Baby Chick deformities

[2cool4school]

Hello everyone my familiy has just ordered 40 female rhode island reds and we received 42 (all chicks.) Here's my problem, 1 died about 2 or 3 days after and when I look it up online they said this is most likely the breeders fault (understandable.) However, I noticed on day 2 that one of them seemed to have a straddle leg, after keeping the rubber band on the chick for about 4days I took it off and noticed that the bone below the hock is curved so the foot is not facing the ground but facing inward. I read that this could be a lack of cartilege so we just bought choline supplements for their water. I've also noticed that this chick is one of the smallest of our flock. Is this because the breeders gave us older chicks mixed in with day old chicks, or because she is not getting enough nutrients? For reference we PICKED them up from the location on wednesday (this is being posted on Monday 10/31/2022 9:58 pm. I'm really trying to keep this one alive but I don't know if I should exhaust myself trying to save something that cannot be saved. (Sorry for the bad photo and if there's any grammar mistakes I just need to get this out here ASAP.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC

The chick in the photo looks to have a leg bone deformity.
Look up Valgus Varus and/or Rotated Tibia in poultry.

Usually, a deformity like this cannot be corrected. A chick may learn to adapt and thrive.
There's also a possibility that as she gets older and heavier, her "good" leg will no longer be able to support her.


https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broken-leg-injury-healed-crooked.1484601/#post-24745674
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baby-needs-help.1535632/#post-25902361
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ossibly-dislocated-leg.1477036/#post-24610106

 

[raingarden]

Do yourself a favor and euthanize it now. It will be nothing but worry and trouble whether it dies soon or lives a long and miserable life.

 

[2cool4school]

@wyorp

Welcome To BYC

The chick in the photo looks to have a leg bone deformity.
Look up Valgus Varus and/or Rotated Tibia in poultry.

Usually, a deformity like this cannot be corrected. A chick may learn to adapt and thrive.
There's also a possibility that as she gets older and heavier, her "good" leg will no longer be able to support her.


https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broken-leg-injury-healed-crooked.1484601/#post-24745674
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/baby-needs-help.1535632/#post-25902361
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ossibly-dislocated-leg.1477036/#post-24610106

I did read somewhere that her "good" leg would or could no longer be able to support her. However, she's not going to be for consumption as we mainly got them for egg production. does this still apply to a layer? I only ask because I see a lot of cornish cross or cornish breeds get leg problems because they are so overweight from overeating.

 

[2cool4school]

Do yourself a favor and euthanize it now. It will be nothing but worry and trouble whether it dies soon or lives a long and miserable life.

How would I go about euthanizing it? Do I take it to a vet? I've been trying to nurse it back to health so I don't know if I've been doing it a disfavor.

 

[SueT]

One way to euthanize is to use ether. Here is a thorough article.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-sick-babies.72140/?page=3#ams-comment-521104

 

[Aunt Angus]

@wyorp

I did read somewhere that her "good" leg would or could no longer be able to support her. However, she's not going to be for consumption as we mainly got them for egg production. does this still apply to a layer? I only ask because I see a lot of cornish cross or cornish breeds get leg problems because they are so overweight from overeating.

It can still happen for layers. Some birds do fine, some don't. It will likely require some special care or at the very least some accommodations. There are stories on BYC of chickens who do just fine with wonky legs. There are also stories of chickens who need to be put down because of quality of life issues. It's up to you what to do. But a chicken with a leg deformity will likely be more of a pet than not.

I have a 4 month old Polish who is doing fine with a similar deformity. She's a small breed, which I think helps. She is not with my main flock, either, though I've read of a few birds who do fine.

 

[2cool4school]

It can still happen for layers. Some birds do fine, some don't. It will likely require some special care or at the very least some accommodations. There are stories on BYC of chickens who do just fine with wonky legs. There are also stories of chickens who need to be put down because of quality of life issues. It's up to you what to do. But a chicken with a leg deformity will likely be more of a pet than not.

I have a 4 month old Polish who is doing fine with a similar deformity. She's a small breed, which I think helps. She is not with my main flock, either, though I've read of a few birds who do fine.

Yes you also bring out a good point of it becoming a pet. I did consider this and I've actually been making sure it's been eating foot and drinking water and I can tell that it's growing. However, the other chicks are starting to notice her deformed/injured hock and starting pecking at it. I also noticed some kind of crusty substance on the affected hock. Maybe it's an infection? It looks like dried pus which I tried to wash off but it was stuck on there.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Yes you also bring out a good point of it becoming a pet. I did consider this and I've actually been making sure it's been eating foot and drinking water and I can tell that it's growing. However, the other chicks are starting to notice her deformed/injured hock and starting pecking at it. I also noticed some kind of crusty substance on the affected hock. Maybe it's an infection? It looks like dried pus which I tried to wash off but it was stuck on there.

Does the hock feel hot? My girl's hock is very large due to calcification, but it's not warm or infected. It has developed a callus, too, from her walking on it. Maybe that's what you're seeing?

I have no idea how "bad" your chick's deformity is. I find my Twiggy's condition quite manageable. I have meloxicam for her if her hock joint is looking red or particularly swollen, and I do give her turmeric to help with inflammation. She's as happy as ever and doesn't know she's compromised.

It's 100% your call what to do, and no one here will fault you for your decision. I just thought that you should know there are alternatives to culling depending on what you feel is best.

 

[2cool4school]

Does the hock feel hot? My girl's hock is very large due to calcification, but it's not warm or infected. It has developed a callus, too, from her walking on it. Maybe that's what you're seeing?

I have no idea how "bad" your chick's deformity is. I find my Twiggy's condition quite manageable. I have meloxicam for her if her hock joint is looking red or particularly swollen, and I do give her turmeric to help with inflammation. She's as happy as ever and doesn't know she's compromised.

It's 100% your call what to do, and no one here will fault you for your decision. I just thought that you should know there are alternatives to culling depending on what you feel is best.

I only thought about culling this one because this is my 1st time owning chicks. Please don't take this the wrong way but I'm trying to save the culling option for last after I've tried all the home remedies I've found. I think she's doing fine except for agressive chicks pecking at her foot. Otherwise I think she may be a little malnourished as she's one of the smaller chicks.