paraplegic longtail fledging

[Shark]

Occasionally you get the odd fledgling that has a handicap, I have a longtail fledged a few days back seems it cant use it's legs at all. It flys across the ground a bit like a hovercraft, will know more as it gets older seems very fit besides this and has 3 normal siblings all hardly fly yet due to fledging a bit early.

[MadHatter]

Have you examined it carefully? They sometimes get tangled up in nesting material which can have a similar result. Not saying this is definitely what's happening. Physical deformities and neurological conditions do occurr.

[Shark]

i examined it more closely, it's legs seemed hyperextended or perhaps dislocated at the thigh. The 4 of them fledged early so they were all huddled on the floor, when the other 3 normal young flew to perches the unfortunate cripple died.

[natamambo]

I've seen that before in Budgies (in fact my mate has one that he "rescued" from his sister and in a small cage it has lived until adulthood climbing everywhere largely with it's beak). Best the poor little feller died though I reckon, sad as it is when that happens.

In budgies it's thought to be hereditary so keep an eye on that pair and see if it crops up again.

[Tiaris]

Sounds like Ricketts to me.

[monotwine]

Is that not similar to splayed legs that young can develp while in the nest. Never had any of my birds display it myself.

[Tiaris]

Their feet are usually turned inwards and both legs are as if paralysed. Just drag them around the floor as per description in start of post.