Most at risk: young and growing birds, diseased adults that have lost weight Result: poor development unsteady gait soft bones and lameness (vitamin D3 deficiency) curly-toe paralysis, splay legs, chicks sitting back on hocks (riboflavin deficiency) Most at risk: all birds, but especially young chicks and growing birds Result: tendons slip out of the groove at the head of the bone because the bone hasn’t formed properlyĬause: deficiency of micro-ingredients due to over-supplementing a balanced commercial feed with scraps such as rice, spaghetti, bread, garden waste or diluting pellets with wholegrains Most at risk: young chicks and growing birdsĬauses: shortage of calcium and phosphorous injury It can help egg fertility, and means the developing embryos receive the correct levels of minerals and vitamins that they need for good development. Supplement breeding hens and roosters with extra vitamins and minerals, above those normally supplied in a layer feed. ■ feed that doesn’t meet the specific needs of a bird’s age or species. ■ supplementing a nutritious feed with low-nutrient whole grains or kitchen ■ failure to feed enough of a quality, nutritionally-balanced feed, 130-160g per day per bird (depending on weight) Nutritional deficienciesĪ common cause of lameness is an improper diet, such as: ■ low humidity during hatching inside the incubator ■ holding eggs in storage too long before incubating them Limping in newly-hatched chicks may be caused by: ■ diseases, eg Marek’s disease (viral), Staphylococcal arthritis (bacterial) ■ toxins from moulds, poisonous plants, or heavy metals, eg lead ■ nutritional deficiencies, especially vitamin and minerals ■ wet litter around waterers or muddy conditions outside, causing bumblefoot.īut other, less obvious issues can cause limping, including: ■ string or thread from feed bags getting wound around a toe or leg ■ faulty or poor equipment, eg getting a leg hooked up on wire ■ children, pets or other livestock accidentally stepping on or crushing birds
■ birds jumping off high perches or nest boxes Limping can be due to a wide range of factors, such as the obvious physical causes: ■ sitting back on the hocks, unable to stand ■ twisted toe or toes curled inwards or outwards ■ splayed legs, either one to the side or one forward and one back Initial signs could be one, or more, of the following: But often, there are no obvious signs, and it can take some detective work to discover why a bird is limping. The cause of a bird’s limp may be easy to see, such as a swollen leg or an infected cut.
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