Fresh Eggs Daily

Hopefully you will never have to worry about a chick with spraddle leg ( also called splayed leg), but as is the case with everything else chicken-related, it's always best to be prepared ...just in case.

Spraddle Leg is a condition that a chick is either born with or develops within the first few hours of life whereby one or both legs slip out to the sides making them unable to stand or walk.

Chick having trouble walking on newspaper

Spraddle leg can occur during incubation or the hatching process if the temperature is too high or varies too much during the incubation period or if the hatch is difficult for the chick. A less common cause can be a vitamin deficiency. The more common cause is an incubator or brooder floor that is too slippery for the chick to grip, which causes the legs to slide to one side. As a result the chick's legs muscles don't develop properly because of the lack of traction.

To try and prevent this condition, a sheet of paper towel or rubber shelf liner should always be put in the incubator just before the lockdown.

Newly hatched chick gets a good grip on shelf liner

This will give the newly hatched chicks something to grip onto.

In the brooder box, newspaper alone should NEVER be used as the only floor covering. Especially when it gets wet, it is too slippery and the main cause of spraddled leg. Instead, I cover a few layers of newspaper with a sheet of shelf liner. The rubber surface, just as in the incubator, provides a nice textured surface for little feet.

A few layers of newspaper covered with shelf liner and pine shavings

I change the newspapers and shelf liner out as needed, rinsing the shelf liner off and reusing it, and after a few days, add a layer of pine shavings on top.

Spraddle leg is easily correctable, but if not addressed quickly, the chick might not be able to get to feed and water and can die.

What you need to do is hobble the chick's legs. The easiest way is to cut a thin piece of vet wrap (approximately 1/4" wide and 5" long) and loosely wrap it around each leg, connecting the ends in the middle, about an inch apart, in sort of a figure eight.

Vet wrap loosely wrapped in a figure eight

The chick's legs should be about normal shoulder-width apart when extended. If the chick can't stand up, you can make them a bit wider apart for better balance, but then bring them a bit closer together each day.

Position legs about shoulder width apart

You can wrap some First Aid Tape around the middle to keep it secured.

You will need vet wrap medical tape and scissors

Then be sure the chick has something it can easily walk on like paper towel, a bath towel or shelf liner. At first the chick will have trouble standing up, but soon will be able to get around. Ensure the chick has easy access to feed and water, but a shallow water dish with marbles or small stones in it is required so the chick doesn't fall in and drown. Also it's best to keep the chick separate from other chicks at least until she learns to stand so she won't be trampled.

At first it is helpful to support the chick and just let her try to stand and get used to having her legs underneath her. Helping her get her balance will be beneficial and hasten her recovery.

Help the chick to learn how to stand up first then walk

Unwrap the legs and check the chick's progress once or twice a day. Leave the hobble on until the chick can stand and walk on its own. This could take from a few days to a week. You should see results fairly quickly and soon your chick will be up and about.

Several days later the chick can walk unaided

Then make a solemn vow - no more chicks on newspaper !

Headshot of Lisa - Fresh Eggs Daily Farm Girl Fresh and dried herbs have amazing health and well-being benefits...and also provide a bit of aromatherapy for your chickens.

eggs
Freshly laid eggs in a nesting box full of herbs

My coop never smelled so good until I started adding an herbal blend that includes mint, basil, lemon balm, lavender and rose petals in the nesting boxes. The first time I put the herbs into the nesting baskets, one of my hens actually fell asleep after laying her egg. Now that's one relaxed hen !

grace
Buff Grace sitting in the nesting box

Fresh or dried herbs in your nesting boxes not only work as insecticides, but also have anti-bacterial properties, and can act as natural wormers, anti-parasitics, insecticides, rodent control, stress relievers and laying stimulants. They will help a laying hen feel safe and relaxed while she is sitting, and calm a broody hen, as well as repel rodents, flies and other parasites. Plus they look so pretty !

boxes
Nesting boxes filled with fresh herbs

They will also benefit newly hatched chicks. Research has shown that wild birds will line their nests with fresh herbs and flowers, especially those that contain essential oils. The newly hatched baby birds benefit by rubbing against these herbs in the first few days of life. Same applies to baby chicks. The chicks will also eat some of the herbs, thereby garnering even more health benefits from them.

Chick
Baby chick in a nesting box filled with herbs

Here is a partial list of common herbs and flowers and their beneficial properties:

Basil - antibacterial, mucus membrane health
Catnip - sedative, insecticide
Cilantro - antioxidant, fungicide, builds strong bones, high in Vitamin A for vision and Vitamin K for blood clotting
Dill - antioxidant, relaxant, respiratory health
Fennel -laying stimulant
Garlic - laying stimulant
Lavender - stress reliever, increases blood circulation, highly aromatic, insecticide
Lemon Balm - stress reliever, antibacterial, highly aromatic, rodent repellent
Marigold - laying stimulant
Marjoram - lay stimulant
Mint (all kinds) - insecticide and rodent repellent
Nasturtium - laying stimulant, antiseptic, antibiotic, insecticide, wormer
Oregano - combats coccidia, salmonella, infectious bronchitis, avian flu, blackhead and e-coli
Parsley - high in vitamins, aids in blood vessel development, laying stimulant
Peppermint - anti-parasitic, insecticide
Pineapple Sage - aids nervous system, highly aromatic
Rose Petals - highly aromatic, high in Vitamin C
Rosemary - pain relief, respiratory health, insecticide
Sage - antioxidant, anti-parasitic
Spearmint - antiseptic, insecticide, stimulates nerve, brain and blood functions
Tarragon - antioxidant
Thyme - respiratory health, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-parasitic

basket
Basket of freshly cut herbs

Toss a few handfuls of mixed cut herbs into your nesting boxes and refresh them as needed. Your chickens will benefit from them and you will enjoy how nice your coop smells.

mint
Mint and herbs in the garden

I plant various different types of herbs each spring because of their many uses. In addition to using the herbs for teas and in the nesting boxes, I also enjoy cooking with fresh herbs.

basil
Fresh basil growing in the garden

There's nothing like going out to the garden and picking a handful of fresh basil for pesto, oregano for homemade pizza or mint to garnish a slice of cheesecake.

scissors
Freshly cut herbs from the garden

Herbs are easy to grow, do well in most areas of the country and can even be grown on your kitchen windowsill in the winter.

dried
Jars full of dried herbs

I also dry excess herbs at the end of the summer to use in the nesting boxes during the winter.

I hope this has given you some ideas for raising happy, healthy hens....Happy Growing !

Watering nasturtium flowers in the garden

Spraddle Leg

Nesting Box Herbs - Chicken Aromatherapy

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