2 Crippled Hens

[PigeonLady]

I raised 4 New Hampshire Red pullets, and they have just started to lay. They are heavy birds but their legs are thick and strong, and never had any problem. About 2 weeks ago I noticed one hen seemed "pigeon-toed" - her hocks stuck out and the legs sort of turned in (see pics.) Last week I noticed another one with the same symptoms, not as bad. The first one doesn't like to move around much, and she has to use her wings to help her walk.
My friend said maybe it was calcium, so I have been giving calcium pills now for 2 days. I read about the petroleum and other types of poisoning with chickens, but I have had chickens on this spot for about 10 years, and nothing new has been done so I don't think it's anything like that. I would really appreciate any advice.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

never seen anything like this before @Wyorp Rock @casportpony @KikisGirls @Farmer Connie

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Where did you get these birds from? A breeder? The deformity looks genetic.

 

[Kiki]

Just how heavy are they? Can you weight them?
I've not seen this and I do not believe that a calcium deficiency would cause this at this age...they look full grown.

 

[PigeonLady]

They are about 5 months old. They weigh about 6.5 lb. I got them as baby pullets from Tractor Supply. Not sure which hatchery they were purchased from. As they were growing up, their legs looked normal. This is a sudden-onset thing.

If I can't cure this somehow, I will have to put them down, and I would hate to do that!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It looks like they have a leg bone deformity like Valgus Varus or similar. Usually it is from mineral/vitamin/nutritional deficiency in parent stock or genetic defect.
You can try offering poultry vitamins to see if that makes a difference, but since both have the same problem, I would lean toward it being a genetic defect. I'm sorry.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_intertarsal_joint_in_broiler_chickens

 

[Kiki]

It looks like they have a leg bone deformity like Valgus Varus or similar. Usually it is from mineral/vitamin/nutritional deficiency in parent stock or genetic defect.
You can try offering poultry vitamins to see if that makes a difference, but since both have the same problem, I would lean toward it being a genetic defect. I'm sorry.

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_intertarsal_joint_in_broiler_chickens

Would something like this just now at 5 months be showing up?

 

[Flockandfowl46]

I'm no expert by any means but those do not look like nhr they look like red rangers and that being the case they are meat birds and this is not an uncommon deformaty for them 6 lbs is high for their age

 

[Kiki]

I'm no expert by any means but those do not look like nhr they look like red rangers and that being the case they are meat birds and this is not an uncommon deformaty for them 6 lbs is high for their age

This!!!!
This is probably the right answer!

Woot.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with Wyorp Rock. It looks like varus deformity in one leg on each chicken. Leg bone deformities can affect one or both legs, and one looks to have it on the left, while the other is on the right. If both legs are affected with varus, the chicken looks bowlegged. If it were valgus deformity the legs can appear knock kneed. Leg bone deformities may look mild at first, but can worsen as the chicken grows. The hock tendons can rupture as the deformity worsens, but many chickens get around okay if that doesn’t happen.
Here is some reading:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/
Here is a picture of Cleopatra in Ciqala’s photo that has varus deformity in one leg: