Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 6/16/2007

Question
Hi there.  We have a budgie that was born a couple of months ago with splay legs.  We think it was because there was no nest in the box and the bottom of the box was very slippery.  What do you suggest we put in the bottom of the cage; as they have layed again.  Will the budgie survive?
Thankyou kindly
Sharon

Answer
Hi, Sharon.

The baby wasn't born with splay legs.  Splay legs develop like you say, when there is no friction on the bottom of the box/cage.  This condition can be fixed with hobbling the legs, but hobbling has to be done before the budgie is about 2 weeks old.  The budgie can survive depending on the severity of the splay leg.  If the splay leg is severe, you will likely need to customize the cage to fit the needs of this bird.

You don't need to do anything until/unless babies hatch.  Usually if there is more than 1 baby, splay leg doesn't develop as the babies can "lean" on each other.  However, I've had the most success preventing splay leg by using Rubbermaid drawer liners.  This is flexible rubber you can cut to any size and can be washed, disinfected and reused.  It also usually helps to place some pine shavings (not cedar shavings) in the bottom.  The shavings help to keep the babies dry and clean and also provides some substrate to help prevent splay leg.  Use the drawer liners with some pine shavings on top.  

If you don't want babies after this, separate your adults and/or take your female to an avian vet for a hormone shot that will stop her from laying for many months.  Allowing them to keep producing eggs isn't good for the female particularly.  Be sure there is plenty of cuttlebone available for calcium supplementation.

Chrys