Day Old Silkie Chick with Bent / Stuck / Deformed Leg

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I just received a shipment of Silkie chicks (I buy from hatcheries to resell locally) and one little black chick has a very obvious leg deformity. It looks like the knee joint is locked in a bent position, probably where it was positioned in the egg. Is there a good treatment for this? Is it likely to loosen up over time or is this likely a permanent Issue?

Any advise is appreciated.

The chick otherwise seems healthy and full of energy.

 

[K R 2709]

Do you have a pic? It would help

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I am going to get one now. I had to wait for my DS to go to sleep.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Hope these go through, the site is fighting me on posting them (keeps freezing up). Anycase, the top one shows the angle it is stuck at best and the bottom one is how the chick generally sits. S/he will kick over to a wall or a feeder with the good leg and then just sit there. S/he cant stand, though s/he keeps trying.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Anyone?

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Ok, I had more time for a close exam now that the kids are down. The joint is easily 4x the size of a normal joint. It causes the chick discomfort to try and straighten it but it can be straightened. It seems the chick either isn't strong enough to do it herself or it causes to much discomfort to try.

So now the big question; should input her down? Silkies tend to be more pets than anything but I don't have any practical insight on how this will affect her quality of life. She can move around but can't lift her front very high; I am not even sure she can reach the water in the dish.