Bow legged

[SixNolans]

Piper is 6 weeks old. Much smaller than her lady friends. She is now bow legged from an injury when very young. I provided therapy vitamins and at one point she couldn’t stand on one of her legs. Now she can but legs are shaky. I try to get her out to walk more but I feel bad and don’t know if she hurts. I tried a brace but she is very uncooperative and fiesty. Eats and drinks fine. Stays by herself with a teddy bear since the other girls are twice her size. Any suggestions on how to get her stronger.

 

[Eggcessive]

She has a bone deformity called varus deformity in both legs. It can also occur in just one leg. There is not much that can be done about it except to make sure that she can get to food and water. Here is some reading about it:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[SixNolans]

Thank you. She’s suddenly not doing well. She’s breathing heavy. Still eating and drinking. It’s not hot where I am keeping her. Two days ago we let her outside and range with the other girls. And then brought her back to her brooder in the garage. The weather was nice but cool. Yesterday is when I noticed she’s breathing heavy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry to hear that. There might be something else wrong with her. Make sure that there is no mold or dust that could affect her breathing. Check her crop to make sure that is emptying overnight, and not getting impacted. She will need some chick grit if she eats grass or other foods than chick feed.

 

[SixNolans]

Crop feels empty. Her breast bone just below her neck protrudes and when I touched it, she squealed. She’s still breathing hard. I just don’t know what else to do for her.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she living by herself? If her crop is empty all day, it doesn’t sound as though she is eating. How are her poops? Coccidiosis might be a possibility, or she is just a failure to thrive chick. Can you see a vet for help? I would think about medicating her for coccidiosis, feeding her wet feed and cooked egg, or tube feeding her to see if she gets any better. But if she is suffering I would consider putting her down, since she might be in pain. So sorry when one is not doing well.

 

[SixNolans]

Thank you. Yes she is by herself with a stuffed teddy bear. I will try wet food/egg to see how she does.
Her poops seem ok.

 

[SixNolans]

Is she living by herself? If her crop is empty all day, it doesn’t sound as though she is eating. How are her poops? Coccidiosis might be a possibility, or she is just a failure to thrive chick. Can you see a vet for help? I would think about medicating her for coccidiosis, feeding her wet feed and cooked egg, or tube feeding her to see if she gets any better. But if she is suffering I would consider putting her down, since she might be in pain. So sorry when one is not doing well.

She does seem to have most of the symptoms I can’t cull her but I don’t want her to suffer either