Anyone Manage Leg Deformity Long-Term?

[Aunt Angus]

I have a 5 year old hen who had a slipped tendon as a chick and it never healed properly. She doesn't put any weight on that leg, but she hops along fine on her good leg and gets to the food and water without issue. She can perch, but prefers to sleep in the dropping trays below the perch, still a minimum 3-foot jump up that she makes every night on her own. She's in my big mixed flock and doesn't have any issues with being bullied or anything. I've never seen any evidence of her having any discomfort, beyond tiring out a bit faster than the other girls because of how she hops along for every step. I don't do anything differently for her, except for to occasionally help her down from the dropping tray if she is patient enough to let me finish dishing out the feed in the morning and doesn't just jump down, herself.

I agree with your husband. It's very possible for them to live a full and happy life with a slipped tendon! I think as long as you keep an eye on your bird for any further issues and address them as they come up, you shouldn't have any problems just letting her be a chicken and live her life.

This is my girl, Perdita.

View attachment 3135257

It's hard to tell in this picture, but the closer leg is her bad leg. It sticks way out on that side, but she rests it on the ground like this and you can barely tell that there's an issue unless you know it's there.

View attachment 3135258

She is lovely!!!!

I so badly needed to see this! Thank you for sharing!!!!

The ONLY (and I do mean only) concern I have is pain. At any time was Perdita's hock joint super swollen?

I'm kinda thinking a splint or cast might help. Not to straighten the leg, but just to stabilize the joint and rake some of the pressure off of it. Keep her leg in its current position. I'd love for her to be able to be as happy as your beautiful Perdita! But she will be a house chicken - or at the very most a close to the house chicken. I don't want her getting mounted by my roosters! Ouch!

I did bring home meloxicam for pain/inflammation.

Here begins an adventure....

 

[Aunt Angus]

@pipdzipdnreadytogo

Do you mind if I pm you every once in a while with questions? I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, but it'd be awesome to get some input from someone who has a chicken with a similar issue.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

She is lovely!!!!

I so badly needed to see this! Thank you for sharing!!!!

The ONLY (and I do mean only) concern I have is pain. At any time was Perdita's hock joint super swollen?

I'm kinda thinking a splint or cast might help. Not to straighten the leg, but just to stabilize the joint and rake some of the pressure off of it. Keep her leg in its current position. I'd love for her to be able to be as happy as your beautiful Perdita! But she will be a house chicken - or at the very most a close to the house chicken. I don't want her getting mounted by my roosters! Ouch!

I did bring home meloxicam for pain/inflammation.

Here begins an adventure....

When she was younger, it was pretty swollen and would be warm off and on as well. I didn't have access at the time to anything like meloxicam so the best I could do for her was aspirin and she seemed to do well with that. I haven't noticed any warmth in it in her adulthood beyond normal chicken leg warmth, and it is enlarged, but I don't think swollen anymore, it just is how it is.

I've never seen any indication that she's in pain and that's something I keep a close eye on in my flock. She's always bright-eyed and hopping along as best she can. She does sit and rest a bit more than the other birds, and she's gotten herself in some predicaments because of her leg sticking out as it does, but it doesn't seem like she's hurting in general or anything. She'll 'ask' me to pick her up sometimes and I think it's because it feels good for her to get off her good leg every now and then like when I hold her. I do have roosters in the flock with her, but the largest are Silkie roosters, so smaller than her. I'm not even sure if any of them pay her any attention, but I definitely understand not wanting to risk that!

@pipdzipdnreadytogo

Do you mind if I pm you every once in a while with questions? I'm sure I'll get the hang of it, but it'd be awesome to get some input from someone who has a chicken with a similar issue.

Sure, I don't mind! I'm not sure how detailed my responses will be because I've mostly been playing it by ear with her, but I'll help as much as I can!

 

[Weeg]

Following!
I’m very sorry about the diagnosis, I do think she can still be a happy chicken! I’m sure if she’s made it this far, she’ll get used to using her good leg.
I know you found a good vet, but maybe you will consider getting a second opinion. I’be followed multiple threads in the past with leg issues. Including one with a duck who had horrible bumble foot. Vet suggested euthanasia since the infection had gone into the bone. Owner had make the appointment, and only the day or two before, got a second opinion and the duck loved. Did antibiotic etc, and made a full recovery. Just a thought. You could very well get the same response, but maybe not. Or maybe you could find a cheaper surgery option? Possibly worth a shot.
Either way, I’ll be following! I think that Twiggy is the luckiest lady in the world. She’s going to have the best life a girl like her could have.

