Does this look like slipped tendons?

[Jennasul]

Hi everyone. This is Bessie. She is huge and has massive legs but seems to always bend them at the 'knee' to like crawl around and sit while foraging. She is a bit wobbly and she can't keep up with the rest of the flock when free ranging she is only 14 weeks old but didn't have any noticeable leg issues as a chick. Are we thinking slipped tendons?

 

[Eggcessive]

To look for a slipped tendon or leg bone deformities, it would be good to see a forward or backward picture of her standing up, even if she has to be helped up. The way she is sitting on her hocks and walking on them, it might be a symptom of riboflavin (vitamin B2) deficiency. Does she also have curled under toes? I would start her on some vitamins with riboflavin or give her 1/2 B complex tablet daily for a couple of weeks to see if it makes a difference. Note that Poultry NutriDrench does not have riboflavin. Not to scare you, but sometimes this can be an early symptom of Mareks disease. She also might have been injured. Here is a good link about riboflavin deficiency:
https://thepoultrysite.com/publications/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

 

[Jennasul]

Thank you for your reply! She doesn't have curled under toes, no. She's thankfully been immunised for Marek's.
Here is the best photos I could get of her from the back. She walks a few steps and then sits on her hocks.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think it may be possible that she has a leg bone deformity in one leg, either varus or valgus deformity. Valgus is when the leg bows out, and varus is when the leg is more knock kneed. It can happen to one or both legs. But I would continue to use the B Complex for a few weeks to see if it helps. Here is an article with some good pictures or the bow legged or the knock kneed appearance:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[Jennasul]

Thanks for your help! I will see how the B complex goes. Is it fine for all of my chickens to have the b complex?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, but try to make sure that she gets 1/4 tablet daily, and you can grate it or crush it onto some of the feed. A few drops of water or oil along with a stir will get the vitamin to stick to food. You may also give it to her orally intanlet form, no more than 1/2 tablet daily. It dissolves well in a little water as well.