Chick Slipped Tendon? Pictures.

[Sylvester017]

Read a story about people who were given a chick with similar leg problem. She grew up with her leg sticking out and she was part of a 5-hen flock but after 2 yrs old she died of complications from the leg being in such a dislocated position -- and who knows how painful it was for the hen to endure since chickens do their utmost best not to exhibit the pain they feel until they're completely debilitated. I am so sorry whenever the prognosis for a chicken is to live with a painful disability. It makes you want so desperately to help them because they are so sweet and don't understand what's happening to them. I've lost chicks and it's never easy. Thanks to @casportpony and @CuckooOrpington for their care and knowledgeable input!

 

[mymilliefleur]

Sorry to hear you lost the chick! I found my little slipped tendon chick in the bottom of the coop this morning, I think it was trampled by the other chicks and could not get up because of it's injured leg. It was peeping slightly and holding it's eyes shut. I knew it wasn't going to make it, so I decided to put it out of it's misery.

Could a problem during incubation cause this? All the chicks I have had with this problem have had it as soon as they came out of the shell.

 

[TheForest]

I have a week old bantam chick that had been doing well. She has been able to hold her own very well with the regular size chicks all week. Last night I held her to remove her from the brooder (and all the chicks) in order to clean the brooder. When I placed her back into the brooder she was a little feisty and jumped the last 3 inches of air before landing in the brooder. She was walking fine for the first hour and after that has been limping. Her hurt leg quivers and she puts no weight on it. She allows me to extend it but will not do so on her own. Being new to chicken raising I can't tell if her tendon is slipped. It doesn't appear drastically different than the good leg when I look at it. I also don't see any obvious signs of inflammation. It's hard for me to determine because her legs are so small and dark in color. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lozuufy]

Sounds like it's just sprained. If she had slipped tendon her leg would probably be sticking out to the side and look very twisted at the joint.

Also welcome to BYC!

 

[kekstrom]

Sounds like it's just sprained. If she had slipped tendon her leg would probably be sticking out to the side and look very twisted at the joint.

Also welcome to BYC!

I agree with the above ^^^^. My chickie who had the slipped tendon would keep her good leg tucked under her like normal when resting, but her bad leg was sticking out to her side very obviously at almost a 90 degree angle. When I flipped her upside down, she would extend her good leg back (like in a stretched position), but her bad leg wouldn't move. She had no control over it and/or it hurt too much. I would only suspect slipped tendon or possibly splayed leg if your chick was still limping after 24 hours. If the inflammation begins, then start treating it for slipped tendon. The inflammation only makes it harder to pop the tendon back into place (as what was the issue with my chick).

Good luck!

 

[TheForest]

Thank you for the response! I'm hopeful it is only a sprain as you and Lozuufy have suggested. I'm not seeing the leg in a twisted or abnormal position which appears promising It's been about 16 hours and she's still limping but she is eating well and drinking (she's separated from the others so that she doesn't have to fight for food and water). I'm hoping she improves quickly. Thanks again!

 

[kekstrom]

Thank you for the response! I'm hopeful it is only a sprain as you and Lozuufy have suggested. I'm not seeing the leg in a twisted or abnormal position which appears promising

It's been about 16 hours and she's still limping but she is eating well and drinking (she's separated from the others so that she doesn't have to fight for food and water). I'm hoping she improves quickly. Thanks again!

How is your chick doing? Thinking about her.

 

[TheForest]

Thank you for your concern

I'm happy to report that she is doing very well- it seems to have healed completely! I did give her a b complex vitamin for two days. I won't ever know if that helped or not but figured it couldn't hurt. Turns out she's my favorite chick- so glad she made it.

 

[kekstrom]

Thank you for your concern

I'm happy to report that she is doing very well- it seems to have healed completely! I did give her a b complex vitamin for two days. I won't ever know if that helped or not but figured it couldn't hurt. Turns out she's my favorite chick- so glad she made it.

Oh this makes me so happy! Another great success story! Congrats on your chick's health and good on ya for taking care of her! I bet the vitamins did wonders for helping her legs heal.