Does my chick have a spinal deformity or something else?

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I’m not really experienced with this sort of thing. Culling now seems to be a valid and reasonable decision, but so does giving it a shot and trying to help. I think things to consider are mobility now and in the future. Can it walk at all? Walk one legged? Walk with a limp? Do you feel that a gimpy, but otherwise able to move and do basic chicken things acceptable quality of life? Do you have restrictions/considerations if it turns out to be a rooster? If you try something like splinting to slowly push the leg to something more functional - maybe that helps enough, but if not, would you be prepared to cull later after trying something and it doesn’t work? Do you have the time and resources to ‘doctor’ on the chick? Also with the appearance of viewable deformities, there may be other abnormalities that you can’t see.

Also, it looks awfully fluff-less …?

I think the flufflessness is due to the chick being wet.

 

[ladybrasa]

I think the flufflessness is due to the chick being wet.

Oh look, there’s a sink in the background embarrassed

 

[TinyRaptorDodos]

I purchased lavender Ameraucana (NOT Easter Eggers) chicks yesterday (approx 1 week old) and was offered this cull to see if I could do anything for it. I could tell there was a leg issue and at first thought splayed leg. I’m wondering now if s/he has a spinal deformity. The shoulders/wings are pushed up in the back, neck looks to have a curve in it, and the leg/hip seems to have an abnormal attachment point. I’m new at this and don’t want to make the decision to cull if there is something I can do for him/her.

I have a chick with a deformed leg, some people would say cull her some people would say wait, if s/he’s in pain I’d say put her out of it, if not I’d wait and see if she can make it on her own, my chick was supposed to be dead by now but she’s still alive and she’s already quite big but also my strongest and loudest.