2 Day old chick Foot/leg problem

[stephcraig78]

I have a 2 day old silkie/sizzle chick that seems to have something wrong with one or maybe both legs and feet. One foot is some what curled up and it holds the leg up next to its body. Haven’t seen it put weight on it or extend the leg. The other leg extends fine but it’s foot seems sort of weak like it can’t keep its toes spread and balance right. It moves around but has trouble and falls down sometimes. Any idea what this might be or what to try to help it? I have vitamin additive in water but not sure if it’s drinking much at this point. It does eat a mush of crumble and water with the vitamins in it. Was thinking maybe band aid truck on the weak toes but what about the other side?

 

[Welshies]

Usually young chicks do have to figure out how to walk. However, at 2 or 3 days they should be moving more than fine. I would pick her up and look at her legs. Check for broken bones, but be very gentle.
The balance issue would be due to moving around on one leg. If you can't see any apparent reason for her leg tucking- or if you do see a broken bone- you can splint it. Be careful, though, and immediately remove it if it's not helping by one or two weeks. I suspect it may be a fracture.
Here is a good thread on splinting: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-treat-a-broken-leg.659231/
I also suggest using a cotton ball under those toes on that second leg, IF the issue doesn't resolve when the tucked leg improves. Tape it to the bottom of the foot, gently- it might help spread those toes. You don't want to tape the toes together, or leave them immobile (ie, using a band-aid), but instead provide soft, comfortable support while still allowing mobility (blood flow), and individual toe movement. Do this only if the problem doesn't improve, the tucked leg is more important.
Be aware that when the chicken is older- IF it is a fracture and IF you do solve the problem, splint or otherwise- it may have a limp, but should be healthy! Good luck.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

So go to my article about fixing splayed or straddle leg it will tell you everything look that up in the thing that looks like a magnifying glass ( fixing splayed or straddle leg on chicks)

 

[stephcraig78]

Ok I will search for it. Thanks for the tip I wouldn’t have thought of a fracture but it does seem somewhat swollen in the thigh area. I was just out watching them eat and it manages to move around but yeah the drawn up leg throws it off and it kind of crawls more than walk. Gonna do more reading and then try checking for fracture.

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is not drinking the vitamin water, dip it’s beak frequently, or give drops of Poultry Cell or PolyVisol baby vitamins (No Iron.) Google chicken slings and chairs which can be useful to get them upright and in front of food and water. It’s possible that there is a leg bone deformity or a slipped tendon, but if not, it may be treatable with vitamins and exercise.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

It starts out not swollen and your welcome glad I could help

 

[stephcraig78]

So I don’t feel anything broken. And it doesn’t act like it hurts when I touch and move the leg. I flexed it in and out several times. Gonna do like you said and put the small cotton ball on and try the straddle leg fix with straw and rubber band. Also I got it to drink some of the vitamin water. Oh also one of the three remaining eggs was dead but had pipped yesterday and when I checked it today there was no movement or sound. I waited till tonight and using a tiny stick I poked at it and nothing happened. I pulled it from her and discarded. There is another that has opened a hole and still working in zipping. One remains whole but did water test and it seemed to be alive.

 

[Chicken-lovebirdchihuahua]

Sorry about the chick glad I could help with the leg

 

[stephcraig78]

Out of nine eggs I guess only losing one isn’t bad. Guess that last one could be a no hatch but hoping it still will. Gonna check them one last time for tonight and make sure they eat and drink. And with luck the one that had a hole started will be out or close to it. Oh by the way, any guesses on what color they will be?

 

[Welshies]

I had about 14 eggs and lost 5. It was a lot of eggs under the hen and 2 got suffocated at pipping by another infering hen. Losing only one is really good!
It's hard to guess the color until they get feathers at 4 weeks. Then individual patterns will show up, even more so when they get their adult plumage at 12-16 weeks.