3 week old chick limping

[amandawv]

I have 3 buttercup chicks. One is a good but smaller than the other two. Today I noticed the smallest was limping/

having a hard time keeping her balance. I looked at her and noticed one leg is bigger (swollen?). Has anyone ever experienced this and what can I do for her?

 

[Eggcessive]

Most likely she has sprained it. Do you see any sores on her foot pad? You might leave it alone to see how she does or try splinting the foot with a shoe, cotton balls wrapped with paper tape or thin pieces of vet wrap. Look at pages 23-24 in this splinting manual for ideas on splinting a foot:
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[peeper89]

oh no! i hope she get better

 

[amandawv]

But, which one looks swollen? One foot is bigger than the other and on the other leg one leg looks bigger than the other. Poor thing I feel so bad for her

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, on first glance I noticed the foot, and now I see the right leg looks thicker. What is the history of these chickens--from a hatchery or a breeder. Have you seen any illnesses in your flock before, such as a respiratory disease or others? There are some possibilities for leg swelling from bacterial to viral diseases.