Chick just hatched with foot curled in/under

[pinkl72]

We just hatched a chick from an incubator with a leg/foot that curls in and under. She wont straighten it, but I can hold her and straighten it for her. She doesnt squeak louder when I straighten it. She cant stand or walk. It appears there is some superficial damage to her hock from the plastic basket of the incubator. I'm including a picture of the incubator to understand the walking surface she was on. Shes approximately 4 hours old. She seems smaller than another chick that's same same color but her size may be a bantam and the other may have a full sized sire. She seems healthy otherwise, peeping and trying her best to move around. I haven't given her anything but have nutridrench on hand (it doesnt appear to have b2) and can drive to atwoods or tractor supply for anything. Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

It might help to give some human B complex 1/4 tablet crushed into a little water and fed for a week or two. You can also use Poultry Cell, which has riboflavin, baby vitamins, or chick vitamins (look for the riboflavin on the label.) Taping the toes in a normal position on the bottom and top of the toes for a day or two may also help. Here is a link about taping:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/blogs/faqs/my-chicks-toes-are-all-curled-up-whats-wrong-with-her

 

[Mikayla1234]

Hi! I recently just hatched some ducklings and I found that it’s foot was like this and I kept trying to make it flat. But this is normal and it will straighten out the more it walks and grows, my duckling is now 3 weeks old and his feet and legs are super strong and he is fast and healthy. Hopefully everything goes well!
Hope this helps

 

[pinkl72]

Thanks for the responses, it has given me a lot of hope. An update - we gave her .2cc of poly vi sol which has approximately 100mcg of riboflavin before bed last night. This morning the foot didn't appear to be improving so we taped it flat using 3m transpore tape. She seems to hobble around some but is definitely less active than the other chicks. We put her in a separate brooder alone. I decided she was lonely and added another chick and made sure the other chick wasn't trampling or pecking at her. It went well, but sadly, her broodermate passed unexpectedly =( so I put in a new broodermate who squawked loudly about being separated from her flock, so I added another broodymate to please the other broodermate. All was good. The chick with the bad foot appears to be a bantam and another bantam hatched in the incubator today so I also added her in the brooder because I think they will be good long-term together and can move the other two back with the rest of the flock. But all 4 are doing well together and no ones trampling or pecking at the chick with the curled foot. I'm thinking about giving her another dose of the poly vi sol tonight. The chick with the blackest head towards the bottom of the photos is the chick with the taped, curled foot.

 

[Meg22]

Could it be slipped tendon. The way she holds her leg is just like our little red did.
https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

 

[pinkl72]

Could it be slipped tendon. The way she holds her leg is just like our little red did.
https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

It could be. When I put my thumb and finger on her joint and try to roll it, it doesnt seem like anything moves. It does seem swollen but it's hard to tell if it is or isnt from the scrap from her hobbling on her hock in the incubator. The leg does not have the same flexibility has her other leg. She does not straighten it on her own. I can straighten it but it is not as pliable as it was the 1st day (this is day three). I gave some more poly vi sol (b vitamins) and nutridrench. Her footed was taped for a day. I can do the sling and cast but I'm unsure if that will help if I haven't slipped the tendon back in if it is out?

 

[Meg22]

With red we could fully stretch his leg back they way you see chickens stretching and then the tendon would go back in. I would strap it in place and it would stay for a while. Had to redo it daily. However he got a sore on his joint after a few days. I cleaned it and dressed it daily but the swelling made it to difficult to keep the tendon in place. Tendons shrink if not used. It may be worth stretching her leg back how you see the healthy ones stretch to try and stop in shrinking and maybe help or stretch if it has already shrunk a bit. The sling might help prevent her getting sore from walking on the joint but I don't think it will help heal it if the tendon isn't in place. I'm new to chickens myself so not too sure. I hope you manage to help her.

 

[Meg22]

Pictures would help, but it may be a slipped Achilles tendon. I will attach a link and a video which will hopefully help. Sometimes it can be fixed, sometimes not. You should start treatment as soon as possible, the longer it goes on the less likely it will be fixable.
This link, scroll down to "fix slipped achilles tendon in hock joint":
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
Video where you can see it going in and out of place:

Fond this on another thread. Might help with repositioning the tendon.

 

[pinkl72]

Fond this on another thread. Might help with repositioning the tendon.

I'm not seeing that like in the video but I'm not sure if it's because of the superficial scrap (red and swollen) from being on her hock in the incubator. I just taped her foot and made a shackle to try to stretch the leg down when she uses the other. She cant really walk and uses her wings but was doing that before I put the shackles on. She hobbled over to the food and started pecking when I put her down. She does not seem to be in pain. Even when I try stretching her leg or when I was trying to roll the tendon, she didnt shriek in pain; just some peeps protesting the handling in general I think. I will get some more pictures when i take the tape shackles off.

 

[Eggcessive]

Those pictures do look like spraddle or splayed legs. Usually this is treated in the first day or two of life by bringing the legs closer together with tape or vet wrap. This link shows taping the legs closer with vet wrap, and I leave it on for 3 or more days.
https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2012/04/spraddle-leg.html