The best treatment, is, of course to prevent it in the first place. Some things that will help with this are providing good footing in the incubator and brooder. Grippy shelf liner works well for this. Paper towels with a lot of texture may work as well. Avoid newspaper, smooth paper towels, or other smooth surface that the chicks may slip on.
Sometimes, however, you will get a chick that hatches with splay leg. The earlier it is caught, the better your chance of successful treatment. If the treatment is going to be successful, you will see improvement within hours to a day. Treatment shouldn't take more than two days at the longest. If you do not see improvement, you may be faced with the hard decision to cull.
There are two common methods for treating splay leg.
1 - Glass treatment
If the splay leg isn't too bad, the glass method may be enough. Find a glass with just enough space in the bottom for the chick to stand upright. You will want to put something on the bottom that the chick can use for purchase. I used a piece of grippy shelf liner in this case. You may use other materials such as shavings, tissue, etc. You just want to make sure that the chick's feet aren't slipping.
Make sure to let the chick have breaks from the glass so it can eat and drink. If you leave it in the brooder in the glass, check on it frequently because it may overheat or chill easily.
2 - Hobble treatment
This section is from @Charlie Wooster - All I contributed here are my writing skills. Thank you for the pictures and how to!
If the splay leg is more severe, you can make hobbles. This treatment has the advantage of allowing the chick to run loose in the brooder with its hatchmates and can eat and drink as needed.
You will need:
⦁ Two XS size poultry leg bands
⦁ One small hair tie
Loop the hair tie around the first legband. The easiest way is to use a lark's head knot.
If you're not sure how to do a lark's head knot, here is a basic tutorial.
Repeat with the other leg band, though you will need to loop the attached leg band through to make the lark's head knot.
Next, gently hold the chick and stretch the leg band so it will fit over the chick's foot. It should und up above the chick's ankle.
Repeat to get the leg band onto the other leg.
Your chick should be able to walk and this will keep its legs under it in the proper position.
Make sure to check on your chick frequently to make sure that the bands are staying where they should and don't get wrapped up in anything.
Take the bands off after 24 hours and see how the chick is doing. At this point you should see significant improvement. If needed, you can put them back on for another 24 hours.
Sometimes, however, you will get a chick that hatches with splay leg. The earlier it is caught, the better your chance of successful treatment. If the treatment is going to be successful, you will see improvement within hours to a day. Treatment shouldn't take more than two days at the longest. If you do not see improvement, you may be faced with the hard decision to cull.
There are two common methods for treating splay leg.
1 - Glass treatment
If the splay leg isn't too bad, the glass method may be enough. Find a glass with just enough space in the bottom for the chick to stand upright. You will want to put something on the bottom that the chick can use for purchase. I used a piece of grippy shelf liner in this case. You may use other materials such as shavings, tissue, etc. You just want to make sure that the chick's feet aren't slipping.
Make sure to let the chick have breaks from the glass so it can eat and drink. If you leave it in the brooder in the glass, check on it frequently because it may overheat or chill easily.
2 - Hobble treatment
This section is from @Charlie Wooster - All I contributed here are my writing skills. Thank you for the pictures and how to!
If the splay leg is more severe, you can make hobbles. This treatment has the advantage of allowing the chick to run loose in the brooder with its hatchmates and can eat and drink as needed.
You will need:
⦁ Two XS size poultry leg bands
⦁ One small hair tie
Loop the hair tie around the first legband. The easiest way is to use a lark's head knot.
If you're not sure how to do a lark's head knot, here is a basic tutorial.
Repeat with the other leg band, though you will need to loop the attached leg band through to make the lark's head knot.
Next, gently hold the chick and stretch the leg band so it will fit over the chick's foot. It should und up above the chick's ankle.
Repeat to get the leg band onto the other leg.
Your chick should be able to walk and this will keep its legs under it in the proper position.
Make sure to check on your chick frequently to make sure that the bands are staying where they should and don't get wrapped up in anything.
Take the bands off after 24 hours and see how the chick is doing. At this point you should see significant improvement. If needed, you can put them back on for another 24 hours.
