FINCHforum

Hello Fellow Canary Lovers.

Out of clutch of four, the youngest has what I would call, a terrible case of splay legs. I could sure use some feedback or advice as to how to deal with this. Is there some way of swaddling him or something like that, to train these legs back into some normal position? If I do swaddle him, can I leave him with his siblings in the nest, or do I need to pull him and hand raise him from here on?

Pictures of Gimpy and his siblings below.

~Elana~

Gimpy's siblings...

Baby 1, 2, and 3. Their legs fold nicely underneath them, but Gimpy can't seem to fold his legs at all.

~Elana~

Oh, poor baby. Is he tiny tim's brother? What is lining the nest, perhaps the bird is not getting a good grip?

Atbird

Hi Anna.

This is Tiny Tim and Pokey's little brothers/sisters, from the next clutch.

This is Luciano and Siena's second clutch.
Four babies.
The splay legged one, is the smallest of the four. I think the other three were sitting on top of him and on his legs.

When I take them out of the nest, the other three can get their legs under their bodies. Little Gimps, sort of lays on his belly and chest, with his legs sticking out, like you see in the pictures.

Poor little guy. Without correcting this somehow, I can't see him having any kind of a life .

~Elana~

lovezebs
Poor little Gimps. He certainly needs help, but I don't have any experience with this situation. Hope you'll get some good suggestions here. Lots of luck with the poor guy

You need to tie the legs together (hobble them) for splayed leg. Try doing a search on here because I'm sure there were posts with links and pictures of how to do it.
I just used string when I had a chick with splayed legs so that the chick could still use the legs and build up strength. I have read that others use tiny sponges to hold the legs together though, not sure how the chick uses the legs that way.
good luck

Here's a link that used tape on a chick:
http://www.petsadviser.com/pet-health/c ... ayed-legs/

And another article from a vet:
http://www.2ndchance.info/spraddle.htm

hobbling early is the key

Hi Elana, Ugh, these poor canary babies.... They are so ADORABLE though!!! I love the orange skin/feathers.... They look just like Pokey and Tiny Tim did!! Beautiful little pterdactyls!!! lol Good luck with the splay leg, hopefully if you can correct it now, before he is too old to try and pick it off, by the time he can pick it off, it will be corrected enought that he doesn't need it AS much. I hope it works out, i know if there's something that can be done, I know of all people you will try any and everything to help this baby bird, too bad they don't realize how lucky they are to have you!!! Good Luck!! Keep us posted. I'm keeping you and Gimpy in my thoughts an prayers, and sending my good/healthy birdie vibes to my friend to the North!!!

And this ; is you... bird issue? BRING IT ON!!!

debbie276

Thanks a lot Debbie.
I will get on it this morning.
I just know, that without some intervention, this poor baby will not be able to survive. The thought of this poor little thing, trying to survive by crawling around on his chest and belly, just makes me want to cry.


~Elana~

lnlovesorange

Thanks Ellen.

I will try to fix the legs, hopefully I can manage to get them to some normal position.

~Elana~

MiaCarter...I believe your expertise is required...

Hi All.

My poor baby, is so so crippled.
I honestly don't know if anything can fix his poor legs and twisted feet.

As I already mentioned, his legs are splayed out about as far as is possible, without being wrapped around his back.

Well that's not all.

His left leg knee joint appears to be frozen in a straight position. It's almost like it's fused and twisted backwards.
The right leg, sticks straight out sideways and backwards.
Both feet are twisted, the toes curled upon themselves.

When I try to hobble and tape his legs together, they stick straight out like stork legs, and he falls sideways, or on his face.

He is now noticeably smaller than his three siblings, but will no longer accept feedings from me. I think the parents are feeding him, but because he can't get up like the others, I think he misses meals more and more.

I'm not sure what can be done for this poor little creature. This is a heart breaking situation .

~Elana~

lovezebs
Elana I am so sorry. I wish I could give you some advice but you know much more than I when it comes to finches. Would you ever consider taking a finch to a vet? If no, I am not judging. The reality is, in nature the sick and the weak do not survive. And as much as we would like to save them all, I am not sure it is always a good thing. Although you have a few hard decisions ahead of you, I am sure you will use your best judgement and you know the forum will be behind you.

Derk

I know Mary...

Had he not survived, had the parents not fed him, then I would accept it as nature's way of dealing with things.

However, he has survived, the parents have been feeding him, and he's trying so hard to somehow manage with what nature has 'gifted' him with... sigh....

~Elana~

lovezebs
I get it. It is the same reason why I am happy to have just two fertile eggs that produce two zebra babies versus 9 fertile eggs. Because then I would have to start thinking about taking babies and giving them to other zebras, or societies, or possibly doing a little supplemental hand feeding...and then the guilt if something goes sideways etc...

Hopefully someone else will have some suggestions.