Correcting splayed legs
3 06 2007
We hatched 11 Scots Grey chicks on Thursday and Friday, but one had seriously splayed legs that meant it couldn’t move about to reach the chick crumbs and water. The solution was to use soft yarn hobbles to pull its legs together while still allowing it enough freedom to walk. Within an hour of putting the hobbles on, the chick had worked out that it could walk and was away.
As this chick had seriously splayed legs at both the hips and knees two sets of hobbles were needed. The first, above the knee, allow almost no sideways movement and keep its upper legs at their correct spacing. The second set of hobbles, just above the feet, have more play so the chick can walk while still preventing the legs from going sideways. Usually only the lower set of hobbles is needed. When using hobbles, it’s important to use soft yarn (or folded surgical tape if you know what you’re doing), to not use slip knots and to check the hobbles at least twice a day to ensure they’re not cutting into the legs. The splayed legs should have corrected within three or four days, after which the hobbles can be removed.
Little chick looks cool in his red wool, it reminds me of the way they treat children with “clicky hips” with plaster and a little bar between the knees. Hope the little one gets better soon.
Thanks for this information. I have only ever had one guinea fowl keet get splayed legs and it didn’t survive. But this is great information to know so thanks.
Sara from farmingfriends in Yorkshire
The wool came off after three days, leaving the chick completely healed. He (or she) is now rocketing aroound with the rest of the gang.
I am a knitter, and I cannot think of a better use for a scrap of red wool. Who knew?
Congrats to the recent graduate.
I just found your blog through Down Shift Me. Best of luck to all and I will follow your blog with interest!
Yaaaay go chicky! I’ll have to remember that trick when we get chickens again.
Fantastic! I’ve just hatched 8 keets from a dozen eggs (one died shortly after hatching and two eggs didn’t make it…). Two of the keets have seriously splayed legs and I thought I was going to have to ‘dispatch’ them. Immediately on binding their legs into a non-splayed position, they were up and practically running! What a great idea - I wasn’t looking forward to the alternative…
I’d like to say a HUGE thank you for this article Stoney - we hatched a couple of ducklings while David was away down south picking up a new car for me…. and they both had splayed legs… I followed your instructions and they are both just fine now. THANKS :-))
I’m pleased to see that people are managing to save chicks in this way. It’s such a waste to cull animals that can be saved with such minimal, low-cost methods.
thanks so much and especially for the photo. I’d tied wool around the top half of the legs but the bottom half were still going sideways. I’ve just now made the little wool hobbles for down lower. I’m very grateful to have seen your site.
kate
Great info
I thought there was some type of excercise that would help splay legs. Nice to see it does work 
Hi,
I have a day old chick. I have tried to sort the splay leg but not hopeful. The Chick is top heavy and sort of swims instead of walking along the ground. Help
It takes three to four days to correct splayed legs. If the problem persists, then you should cull the chick.
oh thanks got into a bit of a panic over splayed legs then found your info hatched thirty eggs 2 got splayed legs gonna fettle em now thanx again and kindest regards LYNDON in sunny burnley ,lancashire
Good luck with them and hopefully the hobbles will work. I find they do most of the time.