Chick has hurt leg...Prognosis?

[Straw Hat]

On 9/12 I accidentally hurt one of my australorp chick's legs (1 week old). I was trying to put her in a bucket to take her outside for some sunshine and something went horribly wrong. I feel sick about it. She hops around on one leg with her other leg tucked up underneath her with the foot dangling. She looks like a flamingo. I tried isolating her, alone and with a buddy but that didn't help. She (alone) and with the buddy seemed depressed and both stopped eating. When I returned her to the brooder, she resumed eating and drinking. She is a lot less mobile than the other chicks, but can get around when she wants to by hopping and using her wing for balance. So far, the other chicks haven't bothered her too much. She snuggles up with them to sleep. She has some trouble getting to food, but I've solved that problem by setting up several feeding stations. I tried splinting her leg, but the others pecked it , so I removed it. Besides, I'm not sure what I'm splinting for exactly. I don't see or feel anything wrong. She chirped a lot when I was messing with the splint, so I know something hurts, but I don't know what. Does anyone have any idea 1) what might be wrong 2)what I could do to help 3) what the prognosis is. I haven't built the coop yet. Can a hopping chicken go up a ramp into the coop? Can they roost? Should I build the coop with disability accommodations? Cull? Help!

 

[azygous]

Are you able to see any swelling? Any obvious deformity of the leg? How about the foot. Any toes out of whack?

Describe what happened. Was the leg stepped on? Did your foot run into the chick and send it tumbling? It might help to know if it was an impact injury or a crushing injury.

A sling might help the injury heal by immobilizing the leg and keeping weight off it as it heals.

You might find some useful info here. https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/

And here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-sling-pic.713499/

 

[WVduckchick]

It really depends on how badly it was hurt. It could just be a bruise/sprain or it could be broken, but I would think you could feel if it was broken.

Does it feel warm to the touch? (warmer than the other leg and other chicks legs) Does it look swollen? Can you get a pic?

Chicks are very resilient. Hopefully its just a temporary issue.

A vitamin boost wouldn't hurt, if you have any Nutridrench, just to make sure she is taking in enough. Also vet-wrap can be used to wrap it, but without knowing where the injury is, its kinda hard to suggest that.

 

[Straw Hat]

I'm updating with pictures.

 

[Straw Hat]

Are you able to see any swelling? Any obvious deformity of the leg? How about the foot. Any toes out of whack?

Describe what happened. Was the leg stepped on? Did your foot run into the chick and send it tumbling? It might help to know if it was an impact injury or a crushing injury.

A sling might help the injury heal by immobilizing the leg and keeping weight off it as it heals.

You might find some useful info here. https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/

And here. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-sling-pic.713499/

Those are some cool slings! I don't see an obvious deformity. Her foot is limp. But it doesn't look cut or broken. I don't see any obvious swelling. TBH, I'm not sure what happened exactly. I had the bucket on it's side and was turning it upward slowly when she flew/fell out. I don't know if she got hit by the bucket. Hopefully the uploaded photos help.

 

[Straw Hat]

It really depends on how badly it was hurt. It could just be a bruise/sprain or it could be broken, but I would think you could feel if it was broken.

Does it feel warm to the touch? (warmer than the other leg and other chicks legs) Does it look swollen? Can you get a pic?

Chicks are very resilient. Hopefully its just a temporary issue.

A vitamin boost wouldn't hurt, if you have any Nutridrench, just to make sure she is taking in enough. Also vet-wrap can be used to wrap it, but without knowing where the injury is, its kinda hard to suggest that.

I don't have any drench. I did make some boiled egg yolk, that she pecked at. It's weird because she seems very much affected. She's doesn't put the injured limb down at all. At the same time, I don't see anything obvious. Can you tell anything from the photo?

 

[WVduckchick]

I don't have any drench. I did make some boiled egg yolk, that she pecked at. It's weird because she seems very much affected. She's doesn't put the injured limb down at all. At the same time, I don't see anything obvious. Can you tell anything from the photo?

I can't see anything obvious either. Maybe a dislocation at the hip or hock joint?

Prior to this -- was she bopping around like all the others? No noticeable issues before? Toes were stretched out and normal?

Did you look for tiny cuts or splinters, etc?

Here's what I would try if it were mine. Hold your left hand out, palm up, fingers toward the right, in front of your chest. Lay the chick's belly in your left hand, feet pointing back toward your body, overhanging your pinky finger/palm. Grasp the feet and legs between your right thumb and forefinger. Slowly lower your left hand (kinda bowling ball or lawn-dart starting motion) and let the bird dangle for just a few seconds. Twist your wrist outward, and the bird's reaction should be to lift its head/chest/body upward toward your hand. (keep your hand under, but not touching, and don't drop her! lol) When it does, you can re-grab the body. This will sometimes "reset" a slipped hip or knee joint. It won't hurt the bird, and I would think its worth a try.

 

[Straw Hat]

I can't see anything obvious either. Maybe a dislocation at the hip or hock joint?

Prior to this -- was she bopping around like all the others? No noticeable issues before? Toes were stretched out and normal?

Did you look for tiny cuts or splinters, etc?

Here's what I would try if it were mine. Hold your left hand out, palm up, fingers toward the right, in front of your chest. Lay the chick's belly in your left hand, feet pointing back toward your body, overhanging your pinky finger/palm. Grasp the feet and legs between your right thumb and forefinger. Slowly lower your left hand (kinda bowling ball or lawn-dart starting motion) and let the bird dangle for just a few seconds. Twist your wrist outward, and the bird's reaction should be to lift its head/chest/body upward toward your hand. (keep your hand under, but not touching, and don't drop her! lol) When it does, you can re-grab the body. This will sometimes "reset" a slipped hip or knee joint. It won't hurt the bird, and I would think its worth a try.

Ok. I'll give it a try when later this afternoon and let you know.

 

[azygous]

 

[Straw Hat]

***UPDATE***
THANK YOU WVduckchick. My chick has recovered. We tried the technique WVduckchick suggested in the above post. I didn't try it until the 17th as I was "too chicken." I was afraid of hurting the chick further. By the 17th (5 days after the injury), the chick had made no progress and I was convinced we'd have to cull.

A few hours after performing the technique, the chick's leg looked straighter. The next day, she had uncurled her foot and appeared to be putting some weight on it. The next day was she was even better. Everything appears fine now. We are thrilled.