Chick with injured leg

[veggielizard]

I really need some help with figuring out what is wrong with my chick. She is about 48 hours old now. Her one leg is really hurt. I thought it was splayed leg and had it taped to her other leg, but now I dont think that is the problem. Her outer toe is completely folded under the middle toe. Also her leg wont bend at all, she cannot stand on it, rather hobbles around completely flat legged. Even when she is sleeping it is slightly elevated and shakes all the time. Any advice is appreciated. She is eating and drinking. I have her isolated from the others as they were pecking her a lot.

 

[Eggcessive]

Leg bone deformities can be common in chicks either from vitamin deficiency or incubation problems. You may want to start poultry vitamins (SaveAChick, Rooster Booster, or others) and try putting her in a chick chair or sling to get her upright. Slipped tendon, Tibial Dyschondroplasia (TD,) and Varus Valgus deformity are the common leg problems besides splay leg. Sometimes these chicks can worsen with age if their hock tendon blows out, but some of them can get around well enough to survive. Here is some reading for you:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_intertarsal_joint_in_broiler_chickens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...chick-anyone-ever-try-to-fix-this-experiences

 

[veggielizard]

Thank you for your help Eggcessive! I had a few other people comment that it looked like a slipped tendon. Going to research a chicken sling. Do you have any idea how to get them food and water when they are upright? Also, since she is still under heat do I just have her under heat all the time? Will be hard to regulate that if she is stationary.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some pics of chick chairs and slings that people have made.

 

[veggielizard]

That top one is perfect! Going to make that. Do you think it will be ok to just have her under the heat the whole time?

 

[Eggcessive]

I like to place an inexpensive thermometer on the floor of the brooder in the warmest spot, just to make sure that they are not overheated.

 

[luvussomechicks]

I have a 2 day old Silkie chick, that got tangled up in chicken wire. It's little foreleg is swollen and has a little knot on it that I suspect is a broken leg. I have splinted it but, I was considering the sling for it. The only problem I see is that it has a mama hen that adores it. It's the first baby it's been able to hatch after 4 years of setting. I hate to take it away from her. Got any ideas?
Also, how long should I keep the splint on and/keep it in the sling?

 

[Eggcessive]

Broken legs can take 3 weeks or so to heal. Do you have a pen where they could stay together? You could try letting the baby remain with the broody, but watch closely if she decides to abandon the baby chick.