Chick Not Walking? Leg Problem

[DellaMyDarling]

I am reviewing this thread, but nothing is striking me as the correct issue yet:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

Chick is a barnyard mix bantam.
4 weeks old.

Won't grip a roost/finger.
Seems to be only left leg a problem.
External view looks normal and asymmetrical to me.
Behavior is what I noticed first. Chick is alert and takes food/water, had food in crop. However, every time I checked on them, this one chick was just chilling in a corner. No ruffled feathers, just all bedded down. Kinda odd when everyone else is running around like loonies.
Pick chick up, it either flops on back on your palm (alarming!) or it nestles in.
Try to convince chick to fly, it flaps and lands with a thud on face/body without left leg helping.
Put chick on floor near feeder, it might flap hobble, again with left leg not helping.


Thoughts?

 

[Fishsticks06]

I am reviewing this thread, but nothing is striking me as the correct issue yet:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/leg-foot-and-toe-issues-in-poultry-of-all-ages.68093/

Chick is a barnyard mix bantam.
4 weeks old.

Won't grip a roost/finger.
Seems to be only left leg a problem.
External view looks normal and asymmetrical to me.
Behavior is what I noticed first. Chick is alert and takes food/water, had food in crop. However, every time I checked on them, this one chick was just chilling in a corner. No ruffled feathers, just all bedded down. Kinda odd when everyone else is running around like loonies.
Pick chick up, it either flops on back on your palm (alarming!) or it nestles in.
Try to convince chick to fly, it flaps and lands with a thud on face/body without left leg helping.
Put chick on floor near feeder, it might flap hobble, again with left leg not helping.


Thoughts?

No, this seems very odd. No external sign of injury? That’s strange.. I’d wait for someone else to come by and help. As long as the chicken can eat, drink, and defecate properly, it should be fine until someone can give you helpful information.

 

[CoopedUpHappy]

My Brahma baby has a broken leg and acted exactly the same way!
It’s been 3 weeks, and BB is finally beginning to use its leg/foot a little.

Does it’s leg or foot seem floppy?

 

[DellaMyDarling]

Ahh, should add that:

POOP LOOKS NORMAL!


(Because people definitely want to know lol)



I can't say anything looks or feels floppier than the right side. Felt every toe, etc. Not that I'm super experienced in this, but there was nothing standing out to me about it at all.

 

[CoopedUpHappy]

The leg of my chick seemed/felt limp when I picked her up.
I couldn’t feel rigidity or a break. After a day or two, though, up really high, I could feel a knot or lump all the way around the leg bone. That was the calcification around the break. The bone had already begun to heal itself.
I’ll try to find a few short video clips or photos of her.

 

[CoopedUpHappy]

The leg of my chick seemed/felt limp when I picked her up.
I couldn’t feel rigidity or a break. After a day or two, though, up really high, I could feel a knot or lump all the way around the leg bone. That was the calcification around the break. The bone had already begun to heal itself.
I’ll try to find a few short video clips or photos of her.

I was able to post a short clip on YouTube of the vet exam.
Caution, if you have a weak stomach or super-sensitive feelings, you may not want to watch!
The bird is being given a mild sedative in a mask to reduce the discomfort of the exam.

 

[Fishsticks06]

I was able to post a short clip on YouTube of the vet exam.
Caution, if you have a weak stomach or super-sensitive feelings, you may not want to watch!
The bird is being given a mild sedative in a mask to reduce the discomfort of the exam.

Just a fracture, that’s good to know. Hope she has a short and happy recovery!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

4 weeks old.

Seems to be only left leg a problem.
External view looks normal and asymmetrical to me.

Pick chick up, it either flops on back on your palm (alarming!) or it nestles in.

Try to convince chick to fly, it flaps and lands with a thud on face/body without left leg helping.
Put chick on floor near feeder, it might flap hobble, again with left leg not helping.

Can you please post some photos of the chick? A video to go along with photos would be good too (upload to youtube, provide a link).

Please don't try to convince the chick to fly anymore (I hope you were joking about this), it's not able to walk, so it's not really going to fly and it could get badly injured from thudding onto the floor.
At 4 weeks of age, your chick may have a disease called Marek's - here's some reading about that http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

Give your chick 1/4 tablet of B-Complex daily. See that he's eating/drinking. He may need you to move him to food/water several times a day if he's not able to get there on his own.
Having a sick, injured or disabled chick is time consuming, so you need to consider that as well. If he is not thriving, then humanely putting him out of his misery is an option. I know it's sad to think about, but if he's suffering, it's a kindness.

 

[DellaMyDarling]

I'm going to see about getting a video.

Chick continues to eat and drink. We have separated it with a buddy, as the poor dear was a bit overwhelmed in the coop with everyone else being able to do gymnastics around it.
My kids actually made that call when I was at work, I'm impressed.

 

[DellaMyDarling]