 

[Weeg]

Following!
I’m very sorry about the diagnosis, I do think she can still be a happy chicken! I’m sure if she’s made it this far, she’ll get used to using her good leg.
I know you found a good vet, but maybe you will consider getting a second opinion. I’be followed multiple threads in the past with leg issues. Including one with a duck who had horrible bumble foot. Vet suggested euthanasia since the infection had gone into the bone. Owner had make the appointment, and only the day or two before, got a second opinion and the duck loved. Did antibiotic etc, and made a full recovery. Just a thought. You could very well get the same response, but maybe not. Or maybe you could find a cheaper surgery option? Possibly worth a shot.
Either way, I’ll be following! I think that Twiggy is the luckiest lady in the world. She’s going to have the best life a girl like her could have.

Sorry for spelling/grammar errors out of town and missing the luxury of my computer keys.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Sorry for spelling/grammar errors out of town and missing the luxury of my computer keys.

I teach English at a continuation school. I can decipher anything.

 

[kurby22]

I’m so glad you are giving Twiggy a chance!! I have never had a slipped tendon chicken but I have two slipped tendon quail! They were both about 3 months old and laid around a lot. So I took them to the vet and she too said it was a rather lost cause and she could splint it but it would never heal and function normally. I opted to bring them home and kept them isolated from the others for about 2 months, and they used it as little as possible during that time. But now, I sometimes struggle to find them amongst all the others! They don’t use the leg and it drags behind them, but they are happy, healthy quail that still lay fertilized eggs! Only issue is the occasional poop ball toes on the unused foot! As long as she is given all the care needed I don’t see why euthanasia is necessary unless it’s infected and death is imminent. Good luck!! Keep us updated on her!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I’m so glad you are giving Twiggy a chance!! I have never had a slipped tendon chicken but I have two slipped tendon quail! They were both about 3 months old and laid around a lot. So I took them to the vet and she too said it was a rather lost cause and she could splint it but it would never heal and function normally. I opted to bring them home and kept them isolated from the others for about 2 months, and they used it as little as possible during that time. But now, I sometimes struggle to find them amongst all the others! They don’t use the leg and it drags behind them, but they are happy, healthy quail that still lay fertilized eggs! Only issue is the occasional poop ball toes on the unused foot! As long as she is given all the care needed I don’t see why euthanasia is necessary unless it’s infected and death is imminent. Good luck!! Keep us updated on her!

I live hearing all of these stories. I am constantly doubting myself with these decisions as I don't want to be selfish - you know, keep her alive just because I adore her. So far, she does just sit a lot. She has a nice full crop at the end of the day, though.

Just playing it by ear...

Here she is with Myrtle "watching" TV with me:

What color do you think she is? Blue?

 

[Weeg]

I live hearing all of these stories. I am constantly doubting myself with these decisions as I don't want to be selfish - you know, keep her alive just because I adore her. So far, she does just sit a lot. She has a nice full crop at the end of the day, though.

Just playing it by ear...

Here she is with Myrtle "watching" TV with me:
View attachment 3139249

What color do you think she is? Blue?

I certainly don't think your being selfish. With all the success stories I've heard I don't think this is selfish at all, I think your giving her a real chance.

Lets see, could you try splinting? Does she try to walk on that hock at all? I think you mentioned earlier that she just uses the one leg for the most part, but I can't remember.
I believe you already said you tried a wheelchair correct? How did that go?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I certainly don't think your being selfish. With all the success stories I've heard I don't think this is selfish at all, I think your giving her a real chance.

Lets see, could you try splinting? Does she try to walk on that hock at all? I think you mentioned earlier that she just uses the one leg for the most part, but I can't remember.
I believe you already said you tried a wheelchair correct? How did that go?

She really only uses the one leg. I haven't splinted because I'm not sure how it would help. I would think it would hurt, actually. Her foot is turning inward. And we tried a sling, but THAT was a disaster. She just panicked!