Splayed Leg Problem

[Jackie C]

My parrotlets only had one egg hatch out of a clutch of 6 eggs, and this one baby has splayed legs. I discovered the problem when baby was 10 days old, and I removed him from the box and put him in a splint made from a cosmetic sponge. It's due to come off tomorrow, but this morning he worked one of his little legs out, so I removed the sponge and was going to fix another one, but nearly a week in the sponge seems to have done no good at all. He lays on his belly with his legs stuck out to each side. I'm taking him to the vet on Monday, but I wonder if I should just leave him out of the sponge for now. He looks so much more comfortable. He obviously has plenty of strength in his legs if he can fight his way out of the sponge, and I hope it can be fixed.

[Joel]

Jackie.......I assume this vet (hopefully an A.V.) has successful experience in correcting splayed legs? I would ask that question if ya haven't already that is & if he/she does not, I would call around and try to find one that does..... I think even two days out of corrective measures is not a good idea (they develop so fast at that age IME), so if he is working his way out of the sponge I would suggest trying something else in the meantime till Monday - if ya can't for sure get in to your vet today. I was successful with a Pilsner glass once or ya could maybe use a funnel or something similar if no one else on here has a better idea?

[CrazyBirdLady]

First of all, have you turned the chick over onto it's back in your hand to see if the legs kick straight up in the air? At 10-20 days old, the bodies are big and heavy and the legs don't support the weight yet, so they do stick out to the side and many people have thought that this is splayed legs.
It can take several weeks to repair splayed legs, depending upon how sever and sometimes it just doesn't work.

[Jackie C]

I replied to this earlier today but I don't see my response so I'm going to reply again. Forgive me if two replies show up. Thanks to both of you for responding - you've been a big help.

Joel - I went to Wal Mart and found something I think will do. I have an excellent avian vet. I was told that there is an avian vet on call at the emergency animal hospital, but I really want to see my own vet and I'll use my little cup over the weekend.

CrazyBirdLady - I turned him upside down, and strangely enough it seems that only one leg is splayed. The other seems perfectly straight. Maybe he's holding the other leg out for balance or something.