Have a mix of chicks that hatched about a week ago. First time hatching and had a hatch rate of roughly 50%, so somewhat happy.

The problem is that all the chicks were fine for the first few day's. Then a couple of them were having problems with there legs, leg dragging, stiffness. The problem progressed, and now both legs are at 90 degrees to the side of their body, and the chicks are on there stomaches. Reminds me of a fiddler crab, sick sick... poor things.

Is this due to the slippery newspaper on the bottom of there box, not enough good footing friction, as the hatchery said, or is this a sickness?

I now have wood chips on the bottom and have one more chick that is showing signs. They are now one week old + - 1 day.

Update: the Third chick now has one Stiff leg, the other looks fine, but has some diffaculty moving about as the stiff leg is pointing forward and digs in to the wood chips when it walks.

Had to distroy the first two, they could not walk at all and were peeping constantly as if in pain, legs were stiff and out to there sides. The legs were stiff to move when trying to move them into their proper position.

I hope that someone can led some advice or diagnosis to this problem. I would hate to loose anymore.

Thanks,
Gregg

The newspaper could very well be the problem. The chicks need some stable flooring on which to stand. I use a wire mesh so they can grab the floor when they stand. This very early slipping could cause the legs and/or feet to not develop properly or cause some deformity.
Usually the 2nd week would be safer to use the newspaper for flooring.

The Splayleg Syndrome is possibly caused by lack of mineral in the hen who layed the egg, and was destined to happen in a very small percentage of eggs hatched. But unless you get those chicks on rough footing almost immediately, there is little you can do--it gets worse, with one leg working hard to move the poor little thing and the other sticks out straight. And as the chick grows and thebody gets heavier, the best leg just cannot push it around for food and water--other chicks soon run over it, as if to hasten its demise. Just once, got response by giving a single drop of CodLiverOil to the chick--each day for a week--completely recovered (was on layered cheesecloth in a shoe box under a gooseneck lamp). Still try this if such a chick is hatched, but only once wasit successful--(VitD-for bones). All other attempts to strap the leg in normal position with all kind of gentle means has failed. Some people have been successful with this. But the rough footing is best--and I always put my chicks on soft embossed paper towelling for their first week--just in case. As soon as they are up and running, they are safe tor newspaper--but I don't even use that (small hatches) until 3 or 4 weeks. Baby chicks can be a challenge--and such pleasure. This year, I did have 2 splaylegged chicks--from the same old hen-only 2 others of hers hatched and are fine. And I had NO pasty bottoms, NO crooked toes, at 9-10 weeks, consider them the best yet! (50 chicks).

Thank you both for your comments on my chick’s problem. I do see where being so young that the footing may hamper the correct growth, so now will put wood chips down for them.

There is still one chick with one of it's legs stiff and is pointing forward. I will have to pick up some cod liver oil to give that a shot. It really is a pitiful site seeing them like that, and really hated to put them out. Wish now that I had tried this message board sooner and that the cod liver oil does do the one chick good.

Have 10 more eggs going now, and will have the woodchip's or the cheesecloth and some cod liver oil on hand.

I also tried to help them out with a rubber band just above their knee joint. This held there legs together and they were able to walk. The rubber band was kept on for a few days, but when we put them in there own box with screen on the floor, the legs went back out to the sides when the bands were removed. Thinking that I may have waited too long before trying the rubber band. Figured it was worth a try, also tried to think of other ways, but they were just getting to bad.

Again, thanks much for your input.
Gregg

Update on another chick with splayleg. I followed the advice of the cod liver oil and it has saved the chick.

It is now running around like the others with no signs of leg problems at all.

This chick also was found floating in the waterer and would have to say that it was pretty well gone. I held it upside down and sort of shook with a whipping motion getting the head at the end of the arc, to cause the water in it's lungs to fling out. After a few trys of this, and a few pumping on the chest it started moving again and alot of slimy water started comming out of it's mouth. Happy to say that the hair dryer got it warm and dry again, and after a few day's it was back running around like the other's.

We have decided to call this bird Lucky. Or should that be CAT's name?

Thanks for the cod liver oil suggestion.

Gregg