Bum leg?

[sierraboots]

My chick was fine this afternoon but when I went to check on him a few moments ago it was hobbling around and wanting to lay down, not using it’s left leg. When it’s standing, it perches on it’s right leg with the left one tucked up, toes curled. Physically I didn’t see anything alarming but I’m also very new to this. What should I do for it?

 

[Eggcessive]

Does the left foot look swollen to you? How is the hock joint in the leg? Can you get another shot of her footpads? It looks like there could be scabs of bumblefoot on them, or maybe dirt. When she walks is she holding her leg up or putting some weight on it? Does she keep the left toes curled all of the time? She may have jumped off something and sprained or broken her foot or leg. I would place her in a dog crate with food and water for a day or two, and force her to rest her leg. Then re-evaluate how she is walking and fo from there. An xray by a vet could rule out a broken bone. Sprains or broken bones may take several weeks to heal. Give her a crushed vitamin B complex tablet in her food every day.

 

[sierraboots]

Does the left foot look swollen to you? How is the hock joint in the leg? Can you get another shot of her footpads? It looks like there could be scabs of bumblefoot on them, or maybe dirt. When she walks is she holding her leg up or putting some weight on it? Does she keep the left toes curled all of the time? She may have jumped off something and sprained or broken her foot or leg. I would place her in a dog crate with food and water for a day or two, and force her to rest her leg. Then re-evaluate how she is walking and fo from there. An xray by a vet could rule out a broken bone. Sprains or broken bones may take several weeks to heal. Give her a crushed vitamin B complex tablet in her food every day.

It doesn’t seem swollen at all to me. I have her in a dog kennel but when she goes to eat or drink she just hobbles. She won’t use the leg at all.

 

[Cynthia12]

I've actually had this happen to a few of my birds through the years. Limping. They would use the leg a bit though, while Limping. They just took a few days to do better. I would watched, then when they got better, assumed they had pulled something, and it just took time to heal. Now, that's if they didn't have bumble foot. Looking at your photos, I'm not seeing any swelling, or bumble foot. Give her some time. Allow her to be out and about, unless she is being picked on by others, then keep her separated. Good luck. So hard to tell without seeing anything visible.

 

[Eggcessive]

The dark spot on her foot pad could be some bumblefoot starting, but it doesn’t look like that is causing her pain. It may just be a sprain that will get well in time. Let us know how she is doing later.

 

[sierraboots]

Thanks for the advice guys!

 

[sierraboots]

I know it’s only been a couple of days but I took a video of the chick because it’s not getting any better. Keep making it rest and hope for the best or is there anything else I can do for it? Poor little thing is breaking my heart.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you see a vet? She might have a broken bone or a dislocated hip, that might be fixed. Xrays could rule out a fracture. Othersise, she probably needs to be confined to a large dog crate with food and water, so that she is forced to rest the leg. A chicken sling might help, and food and water can be placed directly in front of her. Take her out of the sling often to stretch and to sleep. If she is running around and trying to jump up and dow off a roost, she may be reinjuring it.

 

[Eggcessive]

See post 3 in this thread for pictures of chicken slings:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...holding-one-leg-up-and-will-not-walk.1125394/