Does this chick have splayed legs?

[ChickNanny13]

Unfortunately this is what I discovered this afternoon Don't understand since all was well yesterday & this morning. It sometimes walks on it's 'forearm' but will also walk normal. The toes will flex out but curls inward also. When it 'sits' up, ends up on it's side (right more than left) and has a problem getting up. Crop was empty this afternoon so I supervised it's eating & drinking, it would get pushed/bumped out of the way. Then it got up & walked normally under the MHP? I tried separating it from the rest, it really stressed out so I put it back, ate more then went under the MHP. I'm stumped as to what the problem is....Splayed?

It's part of a hatch of 39 Seramas & Silkies (quail sized eggs); 1 died a day after hatch, a tiny one a couple of days ago with no prior symptoms. On a diet of Medicated Chick Starter, 3wks old. If it were splayed, wouldn't it have been from day one? Injury from jumping around? Any idea? Suggestions? Remedy?

 

[coach723]

I'm attaching a link to a very good article on chicken leg and foot issues. https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
It's hard to tell from the pictures but looks like maybe the toes are not 100% normally formed? Maybe it's just the angle of the pictures, and how the foot is laying.
If it were mine, I'd separate to prevent any injury and not getting enough feed. If there is another chick that is not rough you can try putting them together to reduce stress.
I would start vitamins and probably make boots/splints,shoes for the toes to keep them from curling. And maybe use hock cushions if needed. Make sure it's on a non-slick surface. Newspaper is too slippery. Pine Shavings is better.
The article I linked to explains all of these things, which vitamins for what, and more. If it's a vitamin deficiency it can sometimes take a while.
Best of luck, and maybe others will have more suggestions.

 

[Eggcessive]

Unfortunately this is what I discovered this afternoon Don't understand since all was well yesterday & this morning. It sometimes walks on it's 'forearm' but will also walk normal. The toes will flex out but curls inward also. When it 'sits' up, ends up on it's side (right more than left) and has a problem getting up. Crop was empty this afternoon so I supervised it's eating & drinking, it would get pushed/bumped out of the way. Then it got up & walked normally under the MHP? I tried separating it from the rest, it really stressed out so I put it back, ate more then went under the MHP. I'm stumped as to what the problem is....Splayed? It's part of a hatch of 39 Seramas & Silkies (quail sized eggs); 1 died a day after hatch, a tiny one a couple of days ago with no prior symptoms. On a diet of Medicated Chick Starter, 3wks old. If it were splayed, wouldn't it have been from day one? Injury from jumping around? Any idea? Suggestions? Remedy?

It looks like it could have riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency. Get some poultry vitamins into the water. Alternatives would be human B complex tablets or baby vitamins without iron. Riboflavin is also found in plain yogurt, egg, beef liver, mushrooms and other foods. Human foods might not be good for such a young chick. Hopefully you will see some improvement within a week or so. The earlier it is treated the better the chances of helping. It also could be just a case of it not getting enough food and water, but try the vitamins.

 

[ChickNanny13]

coach723 - Thank you for the link, came across it doing research on BYC. It got Chick Shoes & separated from the rest, however I couldn't get it to eat so I put it back (supervised) to eat & drink. Helped it maneuver & sit up right.

eggcessive - Got them all on TSC vitamin & electrolytes powder that's added to their water. A lot of BYC members use PolyVisol without iron but none found here. Pharmacy says they only have with iron & it's not over the counter....Used to be in the past. Will look for plain yogurt tomorrow.

Another problem has arised, the breeder of these babies suspect it's a slipped tendon. Read about it in poultrypedia, wondering now if I'm going to have more problems. possible heredity or parents diet. She told me to tape the legs but now it keeps falling backwards & separated it from the rest but putting back with the rest to eat (supervised). Did well alone but this evening wasn't happy so I snuck it under the MHP & will remove in the morning. Breeder won't be happy, alot of Cockerels in this batch...

Tomorrow's another day but I'm not optimistic with this Chicks chances for a quality life. If it were mine, it would have gone to the Vet yesterday. I've never had success nursing birds, better with mammals but I will try my darness to save any living creature.

Thank you all for your help, say some prayers for this little one.

