Chicken with curled foot

[chicken97]

I just got chickens this year and one has a curled foot and the leg stays out to the side. She was getting along OK. She'd hop on the good one and use the other to push herself along. Now she seems to be struggling a little more. Is there anything I can do for her?

 

[thealpha]

My chicken has a similar issue and this is the second time it has happened in a few months. My 8 month old Wyandotte got so bad that she could barely walk but I gave her water with ACV and fresh sliced garlic for a few weeks and she seemed to have snapped out of it. I know my flock was exposed to Marek's so this may be manifestation of the disease and I will have to consider culling her soon. Do you know if your chicks were vaccinated for Marek's within the first 36 hours of hatching? I hope your bird doesn't have it because its very sad to loose birds after you have worked so hard to raise them! I have already lost 3 of my birds to Marek's and will probably loose a few more. Don't buy your chicks from Russell at Chickens Galore in Norco, CA. He does not vaccinate his chicks for Marek's and the birds I got from him are the ones that are dying.

 

[Eggcessive]

Your bird could have a leg bone deformity, or it could be a vitamin deficiency(riboflavin) or possibly Mareks disease. I would start putting poultry vitamins or BComplex into your chickens' water daily, and start ASAP. The quicker a riboflavin deficiency is treated, the greater the chance of success. Here are some links to read:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[thealpha]

Thank you! I checked the label of my, "Poultry Cell" water soluble vitamins and sure enough it does not list B2 in the ingredients only B12 so I'm going to go out and buy some today. Can you recommend a brand?

 

[chicken97]

Thanks for the great info. I'm not sure they ever were vaccinated. I got her from a friend that got them from a neighbor. She was perfectly fine up to about 8 wks and then this happened. Everyone I asked said it was no big deal and it happens to a lot of chickens which is why I waited. The rest of mine all seem healthy. TSC is the only place for me to get supplies. What vitamin should I get?

 

[chicken97]

Thanks for the info. She was normal up until I'd say 8 wks and then this started happening. I'm not sure she ever was vaccinated but the rest of mine all seem healthy. Others told me it was normal for this to happen to some so I never asked until now. What vitamin should I get? I only have a TSC to get supplies. Thanks!

 

[thealpha]

I'm not sure what vitamins to recommend since I'm new to raising chickens too but I did ask Eggcessive the same question so maybe he will respond to us?

 

[Eggcessive]

Any poultry vitamin containing riboflavin which is vitamin B2. Human B Complex tablets have it, as well as nutritiional yeast, and many foods rich in it, such as these: http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-high-in-riboflavin-vitamin-B2.php

 

[thealpha]

i bought this today at my local feed store. it has 50 mg of B2.

 

[Eggcessive]

That looks fine. It says to use 1 tsp per gallon of water. As a bonus, it contains probiotics, good for intestinal health.