How is Spraddle Leg Traditionally Treated? Both of these provide a slick surface that frequently leads to leg injuries of all sorts. This will give the chicks time to figure out what and where food is.īrooder flooring to avoid includes newspaper and cardboard. Once it seems like the chicks have figured things out, I’ll remove the paper towels. I lay paper towels over it for the first few days. It is easy to clean, provides traction, it stays dry, and it absorbs heat from our brooder heater so the chicks can stay warm easier.īecause sand can cause impaction in tiny chicks, it is wise to wait for two or three days after hatching before using it. I am a huge advocate of brooding chicks and other poultry on sand bedding. Not only does it give the chicks traction when they’re running about, but it also seems to keep eggs from getting knocked all around by the early hatchers. Traction in the incubator is also a concern, so when I remove the egg turner at lockdown, I also put some Gorilla Grip Drawer and Shelf Liner on the incubator tray. Second, make sure your incubator has maintained a steady temperature for at least 48 hours before setting your eggs. I have a digital Brinsea Hovabator, but I also use an IncuTherm Plus Digital Thermometer/Hygrometer so I can compare. First, be sure your temperature and humidity gauges are accurate. Make sure you are incubating at the proper temperatures for the eggs you’re hatching. Overheated chicks that hatch will be lethargic, may appear exhausted, slow to search for feed and water, and potentially become starved within the first week of life. Chicks that are exposed to elevated incubation temperatures may have lower muscular strength to stand up when they hatch. We talk a lot about traction when it comes to preventing spraddle leg, but when it comes to preventing the condition while the chick is in the brooder, heat is the biggest thing. Read on! Preventing Splayed Legs in the Incubator It could be caused by incubation issues as well. The most common cause is a brooder floor that is too slippery and the baby chick’s legs slip, causing tendon injury in the legs. Splay leg/spraddle leg is caused by a weakness or injury in the tendons of the feet and legs. All poultry are at risk for spraddle leg. Other causes include incubator temperature issues (if a large number of chicks are affected at hatch, this is most likely the cause), vitamin deficiency, or being in a poor position in the egg. Often it occurs from brooding chicks on a slippery surface such as a newspaper. Spraddle leg, also referred to as splay leg, is a condition where a newly hatched chick’s legs “splay” out to the sides. Spraddle leg/splayed legs are a common problem in chicks that can be easily cured if caught early.
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