opinions and advice needed

[pal0m1n0]

I have real concerns about this chick. I think it may have splayed legs. It can't seem to get its feet under itself to stand up. The 2 day younger chick can stand. The older one seems to have to scoot and use its wings for balance. At least there is a lot of scrabbling and then it can seem to get up for about a second.

If it is splayed how long can I put off going to the vet. I ask only because I am concerned about making the trip at the most opportune time for the family. How do I get the chick to the vet? Should I just take the whole family in the nest box in a cage? Or do I wait and just take the chick and hope mom will be fine when it gets home?

http://www.talkbudgies.com/imagehosting/2444540f47e7cc45.jpg

There are other pictures under this thread

http://talkbudgies.com/showthread.php?t=3151

[BUUZBEE]

if you think its splay, get to the vet. I know if you wait too long it cant be fixed.

here is a link, i hope it helps xx

http://www.cagenbird.com/splayed_leg.htm

[Bea]

I was going to suggest avian vet too. I'm not sure that it's splay legs but at that age he should be holding himself up better.

[pal0m1n0]

I looked at the link and the info is interesting. I will try to take it to the vet, but I would like suggestions on the best way to transport the chick to the vets.

[Bea]

A small cardboard box with some of whatever nesting material you're using. He's fluffy enough to stay warm for a vet visit. Let the vet know it's just a baby.

[pal0m1n0]

So I can just leave everyone else at home at there should be no problem putting the chick back in afterwards?

[Bea]

That should be ok. :)

[pal0m1n0]

I booked an appointment, it is 10:30 tomorrow. Vet said to just bring chick and put it in a container which is set in a container with warm water in it. Plus wrapping the whole thing in a towel or similar and having soft warm stuff in the container with the chick. I hope tomorrow is a nice warm day, but I doubt it will be. :(

Buuzbee, one of the things the site mentioned was making sure the chick was not on a slippery surface. I realized the back side of a mouse pad should work. So I took the chick out and put it on the surface to see how it did. It could get its legs under but it really seemed to have trouble lifting its body. I hope the vet can do something for it. I wonder if Budgie would tolerate having a rubber mat put on the bottom of the nest. Come to think of it, I have some nice bumpy shelf liner from Ikea.

[BUUZBEE]

good thinking palomino. i hope the vet visit is helpfull and you guys can get the little one fixed up. i will be anticipating your post tomorrow
xxx

[pal0m1n0]

As I was taking Chiclet to the vet I was starting to think that I was worried for nothing, he/she seemed stronger and had no trouble standing up in the contraption I made for transporting it. (Which worked very well by the way. It is actually continuing to get warmer and is now a nice toasty 35 Celcius and this 1 1/2 hours later.)

Vet says Chiclet is fine no splayed legs and is doing quite well. He said he/she has a good strong grip but is fairly heavy so he showed me how to exercise the legs, physiotherapy which I should do for about a minute a few times a day. :) I will also try to get Budgie to accept a nest box bottom with a little more traction.

The vet said that splayed legs would have to have been picked up by day 10 but it would have been fairly obvious.

The chicks are starting to look out of the nest box. It looks so cute with the little heads peering out. :)

[huskymom]

glad everything went fine..........pics are a MUST!!! :)

[BUUZBEE]

glad to hear its not splayed legs. what did you have on the bottom of the box before? so if it were splayed legs, they have to be fixed within 10 days? i will have to add that to my forum if so
xx

[pal0m1n0]

That was what the vet said, and he is a board certified avian vet I believe. Not many of them around. I have the wooden nest box with nothing on the bottom.

[BUUZBEE]

thanks palomino, i am going to make a note of that for myself!

[Bea]

If you just put some nesting material - wood shavings from the pet shop is what i use - that should make it more grippy and also easier to keep clean. :)

[pal0m1n0]

I put some carefresh on the bottom of the nest box and Budgie just started removing it.

[Bea]

Was this before or after the chicks hatched?

[pal0m1n0]

After. One of the chicks got out of the nestbox this morning. I don't know which one. My husband put it back in the nest box and he doesn't know.

[Budgiekin]

I'm so relieved to hear that your little chick doesn't have splayed legs! It sounds like the little guy will be ok then? Good luck with your little ones! I bet it's exciting to see them grow up and to watch the parents look after them! ;)