Chicken with a dislocated hock joint? Can it be fixed?

[GrandpaChook]

Hi, it always seems to be something. I'm telling myself not to be too much of a helicopter parent, but...I just care about my chickens so much.
I have just gotten the coop and setup, and of course the chickens, after years of dreaming about getting them. They seem to mostly be doing fine, but new problems keep cropping up (haha). Today, it is an 8 week old Swedish flower, rooster I think. He was fine and healthy this morning and then a couple hours later couldn't walk on his left leg. I didn't see what caused the problem, but because I suspect he is a rooster, perhaps a fight? My coop and run is pretty clean, but I guess he could have caught his leg on something. I've attached photos. As you can see, the left leg is extended in front of his body and he rests along the metatarsus bone. He flops around as he tries to get about, making it look very awkward and painful. He is in the "chicken hospital" in the coop at the moment.

Oh, also I felt around on the leg a bunch, he didn't flinch or seem to be in pain as I felt the bone, but honestly I can't really tell one bone from the other when I'm feeling the outside of the leg. Also, I was pretty gentle.

I've made an appointment with the vet for the morning, but he has already told me not to expect much, "you don't really save chickens." Not surprised, seems to be a common attitude. But, I do want to save this chicken if possible. Any ideas?

 

[Eggcessive]

Injury should be a first possibility, since they are very active at that age. Does he have any swelling of the joints, redness, or green bruising over the leg? Was he vaccinated for Mareks disease? He looks to be walking on his hock, and are his toes curled under? You could try giving him 1/4 tablet daily of vitamin B complex (not B12, but B complex) for riboflavin (B2.) Usually riboflavin deficiency where toes are curled under and they walk on their hocks, is bilateral.

Mareks disease could be a possibility to keep in mind. I would keep her in a pen or near his water and food, and let him rest his leg. Has he always had a normal gait when he was younger? When you look at his eyes, do his pupils both appear sharp and round?

 

[GrandpaChook]

Injury should be a first possibility, since they are very active at that age. Does he have any swelling of the joints, redness, or green bruising over the leg? Was he vaccinated for Mareks disease? He looks to be walking on his hock, and are his toes curled under? You could try giving him 1/4 tablet daily of vitamin B complex (not B12, but B complex) for riboflavin (B2.) Usually riboflavin deficiency where toes are curled under and they walk on their hocks, is bilateral.

Mareks disease could be a possibility to keep in mind. I would keep her in a pen or near his water and food, and let him rest his leg. Has he always had a normal gait when he was younger? When you look at his eyes, do his pupils both appear sharp and round?

Thanks for your help. When I checked the birdie, he still didn't have a lot of swelling, no bruising noticed, but I am not sure about the heat. I also do not see his toes curled under, but I do like the info on a riboflavin deficiency. I don't think he has Marek's. He was quite healthy, agile and alert both before and after. All of my birds are healthy at this point as well. Eyes are alert and bright. Couple good photos of that above.

I'm wondering if there is any information about dislocations anywhere, any way I can diagnose or any videos on immobilizing the joint in a helpful way? I haven't been able to find any info like that online. (mostly stuff on spraddle leg, slipped tendons in young chicks, and setting broken legs...)

 

[GrandpaChook]

An update about the vet visit: the vet was very gentle and carefully felt along the leg. He said that he didn't think the leg was dislocated, but rather some sort of neurological injury, such as something falling on the chicken's back (another chicken jumped on, or...?) He said that the bird may recover, give it a few days, keep it away from the other birds, allow it to walk a little bit so that it gets a little movement. He also gave a shot of cortisone in the bird's drumstick.

He is trying to walk on his injured side, but not with much success. I'm still trying to find more info on dislocations in bird legs. Maybe I need to go to vet school.

 

[Chicks in VA]

Take him to a vet

 

[GrandpaChook]

Take him to a vet

?

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that you did see a vet. I had asked earlier if his pupils are round and sharp, or if the irises are normally colored, and not greyish or faded. Hopefully, it is not Mareks disease, but that can cause a variety of symptoms. Resting the leg would be achieved in a pen or dog crate with food and water, kept near the flock for company. Splinting can be done, but it is important to know what part of the foot, leg, or hip is affected. It also won’t help unless a bone is broken. If a hock or ankle is weak or the joint is moving too much from side to side, then a wrap or support might help stabilize the joint. Be sure to wrap it in a normal slightly bent position. A danger in wrapping or splinting, is swelling or cutting off circulation. So if it is done, just be sure to check temperature and color often.

 

[Chicks in VA]

oh sorry i skim read it and did not se the part about

He is in the "chicken hospital"

sorry.

 

[GrandpaChook]

Glad that you did see a vet. I had asked earlier if his pupils are round and sharp, or if the irises are normally colored, and not greyish or faded. Hopefully, it is not Mareks disease, but that can cause a variety of symptoms. Resting the leg would be achieved in a pen or dog crate with food and water, kept near the flock for company. Splinting can be done, but it is important to know what part of the foot, leg, or hip is affected. It also won’t help unless a bone is broken. If a hock or ankle is weak or the joint is moving too much from side to side, then a wrap or support might help stabilize the joint. Be sure to wrap it in a normal slightly bent position. A danger in wrapping or splinting, is swelling or cutting off circulation. So if it is done, just be sure to check temperature and color often.

Hi, I notice you help a lot of people with chicken problems. Thanks for taking the time, I know I really appreciate it. My chickens do not have Marek's, it is a brand new clean coop with brand new chickens (8 weeks old). I researched about it, thinking I would need to give them the vaccine, as the farm that I bought them from does not do this, and explained about "leaky vaccine" etc. I know that wild birds can bring it with them, but regardless I am not in a position to obtain the vaccine and I have 10 birds. Maybe they will get it down the line, maybe not. I sincerely hope not, and am doing my best to keep everything clean and practice biosecurity.

As per your recommendations, the chick has been resting in a little pen. I let him out occasionally to stretch and dust bathe. He is pretty miserable being alone, but he is also getting better, and putting weight on his injured leg. His flock mates sit beside him when he is put back in the pen, and then I allow them back into the coop.

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how the chick gets along, and good luck.