Gender and what do I do for its leg?

[dawg53]

If she is eating, drinking, and acting like a chicken should other than not walking correctly;
I'd leave her be.
I have an older rooster with a bad case of gout in one leg/foot and he manages just fine.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Looks like a leg bone deformity, likely Twisted/Rotated Tibia. I would not splint the leg.
Some learn to adapt and manage with one leg just fine, others fail to thrive or become too heavy for their leg to support them.
Imho, the only thing you can do is wait it out and see what happens. Do see that she's getting to food/water and eating/drinking well.

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

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

If she is eating, drinking, and acting like a chicken should other than not walking correctly;
I'd leave her be.
I have an older rooster with a bad case of gout in one leg/foot and he manages just fine.

Looks like a leg bone deformity, likely Twisted/Rotated Tibia. I would not splint the leg.
Some learn to adapt and manage with one leg just fine, others fail to thrive or become too heavy for their leg to support them.
Imho, the only thing you can do is wait it out and see what happens. Do see that she's getting to food/water and eating/drinking well.

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

She is already 4 weeks old and acts normal other than her leg. My only concern at this point is her roosting when I move her out with the rest of the flock. I'm not sure if she'll be able to climb the ramp, much less perch. We'll see.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is already 4 weeks old and acts normal other than her leg. My only concern at this point is her roosting when I move her out with the rest of the flock. I'm not sure if she'll be able to climb the ramp, much less perch. We'll see.

See how she does, you may need to provide her a low wide shelf or perch for her.
Ramps...you may have to figure out a step type system, if she can hop, then a step, a bale of straw to hop on, etc. for her to use may be helpful.
OR you may find that she needs daily help coming out or going back in.

Just observe her actions/mobility and make adjustments as she grows.

She's a cute little thing.

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

See how she does, you may need to provide her a low wide shelf or perch for her.

Good thought!

Ramps...you may have to figure out a step type system, if she can hop, then a step, a bale of straw to hop on, etc. for her to use may be helpful.

By ramp, I mean a ladder type ramp. It's a solid long board, with little steps going up it. I think you are right, though, the steps will make it easier now that I think about the way she walks.

Just observe her actions/mobility and make adjustments as she grows.

Will do.

She's a cute little thing.

Thanks! I think so too! Her name is Eloise.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good thought!

By ramp, I mean a ladder type ramp. It's a solid long board, with little steps going up it. I think you are right, though, the steps will make it easier now that I think about the way she walks.

Will do.

Thanks! I think so too! Her name is Eloise.

Great name!

I have ramps too, but sometimes place a bale of straw near the entrance of housing as well, depends on if I have chicks. It's still sort of high, but a wider surface for youngsters to hop on, get their balance and not fall off.
Then again, sometimes they have their own ideas and figure something out for themselves or just do it the hard way

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

Great name!

I have ramps too, but sometimes place a bale of straw near the entrance of housing as well, depends on if I have chicks. It's still sort of high, but a wider surface for youngsters to hop on, get their balance and not fall off.
Then again, sometimes they have their own ideas and figure something out for themselves or just do it the hard way

One more question. She stands on only one foot most of the time. Can I put her with a rooster or should I just not? She would be with a flock of approximately 12 hens for starters, but I'm trying to get approximately 20 hens with 1 rooster.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One more question. She stands on only one foot most of the time. Can I put her with a rooster or should I just not? She would be with a flock of approximately 12 hens for starters, but I'm trying to get approximately 20 hens with 1 rooster.

That would be up to you, but I would be inclined to keep her with a hen only flock.

She may do fine with the right rooster that is mature and has the right temperament.
Some roosters will take advantage of one that is not able to avoid them very well. I wouldn't put a cockerel with her at all, they can be a pain in the rear even for mature hens that know how to avoid their attentions.

Just my 2¢

 

[ThePhoebeFive]

That would be up to you, but I would be inclined to keep her with a hen only flock.

She may do fine with the right rooster that is mature and has the right temperament.
Some roosters will take advantage of one that is not able to avoid them very well. I wouldn't put a cockerel with her at all, they can be a pain in the rear even for mature hens that know how to avoid their attentions.

Just my 2¢

That was my thought, I just wanted to check. I was hoping maybe there was someway I could put her with the main flock. Oh well. I have her with another chick, so it won't be hard to just put them in their own coop.