Can this baby live?

[Mmayhew]

I have a week old baby who appears to have a leg injury. I didn't notice the issue until day three after the hatch. I hatched this baby myself. I am wondering if it is slipped tendon, splayed legs or if its broken. I tried putting a hobble on it for two days and the chick still didn't put any pressure on the foot. She/he seems to be more comfortable without the brace and is healthy in every other way. I am wondering:
1) what do you think the cause is?
2) could she live if I don't freerange her?
3) will the flock reject her?
4) is it best to cull her off?

 

[Americano Blue]

i wouldn't cull her/him. i have a hen who's toes are messed up so she can't grip anything, but shes at the top of the pecking order. its hard to say what the problem is with out being there myself. what until others respond until you do anything.

 

[Sjisty]

I have a rooster who, about a week after hatching, started walking on one hock. I figured it was a slipped tendon. I kept meaning to cull him, but never got around to it and as he grew, I just didn't have the heart. He seemed to get around just fine on his hock.

Well, about 4 or so weeks ago, he started using his foot, not standing up straight, but I could see the foot working. He got better every day to the point where now he is standing tall and barely limping. I don't have a clue what was wrong with him and why it just out of the blue reversed itself, but I'm so glad I didn't kill him when he was a chick because now he's beautiful!

 

[TwoCrows]

Chicks and chickens can over come lots of disabilities in life if given the chance. If they make it long enough, and learn to work around their issues, they can live wonderful lives. Of course if at any time an injured or ill chick is not living a healthy life, not being able to eat, drink, is not living a life of quality or has serious pain, the chick needs to be put down.

But if this was my chick, I would raise the chick with one or two of the others, (the ones that get along with him) and let this chick grow up. Let him learn how to live on his terms before he is asked to mix in with too many other birds, especially with bigger and possibly more aggressive birds. I would keep him with who ever completely got along with him and allows him to heal. Chicks pick at everything. They put their beaks on all surfaces and will even pick themselves. So this one needs to be separate to heal.

Then in a few months or maybe even when he is 6 months old, I would try to integrate him it into the flock. Do it slowly over a several weeks time, keeping these birds in a cage or fenced off area but within the flock at all times. Everybody sees, nobody touches. Then in about 3 weeks, mix them all together. Things should go relatively smoothly with little serious aggression. Watch them closely that day and for the rest of that week and always intervene if it turns bloody.

Update:
Chick is doing the same. However I tried to integrate it into the flock of babies one week older as well as its hatch mates. The hatch mates have no problem with this chick but the older ones (only 2-3 out of 10) are pecking at her leg. I'm still wondering if this chick will have a chance if I can't get the whole flock to accept her. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

Poultry vitamins in the water that contain trace minerals would be a good thing to do in case of deficiency. Below is a link for a good one--dose is 1/4 tsp per 5 gallons water. Also making a splint or shoe may be helpful. Here are some links to help you find out what leg problem it has--slipped tendon, twisted tibia, or a vitamin/mineral deficiency:
http://www.jefferspet.com/avian-super-pack/p/AB-P1/
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
http://nhjy.hzau.edu.cn/kech/synkx/dong/2bao/Bone disorders in poultry.pdf
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/30/chondrodystrophy-slipped-tendon-or-perosis
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/220/slipped-tendon-perosis

 

[PoultryQueen101]

Try massaging her bad leg and excersizing it in gentle circles to lighten the tendon. One of my polish chicks was born with a leg that restedway behind the other, now shes perfectly fine!

 

[Mmayhew]

Bump

 

[Allieharmon]

Gorgeous roo! Love the feathers on one foot and not the other!

 

[Sjisty]

Thanks! He's a Brahma. They have feathering on the outside of the legs and feet, so that's why it doesn't show on the inside of the one leg.

 

[Mmayhew]

Thank you!!! It's good to hear that he/she may be able to thrive