 

[Eggcessive]

I doubt that it is a slipped tendon. I'm not an expert or a vet, but the way the chick sits is very much like the pictures of chicks with riboflavin deficiency and curled toe paralysis. I would not tape or splint the legs, but handle the chick some every day to get it to stand and move it's legs. Here are some links to read with pictures for you to compare:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/curly-toed-paralysis
http://www.dsm.com/markets/anh/en_US/Compendium/poultry/riboflavin.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/

 

[ChickNanny13]

I doubt that it is a slipped tendon. I'm not an expert or a vet, but the way the chick sits is very much like the pictures of chicks with riboflavin deficiency and curled toe paralysis. I would not tape or splint the legs, but handle the chick some every day to get it to stand and move it's legs. Here are some links to read with pictures for you to compare:
http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/curly-toed-paralysis
http://www.dsm.com/markets/anh/en_US/Compendium/poultry/riboflavin.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/

I got a PM from kellyhubb stating the same - curly toe paralysis and I'm beginning to think that.

I put 'shoes' (curly toes/BYC) on yesterday & taped it's leg (tendon/breeder) kept it in the house in a plastic container so it could not move around, separated it & supported it to eat but found out eats better/more with the rest of its brood. In the evening I removed all taping & supervised it eating with the brood, dang it gobbled down food. Toes straightened out but still not supporting self right, when it got dark I put it under the MHP.

This morning it was doing way better! Now it looks like splayed leg but I also think its curly toed paralysis cause there's not much reflex in them Think it maybe a combination of issues That's what I enjoy about BYC, so many members with info & helping each other out

Thank you all for your help

 

[Eggcessive]

Sounds like you are doing well. It can take a few days for the riboflavin to help if it is a deficiency. Keep us posted about her improvement.

 

[ChickNanny13]

UPDATE: The Chick is doing so much better, this morning I was so shocked at the 'improvement'. It was hard to spot with all the rest & it could walk up right briefly, bright eyed & alert. It still flopped around with it's right leg kicking out but it corrected itself and the others weren't bothering it so I left it in the brooder.

Unsure if just a few days on the vitamin/electrolyte water and/or separating for a few hours yesterday afternoon in a plastic container with taped legs & chick shoes had anything to do with improvement. This afternoon I separated it in a box with feed mixed with half a boiled egg yolk, vitamin/electrolyte water, feather duster for company & picked up Poly ViSol (no iron).

Right side toes were slightly curled but straightens out, left side fine. It's right leg would occasionally splay out but chick corrected it and was upright again. Amazed at the improvement & trying not to get my hopes up too high. No complaints about being alone until it got "dark", had a full crop so I snuck it back under the MHP with the rest. Hopefully tomorrow a bigger surprise with more improvement

I'm thinking now it's a combination of problems but they all lead to a vitamin deficiency. I'm hoping for more improvement as the days go on, would be nice if the chick's recovery was 100% but I'm good as long as it can walk & maintain itself. Thank you for all your help, need to get some pictures but it's been hectic. Merry Christmas to all you BYC members

 

[Eggcessive]

Merry Christmas to you as well, and I am happy that you are seeing improvement in your chick.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Picture Update - 'Coal' stayed with the brood until later in the morning, then moved into the house in it's "box" where it stayed the day. His/her feed w/boiled egg yolk (about a fourth), vitamin/electrolyte water (as are the brood) and it's Poly ViSol drops. However at 6pm, started chirping, it wanted back in with the brood and I snuck it back under the MHP.

I tried taping its legs but it kicked up such a fuss, kept pecking at the tape I removed it. Did put it in the round plastic container lined with a sock where it sits under the duster. When it chirps, I let it out to eat & drink, move around some then settles next to the mirror. After some time I put it back in the container. I tried a sling and that too didn't go very well, instead I hold Coal in my hand with legs between my fingers. Right leg is drawn up but eventually relaxes, of course I then there's not much I can do but figure doing this several times a day plus in the plastic container keep weight off & rests the leg?

No idea what I'm doing but Coal's alive and I think improving slowly, just need to figure out some kind of physical therapy. Coal was moving around this morning alot better than this evening. It's legs do splay out but it's quick to upright it's self. Don't think it will ever be a "chicken" but will make a nice pet. Think being immobile (night) helps, so tomorrow will keep it off it's feet/leg alot more...Will try the sling again.