August Hatch-A-Long

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Little wibble wobble has upgraded to a sort of hop to get around. The "elbow/knee?" is red and irritated from her using it as her foot but she otherwise appears to be a healthy peep. It's hard to capture an image of but you can kind of see in this picture how the foot on the right hand side is elevated. When I have tried to bend the leg down she peeps a lot like she's uncomfortable but her hip seems to have typical motion so she may just end up having a bit of a peg leg if it's from a joint not developing properly.

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Awww, she’s adorable! Do you think that the chick might have a slipped tendon?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ith-a-slipped-tendon-one-chick’s-story.69353/

I dealt with this in a keet last year but was unable to resolve it. This person had a better outcome...

 

[jolenesdad]

Awww, she’s adorable! Do you think that the chick might have a slipped tendon?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/treating-a-chick-with-a-slipped-tendon-one-chick’s-story.69353/

I dealt with this in a keet last year but was unable to resolve it. This person had a better outcome...

Thank you!!!

I had a miserable ship this week, one box a day late... had been upside down... one dead chick. All those are actually fine, only one pasty butt.

The other... three days in transit, two had splay leg and curled toes. I lost one. The other is a fighter but I’m at a loss I’m not really helping the leg. Gonna dive into this today.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Thank you!!!

I had a miserable ship this week, one box a day late... had been upside down... one dead chick. All those are actually fine, only one pasty butt.

The other... three days in transit, two had splay leg and curled toes. I lost one. The other is a fighter but I’m at a loss I’m not really helping the leg. Gonna dive into this today.

Sorry about your lousy shipment!!! So sad when chicks are injured that way. Best of luck nursing the survivors through!!!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Awww, she’s adorable! Do you think that the chick might have a slipped tendon?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/treating-a-chick-with-a-slipped-tendon-one-chick’s-story.69353/

I dealt with this in a keet last year but was unable to resolve it. This person had a better outcome...

I think it's very very possible that's what I'm dealing with but I don't actually see any tendon that I can move into place and I feel terrible when I bend the leg as the chick acts like it hurts when I do. The description sounds like I can't deny that's probably what this is though. Down to walking on the joint, swelling, and redness from using it as a foot. I'll try to bind it tonight when my husband gets home to hold the chick still. Thank you so much for sharing the link!

Thank you!!!

I had a miserable ship this week, one box a day late... had been upside down... one dead chick. All those are actually fine, only one pasty butt.

The other... three days in transit, two had splay leg and curled toes. I lost one. The other is a fighter but I’m at a loss I’m not really helping the leg. Gonna dive into this today.

Oh no! I'm so sorry! How could they possibly not know which side of the package is up?! It seems like this is the month for dealing with leg issues. I hope your chicks recover well!

 

[jolenesdad]

I don’t think the chances are good. She is a broiler, and while she is more of a heritage-style broiler, she is still a broiler.

I can’t really figure out what I’m dealing with and it honestly could just be a weak chick. She really can hardly stay upright. My concern is since they had such a long journey this is now 7 days from hatch, I’m not sure how much can be done to help her.

She is eating and pooping and drinking but if I can’t get her to MOVE soon, I will have to dispatch her.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I don’t think the chances are good. She is a broiler, and while she is more of a heritage-style broiler, she is still a broiler.

I can’t really figure out what I’m dealing with and it honestly could just be a weak chick. She really can hardly stay upright. My concern is since they had such a long journey this is now 7 days from hatch, I’m not sure how much can be done to help her.

She is eating and pooping and drinking but if I can’t get her to MOVE soon, I will have to dispatch her.

You never know! I actually thought my little chick was dead when I went back out to check on her on that first day and she didn't even try to hold her head up. She just let it roll from side to side. She's a fighter though! Sometimes there's nothing we can do but I hope she pulls through for you!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Even with my husband home I'm not confident enough to try fixing the slipped tendor or bad joint. It definitely hurts the chick when we try...he gave me permission to take it to a vet if I can find one to help.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

If anyone happens to want to see a peachick update of the 3 peachicks I hatched, my friend posted an update video on her YouTube channel! I absolutely love them!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Even with my husband home I'm not confident enough to try fixing the slipped tendor or bad joint. It definitely hurts the chick when we try...he gave me permission to take it to a vet if I can find one to help.

The tendon can slip to either the medial (inside) or lateral (outside) side, I believe. To try moving it, straighten hock and point leg backwards to relax the tendon. If you then bend the hock, you may feel the tendon off to the side. It should be running along the back of the leg, not along either side. The tendon can contract as the leg bones grow and then it is difficult to move the tendon to the back of the leg where it belongs. Unfortunately, my keet found movement of the tendon excruciating, so physical therapy trying to stretch the tendon was hard on it. I consulted with an exotics vet who recommended surgery ($1500!). After trying physical therapy and taping of the tendon, I eventually gave up at about two weeks old do to poor prognosis. I am really hoping that this is not your condition and that, if it is, you have a better outcome!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

The tendon can slip to either the medial (inside) or lateral (outside) side, I believe. To try moving it, straighten hock and point leg backwards to relax the tendon. If you then bend the hock, you may feel the tendon off to the side. It should be running along the back of the leg, not along either side. The tendon can contract as the leg bones grow and then it is difficult to move the tendon to the back of the leg where it belongs. Unfortunately, my keet found movement of the tendon excruciating, so physical therapy trying to stretch the tendon was hard on it. I consulted with an exotics vet who recommended surgery ($1500!). After trying physical therapy and taping of the tendon, I eventually gave up at about two weeks old do to poor prognosis. I am really hoping that this is not your condition and that, if it is, you have a better outcome!

Wow! Thank you for your sharing your knowledge and experience with me! It's amazing that I haven't encountered slipped tendons prior to this chick. I was quite preoccupied with it's neck initially. I still wish I better understood what caused this to avoid it in the future. I will try again to do the wrap myself as I certainly can't afford $1500 on a chick as much as I would love to give it every possible chance! Chickens have been a "home treatment" pet for me rather than paying for vet visits, and because my husband is a softy like I am (maybe even more so, lol) I have gotten quite efficient at handling chicken first aid but this one is proving so difficult for me that I find myself planning a housing situation for a one legged chicken. Lol