foot deformity

[jhans]

a fisher cat killed three of my four chicks (2 months old), so i purchased two 12 week chickens from a local egg farmer, but didn't bother to see what he had given me. when i got them home i saw that one of the chickens has severely deformed feet. she can't walk properly and can't roost. they've been in my coop with the baby chick for hours and haven't moved from their spot. i suspect that these were caged birds and don't know what to do. the deformed hen also has an overlong bottom beak and she squawks constantly. what should i do? return the deformed chicken and get a healthy replacement? if these two were caged, will they learn to range free? so far i haven't seen them eat or drink. they just stand in the corner. yikes!

i've had backyard hens before, but have never seen this sort of deformity or behavior. will these birds get along ok?

 

[DuckLady]

Can you post a pic?

I have a crippled duck who gets along fine. She can't walk well but she scoots amazingly fast.

 

[jhans]

i've had her in the yard and she does seem to get along fine on grass. she can't navigate the smooth ramp in/out of the coop, however. also, i noticed that her top beak is trimmed well back from her lower. (same w/other chicken i got from an egg farm). will that effect their eating? they also don't scratch in the yard, but just sort of roam around. will all that innate chicken-y behavior come back to them? i'm assuming they've been stuck in a cage or close quarters for 3 months now...i just want to make sure they're going to be ok in their new environment. thank you for answering.

 

[can you hear me now?]

I am by no means an expert but as far as i know chickens with clipped beaks have that done because they are either pecking eggs or other chickens but they should still be able to eaf fine the way they are. Maybe the farmer just trimmed them up as a precaution to protect his investments.

 

[fourfeathers]

The farmer debeaked them which is often done when hens used for laying are kept in close proximity or caged so they don't peck eachother from the stressed conditions. She won't be able to defend herself as well of course, but should be able to eat. You may need to make her a mash that she can pick up easier. As for the foot deformity, can you post a pic? Are they swollen, is there a sore on the bottom, any evidence of mites, are they misshapen? It may have been caused by little exercise I am sure and being kept on a wire cage bottom. Cruel. She should adapt and learn to range, but should be protected of course since her mobility is lessened and they are probably not as aware of dangers in their environment as they would be if they hadn't been kept up most their life. Poor things. I hope you can give her a happier life. He will probably cull her if you take her back. If she is past her prime in egg laying especially. I'd make sure she doesn't have an abscess on her feet. May sound silly, but I would massage them and rub bag balm on her feet and legs. An antiseptic, soothing, keeps mites away and will not harm her if she pecks at it.

 

[fourfeathers]

Oops, sorry! I just reread and saw that she was just 3 months old. I hate when people forget what they have read when they reply
The legs, depending on what exactly is the deformity, could be anything from an orthopedic problem from birth to being caused from how she was confined, to a vit deficiency. I would post a pic, supplement with vit B or polyvisol and check her feet and legs over for something treatable.