Dislocated v. Broken leg in 4-week old Marans chick

[dlagrave]

yesterday I was catching a duck and suddenly a chick flapped past me peeping like mad. I saw he was dragging his left leg so I caught him. As I held him, I could feel blood pulsing against my hand from a wound on his back. I got him upstairs, and dumped a lot of cornstarch on his back to clot the blood. I put him in a tub, inside a wire dog crate with a light and water/food. I basically let him be, looking in to make sure he was OK and not bleeding. I did not want to stress him too much. He had never been handled much, being hatched and raised by a hen.

I think his body wound(s) are not life-threatening. I see no sign of oozing blood and no blood on the towel he is bedded on this morning. He also seems pretty alert and bright-eyed.

However, he can't put any weight on his left leg. He holds it out in
front of his body when he has to move, not tucked up against his
belly. I am wondering if it is dislocated, rather than broken. How can
I tell which? And how do I help him?

Thanks for any help!

Danielle

 

[Imp]

How old is this chick? Could it be splayed leg?

If it is broken you will need to splint it.

Not sure about dislocated.

Imp- Is vet an option?

 

[dlagrave]

He is 5 weeks old. It is definitly not spraddle leg. It is an injury. I think that in the excitment of catching the duck, a chicken stepped on him, raking his back with its nails and squishing it which injured his leg. Unfortunately I cannot take him to the vet.
Danielle

 

[Imp]

Sorry Danielle,

Here is more broken leg posts than you can shake a stick at. Up for a little reading?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/search.php?search_id=576859416

Good Luck,

Imp

 

[dlagrave]

Thanks. Reading away!
Danielle