3 Week Old Amerecauna having Severe Problems... PLEASE HELP!!

[ilovecluckersandmia]

Hellooo,
3-Week Old Amerecauna. Eating Starter Feed with grit. Lives in wood shaving and straw mix. Slightyly runny poop. Normal size, usually healthy
My chick has been having problems with her left leg; her toes stay curled up and she's been limping severely. I moved her onto towels alone, and have been giving her electrolyte water. She has foot splints and leg splints. Now, the real problem i have is that she's been oddly opening her mouth and moving her tongue up and down crazily. I have no clue what this could be, and it's disturbing. I have no clue what it could be since she is eating and drinking properly. Please help, i'm very scared for her!!

 

[Erica]

I would check the tongue in case she's got something wrapped around it. She may have tried to eat a fine bit of wire or fishing line. You'll need a really good torch and a helper to see properly as the ends of the wire or line might go all the way down her throat. If not that, then I'm sorry, I don't know why her tongue would be sticking up. It sounds very odd, and maybe a photo of it could help others decide what might be happening?

The leg issue sounds tricky. Sometimes a tendon slips out of a groove and the leg can be pretty much useless... B vitamins can help very young birds but I'm not sure a 3 week old could be improved much by giving vitamins, especially as you've already tried splinting. Do you feel this is a case for a vet? I'm not sure there's much else you could do on your own, if she's had it for a while. She may never have the use of the leg or perhaps it's even dislocated or something else.

Sorry to be a downer. It's really hard when little ones don't thrive. I hope someone with better information comes along, and I hope you work it out.

best wishes
Erica

 

[ilovecluckersandmia]

Alright, thank you very much for the response!

I did take her to a vet out of worry, so we should see how she's doing soon.
I don't think she could've bitten anything too fine or harmful in her brooder, so i think that may be her habit of trying to express pain? It seems to be the case there. I couldn't notice anything after taking a look inside her mouth.
I took her leg and foot splints out, and she's been acting a bit more comfortably. I think some of the reactions she was having were just due to how uncomfortable the splints made her. Still, she hasn't been walking and sits around all the time.
I'm just hoping to find out the vet can help her now. Thank you again!