How to Prevent Splay Leg

Splay leg, or spraddle leg, is a deformity that occurs in baby parrots, generally while they are still quite young. If left untreated, the deformity becomes permanent and can prevent normal perching and walking. Most cases of splay leg are caused by environmental factors such as inappropriate substrate, insufficient calcium or excess phosphorus in the diet, and overfeeding of hand-reared baby birds. Following the steps outlined in this article will prevent the majority of leg deformities in young parrots.

Things You'll Need

  • Hygrometer
  • Non-toxic wood shavings (or other appropriate substrate)
  • Commercial handfeeding formula
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Use a hygrometer to verify humidity levels in the incubator, if you artificially incubate eggs from your pairs. Make sure that eggs are hand-turned 180 degrees each day, since most incubators only rock the egg from side to side rather than turning it completely. Incorrect humidity levels and incomplete turning of eggs can cause fetal malposition, causing baby birds to hatch with splay leg.

    • 2

      Evaluate the diet of the parent birds, especially if you have had splay leg occur in baby birds that have not yet been removed from the nest for hand-rearing. This usually occurs as a result of a breeding diet that is deficient in calcium, rather than a problem with the substrate in the nest box. One common cause is adding high-protein, low-calcium foods to the diet of the breeding birds, causing their overall calcium intake to be reduced.

    • 3

      Use an appropriate substrate in the brooder or nest box. A surface or material that the baby birds cannot properly grip is the most common cause of splay leg. Common culprits include newspapers, paper towels and cloth. Fine wood shavings, shredded paper, and even rolled oats will allow the baby birds to stand properly.

    • 4

      Feed baby birds a commercial hand-feeding formula appropriate for the species you are hand-rearing. Avoid adding anything to the formula, since this can reduce the amount of calcium or increase the amount of phosphorus the birds receive from each feeding. Homemade formulas are often deficient in calcium, or have an improper calcium to phosphorus ratio, which can cause or contribute to splayed legs.

    • 5

      Avoid overfeeding baby birds, as they may gain an excessive amount of weight, preventing them from standing properly. If the birds are very heavy, they may not be able to support themselves, and they will lie on the abdomen with the legs extending to the sides. This quickly leads to splay leg.