Chick with strange leg issue? Help please!

[erijn5]

Okay, on my second hatch I hatched out some Jersey Giants. One had a very hard time getting out of the shell. It took forever! Finally it got out and now it has a leg problem.

It can stand up on one leg just fine with a tilt, but it holds the other leg striaght out. If you were to tie a string around your head to your foot this would be how it looks. It will barely walk on it, so I'm wondering if it is just sore because it had such a hard time getting out of the shell. It mostly lays down, but is up and around to eat and drink. It does not act sick or in stress and is the cutest lil thing.

But I saw something in a chicken book were they put a pc. of tape around both legs to kind of hold them together. Is this what you think I need to do? Or just see what comes about? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[kinnip]

A picture would be helpful. It could be spraddle leg, which is correctable using the tape method. It could be a slipped tendon, in which case, it can't be helped.

 

[erijn5]

Here are a few pics. He can not stand upright so he uses my hand as a support. I feel so sorry for him (if it is a him).

I just want him to be okay...help help??

 

[kinnip]

My first instinct is that it's a slipped tendon, but since he's still so small, I'd tape his legs and wait just a day or two. If it isn't better by then, it's not going to get better. When I treat for spraddle leg, I usually use medical tape and just loop it around each leg, positioning the legs at hipswidth. He'll fall over a lot at first, but he'll get the hang of things. Just one caveat, it's easy to get attached when you're doctoring young ones, don't do it until you know he's better! Best of luck.

 

[erijn5]

Quote:
Do you think I need to separate him? And do I tape them together like a saw in the magazine? One pc. of tape connecting both legs? Will he hop around or do I make it loose enough for him to be able to practice walking? Can you tell I have never had this happen?

 

[jenni2142]

Slipped tendon can be fixed if caught early enough. Is the hock joint flat looking in the back? It will look flat if the tendon is out.

 

[erijn5]

Quote:
My DH and I agree that this is what it looks like, how do we fix this?

 

[jenni2142]

the easiest way to slip it back in is to gently straighten the leg behind the chick and it will slip back in. You may need to brace it or it may stay in on it's own. I made braces out of pipe cleaners and flexible medical tape. link to poultry orthopedist
http://www.voy.com/194762/
also pics of a chick chair, just in case, at the bottom of page.
http://www.thecozynest.com/pictures.htm

 

[jenni2142]

also give vitamins, powdered poultry vitamins in the water or baby liquid vitamins without iron, poly-vi-sol.

 

[erijn5]

It was not real clear on how to pop the tendon back in place, so I don't even want to try. In fear of hurting it further. I'm going to try the pipe cleaner method, does anyone think this would help? And how long do I leave it on there?