10 wk old with injury- advice please

[villiams]

Hi all. Recently I got some chicks for my broody hens. They are about 10wks old now. Just before Xmas I noticed one of my young pullets looked funny on her legs. Kind of bandy. Her legs kinda would give way every so often but other than that she was fine. She seemed to improve then a couple of days ago she must have had another injury ( I'm thinking maybe she has weak legs generally) and her foot is curved and now bent backwards. She has still been ok but today my little fella let the hens out and before I knew it they were attacking her. She is ok but has bleeding wound post assault.
Tomorrow mum hen goes to another home and I would like to transfer all my 10 week old chicks into same enclosure where my injured Pullet is. My other 10wkers don't pick on her with her bad leg but I am wondering now she has a blood wound will they start to like the hens. I have a smaller enclosure I can put her in but given the horrible heat here I would rather not.
Anyone got any advice as to whether the other chicks are likely to act like the hens?
Thanks in advance
Oh and is it a thing to have chicks with weak legs- I'm assuming it's genetic or something

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They are about 10wks old now. Just before Xmas I noticed one of my young pullets looked funny on her legs. Kind of bandy. Her legs kinda would give way every so often but other than that she was fine.

couple of days ago she must have had another injury ( I'm thinking maybe she has weak legs generally) and her foot is curved and now bent backwards. She has still been ok but today my little fella let the hens out and before I knew it they were attacking her. She is ok but has bleeding wound post assault.

I have a smaller enclosure I can put her in but given the horrible heat here I would rather not.

Oh and is it a thing to have chicks with weak legs- I'm assuming it's genetic or something

I'm sorry about your chick.

You mention it's hot where you are - Australia maybe? Knowing your location is sometimes helpful.

If you can post some photos of your chick,her legs and injury that would be good. A video of her walking/moving is sometimes useful too (upload to youtube and provide a link)
What do you feed?
The foot is bent backward? Is the joint bent too?
Without seeing it, it can be hard to invision what you are talking about. A foot bent backward might be a condition/bone deformity like Valgus Varus.

As for her wound - where is it located?
Some folks use Pine Tar to cover wounds and help prevent picking, I have never used it. Blu Kote can be used on minor wounds - seems like folks are split about the effectiveness of deterring picking. I've used it and had no problems, where others found the blue attracted unwanted attention.

If she's having leg issues, then I would get some B2(Riboflavin) into her. You can use human B-Complex vitamins or if you have poultry vitamins that contain it, use those.

Look forward to photos/video and more information.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119479595

 

[villiams]

Hi yes, I am in Australia. Here are some pics of her foot. It only started to look like this a couple of days ago. But a couple of weeks ago her legs would collapse or sort of shoot out
Also of her neck would. It looks much better. I put her in with the others and have been watching them
They are just chilling together l

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some pictures of common leg bone deformities, in cluding valgus, varus, and a twisted tibia in only one leg, but those can also affect both legs.

 

[Lizzy733]

Does it present as a physical deformity, as in the bone and joint are not straight and cannot be shifted into a normal position, or does it seem more like paralysis? Give her toes a pinch on the affected side to verify if she has any feeling in them.
At that age, they are growing quickly and particularly for heavy breeds, joint issues can develop. My biggest concern would be confirming the initial lameness is due to injury or deformity and not the onset of Marek's Disease.
If she does not have any feeling in the leg and there is no obvious physical cause for the lameness, give this article a good read so you know what you 'may' be dealing with before you decide to mingle her with your other flock.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/
That being said, if you 'do' decide to merge them, be aware that pecking order behavior generally starts around 6 weeks of age. Let them meet each other on 'neutral ground' - somewhere new and interesting for both parties. As she's not likely to be able to get away from an attack on her own, monitor the situation and step in if necessary. If they are mostly ignoring her, that is a good sign and I wouldn't leave them on their own until you see them bedding down together or witness positive flocking behavior.
Obviously, you'll need to get a plan together to address her lameness long-term if it's not disease or nutrition related. If it's an option, seek out an avian or exotics vet to discuss her situation and make sure to consider her comfort and potential quality of life.

 

[villiams]

Thanks for that. Yeah she kinda looked like the middle picture before the other day when her foot twisted.

 

[Eggcessive]

The curling under of her toes on the left foot could be a riboflavin deficiency, but also can be a sign of Mareks disease, especially if limping. I would give some chicken vitamins that contain riboflavin or crush 1/2 tablet daily of vitamin B complex onto her food for a couple of weeks to see if it gets better.

 

[Lizzy733]

Thanks for that. Yeah she kinda looked like the middle picture before the other day when her foot twisted.

Can the toes be straightened at all? Or are they 'stuck' closed? Have you felt around for a slipped tendon? It would feel like a string under her skin. It 'should' stretch around the outside of her hock joint. Bending her foot at the hock should 'close' her toes and they should open naturally when it is relaxed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

a couple of weeks ago her legs would collapse or sort of shoot out
Also of her neck would.

Thanks for that. Yeah she kinda looked like the middle picture before the other day when her foot twisted.

In addition to giving the B vitamins as suggested by @Eggcessive in Post #7 I would give Vitamin E (400IU) daily since you mention the neck was involved as well.

Hopefully the vitamins will help, keep us posted.

 

[villiams]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded to my post. Appreciated.
To update on my little pullet she is fine in with the other chicks as they have been together and there is no aggression towards her at all ( yet). I have had lots of chats with my 4yrold so he knows how important it is to not let the big hens out of their run.
I haven't been able to sleep since the mention of meriks as I recently sold 5 birds and have 4-6 cockerall I was hoping to rehome soon. ..
So we are just back from a trip to the vet. The vet feels strongly that it's not meriks as only one leg is a problem and she shows no other signs of the disease.
I will keep up vitamins in her diet as per everyone's advice. ( thanks) and hopefully she will continue to be otherwise well.
Cheers, kate