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

[pennyJo1960]

She seemed to have use more often ?

 

[ManueB]

That's great news, she has a strong will indeed! She may need special care, but it seems she may find ways to manage a lot of the things chicken do because she wants so much to do like the other chicks.

 

[RoyalChick]

She seemed to have use more often ?

Yes! Much more. She is not normal, but I think she can do most things she needs to do even if it is a bit awkwardly. Jumping up on that branch is a big milestone because she has been wanting to be able to that for days now in the worst possible way.

 

[RoyalChick]

That's great news, she has a strong will indeed! She may need special care, but it seems she may find ways to manage a lot of the things chicken do because she wants so much to do like the other chicks.

I think that is spot on. She has learned to scratch with the others and now perch with the others, and importantly she is not walking on the tops of her feet so she isn't getting abrasions on her knuckles.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Morning here seems like she may fool us all be fine

 

[RoyalChick]

Morning here seems like she may fool us all be fine

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Catching up. Seeing lots of improvement! I had thought it was a hock issue and now think it's either entire leg paralysis, coming from the back maybe, but which the vitamins and therapy are helping, yay! - or a knee/thigh/hip issue, inability to pull her leg inward or tighten the muscles to straighten it. But in any case there is improvement with what you are doing!! I'm so glad!!
I don't entirely understand something. If the vitamins are helping, what is so different about this chick compared to her brooder mates? Why does this chick and not the others have an issue that vitamins help? If there is a metabolic issue with her, will she need extra vitamins from here on?

 

[RoyalChick]

Catching up. Seeing lots of improvement! I had thought it was a hock issue and now think it's either entire leg paralysis, coming from the back maybe, but which the vitamins and therapy are helping, yay! - or a knee/thigh/hip issue, inability to pull her leg inward or tighten the muscles to straighten it. But in any case there is improvement with what you are doing!! I'm so glad!!
I don't entirely understand something. If the vitamins are helping, what is so different about this chick compared to her brooder mates? Why does this chick and not the others have an issue that vitamins help? If there is a metabolic issue with her, will she need extra vitamins from here on?

Good questions!
I dunno - I think I will keep giving her B vitamins as they are safe even if they aren't helping. It may all just be one of those things.
The vet still thinks injury is a real possibility in part because of the sudden onset.
You may remember Maggie went lame or was losing her balance and essentially I did the same thing with her - lots of vitamin supplements and physical therapy. She recovered. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I certainly didn't do her any harm with my treatment.

 

[MaryJanet]

When I said I would post her next milestone I had in mind that might be weeks away. Or maybe tomorrow when I have constructed the ground-floor brooder.
But look what happened shortly after we came home from the vet. Not exactly perfect and a close call when she tries to turn - but not a bad showing for a lame chicken!
I think she is a fighter - braver than a bear - and I am hopeful.

Is it possible her hock will improve once her boot is no longer needed? I can't help but suspect the boot as causal of the hock problem, which followed from the boot.

 

[RueBuckaroo]

in my past experience, i did have a chick limping and unfortunately, it did die. it was a nutrition deficiency. i'm not sure what could be the issue here, so i don't mean to scare you. is the limping still going on?