Spraddle leg

Spraddle leg, also called splayed leg, is a condition in poultry in which the legs of newly born chicks are splayed laterally, meaning that they are unable to bear weight.

Causes

The cause has been attributed to a range of factors, although a slippery floor surface is most commonly implicated.^[1][2]

Treatment

chick with spraddle legs with elastic shackles and five days later

Management focuses on the use of supports (or shackles) to bring the legs back towards the midline.^[1]

See also

• Chicken