6 week old chicks knee or hip dislocated

[Dave7943]

Hi I’m new to backyard chickens, but I have a 6 week old buff Orpington chick that has either broke its leg or dislocated its right hip or knee. It was walking but had a bad limp and it right foot was bent inward so it was stepping on its left foot when it took steps, but now it can’t even stand up, it’s eating and drinking just fine and seems in good health, but I don’t know what I should do about it’s leg. Any help would be appreciated

 

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

hmm, maybe a few pictures would help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Do you see swelling or redness in a joint? Do you believe this was an injury, or could it be a leg bone deformity that has gotten worse? Pictures may help if you can stand him up for one.

 

[rebrascora]

I've had this happen with a bird suffering from Marek's Disease, so that might be something else to consider. It is an extremely common and very widespread virus.
Have you tried manipulating the leg to see if it shows any pain response which would indicate an injury?
How is it lying... ie posture?

It may benefit from being put in a chicken sling/hammock to keep it supported in an upright position. You can make a simple DIY sling like this with everyday items...

You can also clip small yoghurt cartons with food and water in them to the box in front of them so that they can access it themselves.

 

[Dave7943]

hmm, maybe a few pictures would help.

Here’s a few pictures I took the best I could, I had to get someone to kinda hold her a little. Btw the tape was a splint I did thinking it was a broken leg at first

 

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

Hmm, I'm no expert but it seems like the leg might be broken? Hopefully, someone can be more helpful. Is there anything the chick could've gotten its leg stuck on? Has it been attacked in any way? If you think the chick couldn't have had gotten its leg stuck somewhere or gotten attacked then maybe like rebrascora said, it might have Marek's disease. You should definitely search it up and see if you can see any other symptoms. This might be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I would separate the chick from the rest of the group.

Hopefully, someone who is an expert can help, I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is it moving it's legs and feet, or do they seem numb or do the toes seem curled or oddly positioned? I would start some poultry vitamins in the water just in case of a deficiency, and make sure it contains riboflavin.

 

[Dave7943]

Hmm, I'm no expert but it seems like the leg might be broken? Hopefully, someone can be more helpful. Is there anything the chick could've gotten its leg stuck on? Has it been attacked in any way? If you think the chick couldn't have had gotten its leg stuck somewhere or gotten attacked then maybe like rebrascora said, it might have Marek's disease. You should definitely search it up and see if you can see any other symptoms. This might be helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

I would separate the chick from the rest of the group.

Hopefully, someone who is an expert can help, I wish you the best of luck.

It doesn’t seem to have any of the symptoms of the Mareks disease, when it was around 3 and half weeks old in the brooder it did try and jump out quite a few times. I wonder if it may have broken it then because it did have a limp shortly after but I didn’t think anything of it. It’s able to move it’s legs and toes fine by the looks of it just can’t stand.

 

[Dave7943]

Is it moving it's legs and feet, or do they seem numb or do the toes seem curled or oddly positioned? I would start some poultry vitamins in the water just in case of a deficiency, and make sure it contains riboflavin.

I will definitely try the vitamins