I rescued a chick from the feed store bin with, what I thought was splayed legs, thinking I could use the bandaid method to rehabilitate, as I have seen and read about on this forum. The manager said she would probably die and I could take her if I wanted.
After getting her home I realized her problem was much worse than I first thought. Her legs seemed to be useless and crooked from the hock down. She walked on her hocks and used her wings in a feeble attempt at moving around. I had read about the Achilles Tendon problem and was afraid to try to fix it myself, as she is a such a small little bantam cochin and I was afraid I would do more harm than good. We only have one vet in the area that treats birds. Not my usual vet, but I made an appointment anyways. They couldn't even see her for 2 more days. My husband took her in and the vet took one look and claimed it was a joint infection that he had seen many times, handed her back to my husband and said the infection would spread and eventually kill her! My husband asked if any kind of surgery, or an amputation of the useless part of her legs below the hocks, was possible and was told briskly, than "no, nothing can be done."
I wish I hadn't had other responsibilities that morning and could have taken her myself, so I could have asked more questions and maybe challenged his opinion based on all the research I have been doing.
We had been looking for an avian vet closer to home to use for our parrots, and I can tell you I definately won't be using him!
Our little "Angel", as I have named her because her wings look like delicate, white, angel wings now, is still with us, a week later. I hand feed her every 3 hours and offer water, via dropper, once an hour. She manages to ambulate a little by flapping her wings for leverage and using her hocks. I am struggling with the "quality of life" question and whether it would be kinder to put her down. I am perfectly willing to give her the special care she needs, as long as she doesn't seem to be in any pain or showing signs of failing. She is in her own little brooder box, next to the larger brooder and can see the other chicks. She has a mirror and I keep her on a soft cloth, which I change as often as needed so she doesn't get soiled. She is eating, drinking and pooping very well.
I had never heard of this condition the vet described (and I have been reading everything I could find about chicken illnesses and injuries) I was wondering if anyone else had heard of a chicken being hatched with a "leg infection", as he called it, in both hocks?? I still think it was the achilles tendon out of place and he just didn't want to "fool" with a chicken.
After getting her home I realized her problem was much worse than I first thought. Her legs seemed to be useless and crooked from the hock down. She walked on her hocks and used her wings in a feeble attempt at moving around. I had read about the Achilles Tendon problem and was afraid to try to fix it myself, as she is a such a small little bantam cochin and I was afraid I would do more harm than good. We only have one vet in the area that treats birds. Not my usual vet, but I made an appointment anyways. They couldn't even see her for 2 more days. My husband took her in and the vet took one look and claimed it was a joint infection that he had seen many times, handed her back to my husband and said the infection would spread and eventually kill her! My husband asked if any kind of surgery, or an amputation of the useless part of her legs below the hocks, was possible and was told briskly, than "no, nothing can be done."
I wish I hadn't had other responsibilities that morning and could have taken her myself, so I could have asked more questions and maybe challenged his opinion based on all the research I have been doing.
We had been looking for an avian vet closer to home to use for our parrots, and I can tell you I definately won't be using him!
Our little "Angel", as I have named her because her wings look like delicate, white, angel wings now, is still with us, a week later. I hand feed her every 3 hours and offer water, via dropper, once an hour. She manages to ambulate a little by flapping her wings for leverage and using her hocks. I am struggling with the "quality of life" question and whether it would be kinder to put her down. I am perfectly willing to give her the special care she needs, as long as she doesn't seem to be in any pain or showing signs of failing. She is in her own little brooder box, next to the larger brooder and can see the other chicks. She has a mirror and I keep her on a soft cloth, which I change as often as needed so she doesn't get soiled. She is eating, drinking and pooping very well.
I had never heard of this condition the vet described (and I have been reading everything I could find about chicken illnesses and injuries) I was wondering if anyone else had heard of a chicken being hatched with a "leg infection", as he called it, in both hocks?? I still think it was the achilles tendon out of place and he just didn't want to "fool" with a chicken.
