3-week old chick with a bad leg - any advice please

[azygous]

This is sounding more like an avian virus with the most recent description of symptoms. I had something such as this affect three pullets a couple years ago. I made this thread documenting my treatment and the progress of the disease. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

Not saying your chick has an avian virus, but if the symptoms continue to worsen and not improve with vitamins, a virus should be suspected. What happens is the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed and paralysis sets in. No pain is obvious, just a floppy limb. The progression of the disease is that over several months, the symptoms spread and the chicken becomes unable to even lift her head to eat, although appetite doesn't seem to suffer much until later on.

But continue the vitamin therapy. The chances this is a vitamin deficiency at the age of this chick are better than this being a virus.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

She is eating plenty. Every day - ideally twice a day - we do a PT session in the house and she gets extra food then to distract her from my working on her leg. Today she will get scrambled egg, brewers yeast and starter feed mash with some meal worms on top.
Eating and pooping her definitely not an issue!

to you RC for your dedicated efforts to this little life, your own distress and especially that helpless feeling, we all feel your pain

 

[RoyalChick]

This is sounding more like an avian virus with the most recent description of symptoms. I had something such as this affect three pullets a couple years ago. I made this thread documenting my treatment and the progress of the disease. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...update-now-another-pullet-going-lame.1432738/

Not saying your chick has an avian virus, but if the symptoms continue to worsen and not improve with vitamins, a virus should be suspected. What happens is the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed and paralysis sets in. No pain is obvious, just a floppy limb. The progression of the disease is that over several months, the symptoms spread and the chicken becomes unable to even lift her head to eat, although appetite doesn't seem to suffer much until later on.

But continue the vitamin therapy. The chances this is a vitamin deficiency at the age of this chick are better than this being a virus.

Many thanks @azygous - I actually had read most of the thread you linked previously because one of my older hens - Maggie - lost balance and was struggling to walk. I took Maggie to the vet who was mystified. Maggie got better on her own - I supplemented vitamins and did physical therapy with her.
Anyway, it is all different in a tiny chick!
Do you have any idea how long it might take to show signs of improvement if the problem were indeed vitamin deficiency? I don't see any improvement but also no deterioration. I am giving her vitamin supplements in her drinking water and an extra boost of B2 (Riboflavin) just for her during our PT sessions.

 

[BillieVerdin]

This looks very neurological. Her brain is not communicating with the leg. Which isn’t to say the ultimate cause isn’t viral or bacterial or nutritional in origin, but from the videos, she’s lost proprioception of that leg. Part of a neurological exam in birds, and other animals frankly, is to flip their foot back. Almost all animals will very quickly set it right again, but a significant delay or failure to readjust the foot indicates deficits in proprioception.

Usually if it’s viral or bacterial in origin, you would see other chicks being affected as well. And assuming all chicks were getting the same feed, nutritional origins would also likely cause problems in other chicks. It could be congenital - she may simply have been more susceptible than the other chicks to whatever pathogen or nutritional deficiency, etc - but considering the late onset of symptoms (3 wks), trauma is more likely to be the cause.

 

[micstrachan]

I had posted that I thought it was neurological or injury previously and I’m sad not to see improvement.

 

[Perris]

This looks very neurological. Her brain is not communicating with the leg. Which isn’t to say the ultimate cause isn’t viral or bacterial or nutritional in origin, but from the videos, she’s lost proprioception of that leg. Part of a neurological exam in birds, and other animals frankly, is to flip their foot back. Almost all animals will very quickly set it right again, but a significant delay or failure to readjust the foot indicates deficits in proprioception.

Usually if it’s viral or bacterial in origin, you would see other chicks being affected as well. And assuming all chicks were getting the same feed, nutritional origins would also likely cause problems in other chicks. It could be congenital - she may simply have been more susceptible than the other chicks to whatever pathogen or nutritional deficiency, etc - but considering the late onset of symptoms (3 wks), trauma is more likely to be the cause.

welcome to BYC @BillieVerdin

 

[azygous]

Please remember most of us here are amateurs, and we are coming from mostly experience, making the best guesses we can. Occasionally, we'll get some unusually good input from a new member, and we all pick up knowledge. Thanks, @BillieVerdin and welcome to BYC.

Vitamin E is always good to give if neurological causes are suspected. If you aren't already giving it, it would be a very good idea along with B vitamins.

As long as the chick doesn't deteriorate, there's hope this is a vitamin issue. At this young age, it most likely is. I would expect to see some improvement within a couple weeks if the vitamins are to make a difference.

No improvement rather than some, won't be encouraging, and further deterioration in spite of the vitamins would then make a virus more likely.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, RC. The poor little sweetheart. I sure hope there is something that can help her.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks, @azygous for jumping in and trying to help this little one.

 

[RoyalChick]

This looks very neurological. Her brain is not communicating with the leg. Which isn’t to say the ultimate cause isn’t viral or bacterial or nutritional in origin, but from the videos, she’s lost proprioception of that leg. Part of a neurological exam in birds, and other animals frankly, is to flip their foot back. Almost all animals will very quickly set it right again, but a significant delay or failure to readjust the foot indicates deficits in proprioception.

Usually if it’s viral or bacterial in origin, you would see other chicks being affected as well. And assuming all chicks were getting the same feed, nutritional origins would also likely cause problems in other chicks. It could be congenital - she may simply have been more susceptible than the other chicks to whatever pathogen or nutritional deficiency, etc - but considering the late onset of symptoms (3 wks), trauma is more likely to be the cause.

Welcome to BYC - and thank you for jumping in to help my baby!
I agree it looks neurological but I think it is motor function as well as proprioception.
What exactly do you mean by flipping their foot back? I just finished my physical therapy session with her for the morning so will let her rest a bit now, but I could try again a bit later. Is there any other test I should do to learn more?
Also, if trauma, where? In her back? Her leg? The vet, who is not a chicken expert but does see other birds, did give her a pretty good once-over and didn't see any obvious trauma.
Any suggestions of what else I could be doing?