Chick with hurt leg? Possible slipped tendon?

[BlueO]

Hi all, not exactly sure how this happened but I believe my chick has a slipped tendon. Am I correct? If so, does anyone know how to fix this problem?

This is how she’s been standing, she’s only using one leg to kinda hobble around.

This is the leg I’m worried about. The other one looks normal and seems to function well.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[BlueO]

So I’ve rapped her leg up to keep it straight and put her in a sock in a cup. Hopefully this’ll do the trick and fix her up. And another thing she’s been doing is keeping her eyes closed. She only opens them when I take her out but closes them again shortly after.

 

[bravecoconut]

Did you put the tendon back in the hock groove before you wrapped it? Wrapping it is exactly what needs to be done but will do more harm than good if the tendon isn't positioned correctly first.

She is probably closing her eyes because she is in pain and/or stressed. That's normal. Many animals close their eyes when stressed.

Make sure she is still warm. Check the temperature in the cup with her often. The cup can hold heat (if you're using a lamp or even have her under a brooding plate) and you don't want her to cook! She needs to be able to eat and drink as well. I would offer them to her hourly though I'm sure others would say every two to three is more than enough.

Add vitamins to her water. The cause could be nutritional deficiency even if she is eating the same thing as everyone else. She can also use the extra nutrients for healing. Bodies use nutrients differently. Something like poultry cell will work. If she is on medicated feed, take her off. It is a thiamine blocker. Giving her the needed extra vitamins for healing will be disrupted by such. It also works the other way around. The extra vitamins negate the purpose of the feed in giving the potential coccidiosis parasite the needed B1.

Move her leg carefully daily as physical therapy. Change the bandage every couple of days and check on her walking ability then. See if she is moving better and the tendon is staying where it should.

Good luck!

 

[BlueO]

Thanks you! I believe I put the tendon back where it belongs, but it was hard to tell. The poor babe was peeping so loudly anytime I tried to move it. I’ll get some vitamins to add to her water, but she’s not really eating yet. When should I start to see improvement? Is this something like spay leg that fixes quickly or does it take long? Sorry, new to hatching my own chickens and have (luckily) never had this problem with ducklings.

 

[Otcho]

When should I start to see improvement? Is this something like spay leg that fixes quickly or does it take long? Sorry, new to hatching my own chickens and have (luckily) never had this problem with ducklings.

I've never had this issue with any chickens that I've raised, but you may find this article helpful. The chick mentioned seemed to have recovered soon after the tendon was put back in place, but the author ran into issues with blood circulation to the affected foot (wrapped too tightly).

Hopefully your chick makes a full and speedy recovery