Emu with leg problem!

[Papaw-John]

I have an Emu that is about 4 weeks old. When he was hatched he was splay legged, because I did not have bedding in the brooder it could grip. I corrected it after a few days, but the damage was done. I shackled his legs together at the ankle with a rubberband and two band-aids. It worked because the next day it was walking upright, though clumsily. I thought everything was fine, but it is not. I noticed yesterday that the birds left leg is turned out MORE than 90 degree. I am going to try to make braces holding the knee joints and ankles together the same distance apart, but not sure I can pull it off.
Has anybody had this problem? If so, were you able to correct it?
I am going to try my best, but I doubt it can survive as it grows so fast.

 

[briefvisit]

The past posts of this site contain many discussions of treatments/attempted treatments of splay leg. But an emu is all about its legs. The prognosis is poor.

Good luck.

Supreme Emu

 

[Papaw-John]

That is what I was afraid of. I will try to do my best, but it does not look good. In the wild it probably would have already died. It figures, that out of the three the one I named (Big Bird) would be the one that may not make it.

 

[briefvisit]

I have long felt like I'm the cruel one on this thread. But people's love for their birds sometimes over-rides the well-being of the birds. A flying bird with a bad leg? Perhaps. But a flightless bird?

 

[drumstick diva]

So sorry

 

[West ky tim]

We lost a beautiful chick, ms tally, recently for the same reason. ( splay legs). Hard to see happen but overcoming this is basically impossible. It actually affects both legs while you only see the one that appears injured. This is because the bird will try to balance itself on one, twisting its body around or, uses its weight to try to stand in a modified “A” shape only pushing its hips and elbows further out of alignment. We tried, sought out a ratite vet in a neighboring state, no solution. We tried repeatedly. My daughter, whom is a certified medical professional herself makes braces, casts and some prostetic devices to treat humans during their physical therapy with her. We could never develop anything to change the eventual outcome. Sorry.