2 wk old chick with leg straight behind her

[Izzybells]

Hi have a 2.5 wk old chick who initially had some splayed leg issues but was moving better and was looking good. A couple days ago she started with the leg going out again to the side when she walked. I tried to tie the two legs together again but she kept trying to flap her wings and moving around. I also did the stretching with her in case something was out of alignment. Today the leg is completely behind her. She is still eating, drinking and acting normal. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain. What would her outcome be, will she be able to live with her leg back?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi have a 2.5 wk old chick who initially had some splayed leg issues but was moving better and was looking good. A couple days ago she started with the leg going out again to the side when she walked. I tried to tie the two legs together again but she kept trying to flap her wings and moving around. I also did the stretching with her in case something was out of alignment. Today the leg is completely behind her. She is still eating, drinking and acting normal. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain. What would her outcome be, will she be able to live with her leg back?

I think it depends on what you can do to accommodate her. I have a pullet with a slipped tendon. Her leg sticks out sideways at about a 90° angle. I can't put her with my regular flock because she won't be able to escape bullies or deal with a mating rooster, so I made her a special needs coop and have everything low to the ground - no roosts, no ramps, etc. My girl is about 4 months old and manages fine. Her hock joint is HUGE from calcification, and she gets tired easily.

Let me find the thread where we discussed this. A BYCer has a pullet with one leg that is stretched out like you describe. Let me figure out who.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Its @TJAnonymous

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/coop-for-special-needs-chicken-advice-please.1541045/

 

[Izzybells]

I think it depends on what you can do to accommodate her. I have a pullet with a slipped tendon. Her leg sticks out sideways at about a 90° angle. I can't put her with my regular flock because she won't be able to escape bullies or deal with a mating rooster, so I made her a special needs coop and have everything low to the ground - no roosts, no ramps, etc. My girl is about 4 months old and manages fine. Her hock joint is HUGE from calcification, and she gets tired easily.
View attachment 3241844

Let me find the thread where we discussed this. A BYCer has a pullet with one leg that is stretched out like you describe. Let me figure out who.

Thank you. Unfortunately she isn’t very upright like yours or the other chicken. I will have to video her tomorrow. I can definitely keep her in a separate area. I am just concerned that she may have something wrong with her that is making her get worse.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Thank you. Unfortunately she isn’t very upright like yours or the other chicken. I will have to video her tomorrow. I can definitely keep her in a separate area. I am just concerned that she may have something wrong with her that is making her get worse.

I can get updated pictures of my special needs girl. She was born in early June. At first I thought she had a broken leg. After closer inspection I realized her leg was deformed. The deformity has gotten worse as she gets older. Despite my best efforts, she is now completely splay legged and cannot walk at all. She does flop her way around a very, very small area. No more than a few feet. Everything is a struggle for her. Because she is in constant contact with the ground, her bottom is always soiled and needs cleaned. I'm thinking we will likely do the humane thing and cull her soon. I really wanted to give her a chance but being unable to move and worsening condition is just cruel to allow her to suffer.

I did take her out to sit (supervised) in some grass last week. She was in heaven and absolutely loved it. Maybe I will do that with her again before we let her go.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I can get updated pictures of my special needs girl. She was born in early June. At first I thought she had a broken leg. After closer inspection I realized her leg was deformed. The deformity has gotten worse as she gets older. Despite my best efforts, she is now completely splay legged and cannot walk at all. She does flop her way around a very, very small area. No more than a few feet. Everything is a struggle for her. Because she is in constant contact with the ground, her bottom is always soiled and needs cleaned. I'm thinking we will likely do the humane thing and cull her soon. I really wanted to give her a chance but being unable to move and worsening condition is just cruel to allow her to suffer.

I did take her out to sit (supervised) in some grass last week. She was in heaven and absolutely loved it. Maybe I will do that with her again before we let her go.

You gave her a chance. That's a huge thing.

 

[Izzybells]

Thank you. Unfortunately she isn’t very upright like yours or the other chicken. I will have to video her tomorrow. I can definitely keep her in a separate area. I am just concerned that she may have something wrong with her that is making her get worse.

Here is a picture of her

 

[TJAnonymous]

Here is a picture of her

How old is she?

Looks exactly like my pullet. In the beginning it only affected one leg but now she has struggled with movement and balance so much that it has made her other leg go the opposite direction. I don't think my pullet's condition can be fixed because her bones have solidified into an abnormal position. I think part of this was due to the deformity and part due to untreated splay leg that occurred in the initial days of her separation from her mother. I didn't realize she was getting splay leg because I thought it was due to the deformity. In hindsight, I think it was both. I will get a picture of her this morning so you can compare.

I did build her a special coop/run to keep her safe from the flock. She stays there with my Silkie hen and another chick who is blind in 1 eye.

 

[Izzybells]

Here is a picture of her

How old is she?

Looks exactly like my pullet. In the beginning it only affected one leg but now she has struggled with movement and balance so much that it has made her other leg go the opposite direction. I don't think my pullet's condition can be fixed because her bones have solidified into an abnormal position. I think part of this was due to the deformity and part due to untreated splay leg that occurred in the initial days of her separation from her mother. I didn't realize she was getting splay leg because I thought it was due to the deformity. In hindsight, I think it was both. I will get a picture of her this morning so you can compare.

I did build her a special coop/run to keep her safe from the flock. She stays there with my Silkie hen and another chick who is blind in 1 eye.

She is over 2 wks old. Initially it looked like her leg was pushing sideways when she walked. I splinted her and she looked good. Then about 5 days ago she suddenly got worse. The leg went out to the side again. I thought it may have been broken but there doesn’t appear to be an swelling or issues. Then I thought dislocation but she will let me move the leg and it moves fine. I tried to splint her leg again but she just cried and flopped around trying to move. I just not sure what to do to help her. Maybe she has something else going on which made her worse. Or what her long term prognosis is if she can’t get around.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Can you try putting her in a sling?