I hope can give enough info on how to put the tendon back in place. The leg cannot heal or correct its position until the tendon is back & it will also grow increasingly deformed.
To reposition the tendon into the correct place: Gently pull the upper part of bird's leg a bit behind normal position and then carefully straighten the leg as though bird were stretching its leg back in a pretty normal stretching motion. Press gently against the side of the tendon if needed, and it should pop back into place pretty easily and cause little if any pain. Gently release the leg and it should return to a normal bent position.
Another idea I'm thinking might help would be to possibly use a not-too-tight taped or vet-wrapped bandage to try to help hold the tendon in its correct position ofter you put it back there.
The thread at might also offer additional help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/233072/odd-leg-araucana-bantam-chick-cant-walk
From the photo, I don't spot any infection going on, though that would be more visible from the back of the hocks if it does occur. That's a definite positive!
It looks like you've been giving some tender care!
edited by staff
To reposition the tendon into the correct place: Gently pull the upper part of bird's leg a bit behind normal position and then carefully straighten the leg as though bird were stretching its leg back in a pretty normal stretching motion. Press gently against the side of the tendon if needed, and it should pop back into place pretty easily and cause little if any pain. Gently release the leg and it should return to a normal bent position.
- If the tendon has been out of place more than a few days, it may be unbearably painful to the bird to try to fix it or may cause damage. You could try gradually stretching the leg the leg a number of times a couple days to lengthen the tendon, & then try correcting the placement.
- This is especially true of young chicks because their legs are growing so quickly. Various bones, tendons & muscles will have done a lot of growing in just a couple of days and may have become too short, long or twisted so they can't allow the achilles tendon to be back in the correct location.
- Sometimes a tendon has a hard time staying in place. It may have been out of place for too long or a chick's hock groove may not yet have developed enough to hold the tendon well (Be sure to provide very good nutrition to support optimal bone growth at this time. Do NOT give Calcium or other nutrients in excessive amounts, however--that could cause other problems. Deformities will not necessarily be completely eradicated but may be lessened by adding appropriate balanced supplementation and/or switching to Chick Starter or Grower Feed that has been commercially formulated.
- Choline, biotin, manganese, &/or zinc can be factors in Perosis & may need to be increased. Pyridoxine, folic acid & niacin deficiencies may also affect, and need to be corrected. ). You can repeat the repositioning of the tendon additional times, if needed
- It will also help if you put the bird in a Chick / Chicken Sling or Chair and/or put its leg in a cast (such as one made from a bendable drinking straw) for a few days (~5) while re-alignment stabilizes.
Another idea I'm thinking might help would be to possibly use a not-too-tight taped or vet-wrapped bandage to try to help hold the tendon in its correct position ofter you put it back there.
The thread at might also offer additional help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/233072/odd-leg-araucana-bantam-chick-cant-walk
From the photo, I don't spot any infection going on, though that would be more visible from the back of the hocks if it does occur. That's a definite positive!
It looks like you've been giving some tender care!
edited by staff
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