I was able to take in four pretty 2 month old chicks from a neighbor who didnt want them anymore. We picked them up after dark so they were pretty tame at the time and we never noticed anything strange about them. One of the Barred Rocks has an enlarged leg. It's not just the joint, it's her leg from her ankle up to her feathers. There is no break and it doesn't feel like there it a fluid build up. Her toes are normal sized but weak to grasp anything. She tries to walk ending up in a hop, she's very calm, eats and drinks really well, loves to be held. I was unable to take pictures of her today... I just want to know if there is anything I can do to treat this. She's a sweet girl and I don't want to have to remove her, can this be cured or is this something that I will just have to deal with?
I'm just guessing here, and it's probably sort of unlikely. But have you looked at the bottom of her foot? I'm wondering if she got something down there, and the infection is spreading up her leg. It's worth a shot?
Quote:Does her scales on the swollen leg look normal? If so, she doesnt have scaly leg mites. Does she have a dark in color scab on the footpad of the swollen leg? In not, that eliminates bumblefoot. Most likely it's a strain or sprain from jumping down off a perch or roost. Since she is eating and drinking normally, the only thing you can do is keep an eye on her. You could buy some vitamin B complex tablets at a pharmacy and crush one tablet and sprinkle the powder into her starter/grower feed. Do this for about a weeks time, then stop. Somehow, vitamin B complex strengthens chicks with leg problems and they end up walking better in most cases. However, I dont know about the swelling unless there's discoloration which would indicate a bruise or possible break. Good luck.
