Does this chick have a broken leg?! Help!

[Jay Cartay]

Hi all, first post. I've owned chickens for a few years now, a couple of lavender pekins and a number of ex batt rescues.

Just short of a month ago, we bought a pair of day old Orpington chicks. They've been absolutely great up until last week when one of them seemed to be limping. The limp then cleared up as far as I could tell, but today I noticed when moving them into a temporary enclosure while the main one was cleaned that the limping bird suddenly had what appeared to be a badly twisted leg at the knee/elbow joint. The joint looks swollen to me but the bird is bearing weight on the leg, scratching in the sawdust with it etc. so I'm after a bit of advice really. Can a vet help? Will they just want to put him to sleep? I've videoed him as best I can:

 

[Eggcessive]

It may be a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity, but it also could have been a slipped tendon from an injury. Valgus can happen in one or both legs. If it occurs in both, the chick may have a knock kneed appearance. Neither condition is usually successfully treated. A vet might help. Sometimes some may use a tape splint to give the leg more support. Some chicks may be able to get around well enough with this disability to get enough to eat and drink. Here are some links to read about slipped tendon repair, and valgus deformity:
https://www.chickenheavenonearth.co...u-can-do-to-help-chicken-heaven-on-earth.html

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is one more link to read about a slipped tendon in a peachick with pictures of splinting:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peachick-with-slipped-tendon.1092979/