HELP! 8 week old chick with deformed leg/foot.

[jamesneilf]

Hi, everyone my name is James and i have just received my first chicken.. I'm new to this so please be patient
i have a chicken that 8 weeks old but it has a deformed leg. it leg has turned upward as if it was looking at the base of it foot and the toes still move. it seems to be hopping around happily enough, i just wondered if there is anything i could do to help it out.
any help would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks, James

 

[hannah311189]

Where did you get this chick?

 

[jamesneilf]

My grandad gave me it. Why?

 

[hannah311189]

I was just wondering if the leg had been like that for awhile (since hatching) or a fairly new developing occurrence

 

[jamesneilf]

Yes it was like this from hatching, i beleive there was 3 of them with similar deformities the other sadly died but this one seems to be a fighter

 

[hannah311189]

If there was 3 others like this from the same batch, I would say bad genetics or a broken leg or something that never healed properly. I'm not really sure what can be done to the chick now that it's 8 weeks old. If it was younger you could brace/splint the leg. But I am unsure. Maybe someone else will know. I would say though as long as he isn't suffering/struggling and thriving to not really worry about it. Usually my chicks with severe deformities just live out their days as a happy chicken.

 

[jamesneilf]

yeah i think ill just leave him to ienjoy his life. Thankyou for your help

 

[torilovessmiles]

Hello
That looks like a twisted femur, and it can be caused by genetic problems or a damaged tendon, causing the femur to grow deformed. I had a pheasant chick like this, which unfortunately passed away due to a vet's ignorance.
At some point you may need to take it to a certified avian veterinarian to possibly have the leg amputated if it causes major problems, but its probable that the chick will simply learn to live with the deformity. It may need some special care, because it will probably have trouble flying and roosting, and may have problems with other chickens. However, I think it could live a pretty happy life. I have two 'special needs' birds currently and they are perfectly happy!