3-week-old JerseyGiant chick, w/Leg splayed at Hip

[truthfulkindnes]

Hello all. Tru here.
Purchased day-old Jersey Giant chicks from breeder (x6). Traveled 7hrs each way to pick them up and they are now 20days old. (Not all that far since it is nearly 3hrs to the closest Walmart, LOL)

One chick has been having trouble keeping his/her Legs under body; has a tendency to "splat" (especially when the other chicks are so very active and jostling about, pushing each other around). We thought maybe just because extra-large feet, but when i woke today, this chick is mostly unable to get feet under body at all. Mostly laying there with one leg out sideways.

One other chick has seemed a bit sickly. Left eye took a full day to open, and she/he frequently lays on her left side ever since we got her. She does not try to get treats even when i keep the others away and hold them out to her. Smallest chick and we call her "Sally". So today we separated these two chicks.

Now that we have separated these two from the others, "Gimpy" is now sometimes able to get both feet under him/her, and i am frequently checking to put the foot under him again. Is there anything else i can do ?

When she is available we use a vet that has chickens herself, but today is Sunday.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your chick. With leg problems it can be helpful to see pictures of how the chick stands, or even a video posted to You Tube with a link here to see what it looks like. Slipped tendon is possible, and a leg bone deformity is even more probable. Vitamin deficiencies can cause problems as well. I would get some human vitamin B complex or super B complex at the store, and crush or grate 1/4-1/2 tablet daily into it’s food.You can use chick vitamins as long as they have B2 or riboflavin.

Varus and valgus leg bone deformities are very common , and can affect one leg or both. Valgus deformity causes a knock kneed appearance, while varus deformity causes a bowlegged appearance, but both of these can affect only one leg. Twisted legs are also common. The hock tendons can be stressed as they grow and the deformity gets wors. There is no treatment.

With slipped tendons, which are sometimes misdiagnosed leg bone deformities, they need to be treated in the first day or two, and many times are not successfully treated. A figure 8 taping of the leg after putting the tendon in the right place to hold it there, can be sometimes helpful. Below are some links to read that might be helpful, and be sure to read the whole “research gate” article which has a lot of pictures and info:

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

https://thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some articles about fixing a slipped tendon:
https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peachick-with-slipped-tendon.1092979/

A figure 8 bandage to hold tendon in place:

Chicks with a slipped tendon may stand like this:

 

[truthfulkindnes]

Sorry about your chick. With leg problems it can be helpful to see pictures of how the chick stands, or even a video posted to You Tube with a link here to see what it looks like. Slipped tendon is possible, and a leg bone deformity is even more probable. Vitamin deficiencies can cause problems as well. I would get some human vitamin B complex or super B complex at the store, and crush or grate 1/4-1/2 tablet daily into it’s food.You can use chick vitamins as long as they have B2 or riboflavin.
THANKS so much ! Been unable to get photo today. i shake too much. But that photo of chick standing with slipped tendon Looks a lot like it. THANKS !!!

 

[Eggcessive]

The thread on peachick—the second link in post 3 is quite good on dealing with a slipped tendon. I hope you can help your chick, but these issues are very hard to deal with. Let us know how the chick gets along, and good luck. Vitamins are helpful.