the future,put some 1/4 by 1/4 inch hardware cloth/screen in the floor of the nest,it will keep their legs from slipping out from under themselves.Aloha,Todd
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Santandercol
283 posts
Aug 29, 2006
9:04 PM
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Stan,
Good instructions!
Todd,
You'd be surprised how they mend themselves!One of my youngbirds landed hard in a tree during a hawk attack and came in with it's leg totally limp and looks like a hip break,but with a simple splint on ot for two weeks and another week of R&R,whalla!!Walking and flipping in the air like nothing happened!
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Kelly
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Alohazona
183 posts
Aug 30, 2006
12:04 AM
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Kelly,I agree with you legs will heal quick,right around 2 1/2 weeks,especially fractures.What happens with spraddle leg youngsters,as they gain weight and the leg continues to oar out, the young pliable hip gets deformed and the muscling around the hock joint becomes engrained.So it takes a great deal of pressure, or set to reverse the deforming leg.If caught in time it is possible for the leg to position back with the double band or screen nest floor method,so it does work.Before I posted I looked at the legs of some of my roller squeaks the same age, which had been banded for about 6 days,the legs were pretty well developed.The last time I did the double band thing,it was caught alittle late and the oared out leg put so much pressure on the good leg ,it cut the circulation and killed the foot.My recipe for a good nest is a wreath of timothy grass set around the nest as walls,sanitized sand covers the nest floor,1/4 by 1/4 inch screen shimmyed into the thin layer of sand,then a layer of cedar shavings to finish the nest floor[which eventually gets kicked out].Even single hatches do great with this set-up.Main thing no spraddle legs.Aloha,Todd
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Velo99
601 posts
Aug 30, 2006
4:44 AM
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Guys
Prevention is the key to this problem which usually occurs with a single chick.
I use the felt pad that goes under a laminate wood floor. It has a vapor barrier that is stuck to the back. I lay a nest bowl on it and trace around. Cut it out,peel the backer off and stick it to to bowl. I had one earlier this season when he hatched before I got it in.Within a week he was g2g. The chick was only 8-9 days.
This works well with pairs who don`t build well too.
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If they don`t kit,they don`t score.
Color don`t roll and peds don`t fly.
It`s a comp thing,understand?
V99
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katyroller
50 posts
Aug 31, 2006
6:39 PM
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Dark Roll, as many have already stated the spraddle leg issue is usually caused by a lack of nesting material or too much room in the nest bowl, especially with single squeeks. If I get a single squeek I try to find another single squeek the same age and put the two together with the better feeding parents. I also check the nests daily and if they look a little bare I add more nest material. Some pairs are crappy nest builders. The rubber band method works but the key is to catch the problem as early as possible. Give the band a try for the hell of it and let us know how it goes.
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Dark Roll
8 posts
Sep 01, 2006
2:51 PM
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Hello Stan,
I tried putting 2 bands on the bird's legs and tieing them together. After waiting awhile,
cut the string off and the leg that was sticking out, straightened itself off.
From now on, I think I'll try V99's method of putting a felt pad on the bottom of the bowl if I get single babies in the nest.
Thanks for all the help & suggestions.
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bman
47 posts
Sep 01, 2006
4:17 PM
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I put a 1/2" to 1" of play sand in the bottom of the nest bowl.Never have any problems with the youngsters even when the parents don't use any nesting material.Something to try.
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Ron
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squeeker
5 posts
Sep 17, 2006
10:18 AM
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Is this different than when just the feet roll out on themselves? I just discovered this problem in both 2 week olds in disposable (Foys) nestbowl. The outside toes on both feet are rolling under the bird when it stands. The legs in general look well aligned. The smaller of the 2 is the worst, with calluses built up just under the "knee" joint. I have nothing better to do than try and fix this problem and definately avoid it in the future. In the mean time I will tie the legs as suggested and watch this post. ??? How long? a few days?
Thanks in Advance Guys, Squeek
(24 hours Later)
OK, since the response here seems to be underwhelming, this is what I did. The legs did seem to be twisting out slightly. I wrapped medical tape around all 3 front toes spread out appropriately. This is holding the toes where they should be and has formed @ a 1' square "paddle" of toes and tape. It is stiff enough so as to hold the foot in the correct position. They are both walking more normally. They are definately well fed and their own weight should straighten that twist and toe curl. We shall see. Like I said,,, nothing better to do.
Last Edited by squeeker on Sep 18, 2006 11:42 AM
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C.J.
640 posts
Sep 20, 2006
4:28 AM
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I agree that prevention is the main thing. I have had one straddle leg young show up in all pf my time of raising. Good luck.
C.J.
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