chick with broken leg or slipped achilles tendon?

[samzoost]

Here’s some of my cockerels, the one in the foreground has an extremely bent leg that goes out to the side, and has a big lump on it. He wandered into my yard at about 8 weeks old, so I’ve raised him since them. Recently, I managed to find who originally hatched him (luckily she let me keep him!) and she said he hatched like that. He does fine now, has an adorable run, and is head rooster!View attachment 1530609

what a handsome boy! I'm thinking it started off as a deformity and the chick slipped in the box while being shipped and something happened. the problem, though is that she can't us it at all. she kind of sometimes uses her hock to hobble around, but otherwise she can't really do much. she can't even stretch out her poor little wings, which she tries to do and then can't. i feel so horrible. i've tried stretching it out but it literally will not budge. i also feel very angry that thousands of chicks are subject to this a year and hoover's hatchery doesn't give half a damn about their chickens. poor things.

 

[Chickem707]

also, i have another question, if you don't mind...the silver laced wyandotte i've paired with the silkie is very loud and protective of her. they're both only a week old...but do you think this could be a sign of her being a rooster? there's food and water in their brooder all the time. everything is perfect, the chick just chirps quite a bit more than the silkie. i can't keep roosters and that would be so horrible to have them bond and then have to get rid of it.

That would be a real shame, but most likely not. My jersey giant was very protective of a my little chick, i think it’s because she cannot walk at all. She is definitely a little pullet though.

 

[Chickem707]

what a handsome boy! I'm thinking it started off as a deformity and the chick slipped in the box while being shipped and something happened. the problem, though is that she can't us it at all. she kind of sometimes uses her hock to hobble around, but otherwise she can't really do much. she can't even stretch out her poor little wings, which she tries to do and then can't. i feel so horrible. i've tried stretching it out but it literally will not budge. i also feel very angry that thousands of chicks are subject to this a year and hoover's hatchery doesn't give half a damn about their chickens. poor things.

That’s unfortunate you could try making a ‘chicken sling’ or ‘chick chair’ for her.

 

[samzoost]

That would be a real shame, but most likely not. My jersey giant was very protective of a my little chick, i think it’s because she cannot walk at all. She is definitely a little pullet though.

omg what little cuties!!! thank you so, so much for your help.

 

[muddy75]

Here’s some of my cockerels, the one in the foreground has an extremely bent leg that goes out to the side, and has a big lump on it. He wandered into my yard at about 8 weeks old, so I’ve raised him since them. Recently, I managed to find who originally hatched him (luckily she let me keep him!) and she said he hatched like that. He does fine now, has an adorable run, and is head rooster!View attachment 1530609

Thanks so much for posting about your rooster! I have a baby silkie with similar problem as samzoost and your post gives me additional hope!

 

[Eggcessive]

There are a few leg bone deformities in chickens. Some people call these perosis or a slipped tendon, but most are from varus or valgus deformity or a twisted tibia. Sometimes people try splinting or various treatments, and vitamins in the water or orally.

Photo by Ciqala of Cleopatra , a cockerel who appears to have varus deformity. Valgus deformity will give a knock kneed appearance, as in the chick below. These can affect one leg or both.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a chart showing varus and valgus deformities:

 

[MissChick@dee]

also, i have another question, if you don't mind...the silver laced wyandotte i've paired with the silkie is very loud and protective of her. they're both only a week old...but do you think this could be a sign of her being a rooster? there's food and water in their brooder all the time. everything is perfect, the chick just chirps quite a bit more than the silkie. i can't keep roosters and that would be so horrible to have them bond and then have to get rid of it.

At a week it’s too early to tell. I have a SLW the breed itself is KNOWN to be vocal. Mine is the biggest crybaby! She *itches about everything all the time lol. But l just love her she’s sweet. At a week old I doubt the chick is protective...as babies the usually only get loud when they are uncomfortable too hot/cold just sayin.