Chick with deformed leg

[todtrac]

Sorry I don't have a picture, but we have a silkie chick given to us to raise with our other three. This chick is now about a week old, seems to be growing but cannot use it's foot, it actually walks on the knuckle of the foot. It just sits around an awful lot while the others are very busy. When he does try to get around, it hops in circles and uses it wings to try to balance itself, it is definitely a struggle for this little guy to get around. does anybody think he can grow and learn to walk (hop) on one leg? Do you think other chickens (silkies) will try to attack it?.. very curious...

 

[High Roost Ranch]

If you can post a photo somehow, that would sure help. Not exactly sure what you mean by knuckled over, but if we had photos it would sure help. There are hobbles that are easy to make that will correct some deformities.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

crooked feet can be mostly repaired if done early enough in life... are the toes flexible enough to place out flat?... if so a cast can be made... let us know and I'll try to find the other post that was on recently about doing just that... not hard at all!
dmb/mm

 

[mmaddie's mom]

is it a crooked foot OR leg? if it is foot/toes, check this out

www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=356460

... if leg, try to give us more info.

dmb/mm

ps: if this can't be fixed, she will always be the lowest of the pecking order.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I agree...photos needed. I take in special need chicks and chickens. I have a 2 year old hen with a spraddle leg and curled toes. She doesn't live with my flock but she has lived with other chickens who did not bother her at all. She has a happy life and gets around just fine in her own way. She does everything a chicken does except scratch. It's all in how much time you want to put into the chick.

 

[chuckzoo]

Also check this out, hope it helps;

http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

 

[todtrac]

I appreciate all the feedback and I am so glad I joined BYC.. you guys are great!..

I will post photos tonight for you all to review and look forward reading your thoughts.

Thanks,

 

[todtrac]

Here is our chick, Forest. He is the one with the crooked leg more so than the foot. Please review my photos and give any advice you may have. Will he make it? What should I do to help him. He is a silkie chick roughly 10 days old.

Thanks in advance,

 

[PoultryPedia]

He may have had curled toes initially that caused difficulty walking. Trying to compensate for difficulty, he may have developed splayed leg and his tibia bone looks like it may have twisted over time, also.

I would put leg hobbles on his lower legs right away. Also put on chick shoes if his toes are curled when he stands with the hobbles on.
It might be too late for corrections to work, but it would be good to check by trying.

If you can post 2 or 3 photos of how he stands after you put on hobbles, and 1 or 2 of how the back of his hock joint on that leg looks from the back, that will give help in determining treatments and potential.

Best wishes

 

[Rainstorm]

I think what she means by the joint or knuckling over is its walking on the Knee like spot rather then its foot? or is that just how the photo looks?