Chick cant stand normal

[Sav003]

I have a 5 week week old chick that doesnt seem to be able to stand normal and im not sure how to help her. About a week and a half ago or so she seemed to had injured her leg as she was non stop chirping and wasnt standing or being active. I noticed she would try to lay on her side or pick up her left leg. We tried to inspect her to see what was wrong but couldnt find anything and being that she would occasionally walk on it we assumed it at least wasnt broken and decided to wait another day or two and she started standing on it as she was before BUT I’ve noticed that she no longer is active like the other chicks doesnt do anytbing other than lay down and only gets up to eat or drink and when she does she does this very crouched/squatted walk. I took her out to exaine her leg today and noticed she doesnt seem to have the balance to stand up straight and keeps squatting down does anyone know what the problem could be or what i can do to help fix her leg? Im not sure if some kind of splint could maybe help? Ive added a few pictures with captions to show her on day of injury. Today now very unbalanced and always does this squatted stance/walk and then a picture of her sister who can stand normal. I can add a video tomorrow if needed. Hoping someone can help! Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Cute Chick!

Is there any swelling of the joint?

I'd start her on 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily and see if that helps.

You may find the info below helpful as well.


https://web.archive.org/web/20220528135316/http://www.poultrypedia.com/poultry-podiatry

 

[Sav003]

Thanks for the quick reply and for the info!

I took the chicks outside yesterday and tried to observe her leg a little better and got a better idea of what was happening. It seems her leg is bowed? To me when i watch her walk it looks like something is dislocated like its popping in and out when she puts weight in the foot. Is it possible something could be wrong with her joint? I did try to feel if her hock joint was swollen but couldnt really tell so if it was it was barely noticeable. I did come across an article yesterday referring to a vitamin b3 (niacin) deficiency which can result is bowed legs in chicks and ducks. I did get some vitamin b complex yesterday and put a 1/4 of the pill in their water. I will update in a day or two on her progress after giving her these vitamins. Furthermore, would it be a good idea to splint her leg or is there the possibility this could be a tendon issue as it seems something is dislocating/slipping when she walks?? I will attach side by side photos of her leg before she puts her full weight on it and after. Lastly i will note that her bowed leg is not the leg she previously injured.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It seems her leg is bowed? To me when i watch her walk it looks like something is dislocated like its popping in and out when she puts weight in the foot. Is it possible something could be wrong with her joint? I did try to feel if her hock joint was swollen but couldnt really tell

I did come across an article yesterday referring to a vitamin b3 (niacin) deficiency which can result is bowed legs in chicks and ducks. I did get some vitamin b complex yesterday and put a 1/4 of the pill in their water.

It could be slipped tendon, hard to know. There are leg bone deformities that can cause the legs to bow too - Valgus Varus, with leg bone deformities, there's no fixing them.

If you can feel the tendon and it is indeed slipping out and causing the leg to bow, you can try splinting to see if it will stay in place. Slipped tendon is very difficult to correct.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peachick-with-slipped-tendon.1092979/

Give the B-Complex to her directly or dissolve the 1/4 tablet in a tiny amount of water and syringe it into her throughout the day. You want her to get the 1/4 tablet - putting it in the water station is too dilute.

I'd start her on 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily