Does this look like spraddle leg?

[S610]

Hello all. On Wednesday I bought some bantam chicks at the local feed store and there was a "dead chick" left in the shipping box. When the wing fluttered I decided to buy her too and give her a chance. After warming her up and feeding her sugar water with egg for a few hours she was walking/eating on her own.

This chick is probably a Porcelain D'uccle Bantam and very small (.5 oz). Much smaller than the other old english game bantams. Yesterday she came up lame and refused to put pressure on her left foot. The joint on the leg looked a bit red/swollen so I wrapped it to hold it straight (thinking it could be a slipped tendon, I have never dealt with this before). This morning the swelling/redness was gone but she still won't stand on it. I put a little brace on her legs.

She is getting around a bit better but still doesn't want to put pressure on it. This video was taken 5 minutes after the brace. Hoping for some sage advice here, I have had chickens for over 10 years but couldn't remember my login so started a new account. Other than limping (and looking a bit messy) she is in good spirits.

Does this seem to be spraddle leg? Is it normal for them to avoid standing on that foot until they get used to the brace? She has come a long ways and I don't want to mess this up. Video below:

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Hello, do her legs splay out to the side without the brace? It doesn't appear to be spraddle legs. Looks like more of an injury or malformation. I'm having trouble seeing in the video, but is she missing parts of her toes on her left foot?

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you post a picture of her standing without the hobble. I’m wondering if she has a slipped tendon.

 

[S610]

Could you post a picture of her standing without the hobble. I’m wondering if she has a slipped tendon.

At first I thought it was a slipped tendon especially because the left joint looked a bit swollen/red but her leg is so tiny I could not see it or tell if the tendon was back in place. I put a wrap on to keep the leg straight all night and this morning it looked better. See pics below.

Hello, do her legs splay out to the side without the brace? It doesn't appear to be spraddle legs. Looks like more of an injury or malformation. I'm having trouble seeing in the video, but is she missing parts of her toes on her left foot?

See video below without the brace. Also see pic of her toes, they all appear to be there.

She was walking fine earlier yesterday. A bit slower than the other chicks but she got around. I think this is all my fault, I gave them a dish with scrambled egg and she got excited and sort of "danced around" the edge. That could have caused an injury. I feel horrible about it. She was doing so well, she had a miracle recovery and then this happened.

Thank you both for your help. It is very much appreciated. I am so upset over this.

 

[Eggcessive]

It does look a bit mire like an injury, and she is pecking at it because it hurts. It might be good to let her spend some time in a chicken sling to be close to food and water, and to rest the foot. I would also let her be with the other chicks a couple of times a day. The slings are easy to make, and you can attach bottle lids for food and water. This thread has really good examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I agree with eggcessive, it looks a lot like an injury and not a slipped tendon. It must've been the lighting in the video that made me think she was missing a toe!
It's good that she is trying to walk and is able to put some weight on it. The sling sounds like a good idea. Hopefully, a few days of rest will make her feel a lot better!

 

[S610]

It does look a bit mire like an injury, and she is pecking at it because it hurts. It might be good to let her spend some time in a chicken sling to be close to food and water, and to rest the foot. I would also let her be with the other chicks a couple of times a day. The slings are easy to make, and you can attach bottle lids for food and water. This thread has really good examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Thank you! I was very stressed since I read if it is a slipped tendon it needs to be put back in place within 24 hours and I wasn't sure what was going on.

I agree with eggcessive, it looks a lot like an injury and not a slipped tendon. It must've been the lighting in the video that made me think she was missing a toe!
It's good that she is trying to walk and is able to put some weight on it. The sling sounds like a good idea. Hopefully, a few days of rest will make her feel a lot better!

Thank you! Actually someone on another forum also thought she had a missing toe; I think the feathers hide it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know know how this little one gets along.

 

[Sonya9]

@HoneyBeeHomestead @Eggcessive Happy to report the chick is MUCH better! (I recovered my old account.) Thanks again for the great advice. Leaving her in that brace could have caused even more problems.

As mentioned she was left for dead at the bottom of the shipping box along with two other Porcelain D'uccle chicks. Since that time it has been an uphill battle and the chick has basically only wanted to sleep or eat.

Today for the first time she has energy to spare and is pecking around, fluttering her little wings, getting much louder and starting to act like a normal/healthy chick! 15 sec video below.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for the update. Glad that she is walking better and more active. I would offer some mushy chick feed and a bit of egg yolk to give a little boost to help her catch up.