4-day-old chick: splayed legs or slipped tendon?

[katrenina]

Hi,
We have a hen with newly hatched chicks (hatched on Friday or Saturday). On Saturday evening, we found one chick lying alone in a small rocky ditch, away from the rest of the brood. It had likely been trying to move for hours. There are scabs behind both hocks from the friction.
One of its legs was spread away from the body when we found it, so after some research, we made a soft leg brace, thinking it could be splayed legs.
It’s now about 4 days old and has been wearing the brace for 48 hours. We’re keeping it warm in a padded bowl nest. It’s a very lively little fellow with a big appetite. We hand-feed starter food, which it takes well. Poop is regular.
Besides the brace, we do gentle leg exercises and monitor its positioning. There are no visible injuries apart from the scabs. It still can’t stand. When placed outside the bowl, the chick flaps and pushes but ends up on its chest. One leg, the one that seemed healthier at first, tends to stay slightly behind the body, even with the brace. The legs look aligned when it's upside down. It doesn't move its toes as well.
I’m doing my best to help it recover at home and just want to understand better if this looks like splayed legs or possibly a slipped tendon.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How's you chick doing? Getting any stronger?

 

[katrenina]

How's you chick doing? Getting any stronger?

It’s becoming more vocal and active, always looking for us, but sadly there’s still little progress with its legs. The wounds on its hocks are quite deep, and I’m worried this might be the reason for its struggle to walk. It tries so hard, but can’t use its feet and ends up scooting forward on its hocks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@Wyorp Rock any hope for this chick?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are you sure the sores on the joints are from injury.

It may be slipped tendon with a ruptured hocks, it's hard to tell.

I'm sorry, the outcome doesn't look very positive. For me, I would cull, but you can definitely attempt to see if she can recover.