Chick won't put weight on leg...HELP!!

[FreedomFarm13]

I have a newly hatched Silver Ameraucana chick that will not put any weight on its left leg. He/she holds it behind/out to the side and kinda hobbles around like that. She's still eating and drinking and can get around, but seems so tired all the time because of the extra work of limping around like she is. I took some pics to show how she's holding it. Don't mind the legband...she was walking that way before I put it on, and it went on very smoothly so I know it didn't cause this. Any ideas? I've heard of splay leg but never actually seen it in any of my chicks. Is that what this could be? How would that be treated?




Thanks in advance for any advice/help you can provide!

 

[azygous]

The shackle might have something to do with it. Remove t and see what happens.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

The shackle might have something to do with it. Remove t and see what happens.

She was already walking this way before I put the legband on, but you're right, it could be keeping her from improving I guess. I'll remove it.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Ok, so after not really receiving any help, I took a new pic of her today...6 days old now. Her hock joint is swollen and looks dislocated. Is there some way to fix this?

 

[azygous]

Yes, there's treatment for slipped tendon here. It's simple and doesn't hurt the chick to do it. https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Yes, there's treatment for slipped tendon here. It's simple and doesn't hurt the chick to do it. https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

I don't think it's a slipped tendon based on what that article said. It said the baby wouldn't be able to straighten its leg...she has the opposite problem. It's overextended and looks like it's dislocated/popped out of joint. She can bend it on her own, but only if she puts weight on it, which she doesn't seem to want to do. I can make it go back the way it's supposed to by supporting her hock joint and gently bending her leg, rhen it looks normal. But as soon as I let go, it pops back into the overextended position. She will balance herself sometimes with the tips of her toes, but very rarely puts any weight on it. It's got me very concerned that it is now swelling.

 

[FreedomFarm13]

Forgot to mention, when she does put weight on it, she can lay down with it curled up under her like a normal chick would, so I definitely think this is fixable, I just don't know how to keep it in the right position. Thought about using some medical tape to just wrap it, but idk if that would work...

 

[azygous]

This is where a chick chair is useful. It will keep the legs extended in the proper position so the joint will heal.

Here are more ideas for chick chairs. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/