My first hatch. Broody hen. 13 chicks. This little one is 5 days old. It's leg bone is twisted at the "elbow" and foot is sideways. Is there anything I can do?
You might try treating it like a slipped tendon, to see if the joint is flat and tendon is out of place. And try chick vitamins with riboflavin or some B complex daily. Here is a video:
Thank you so much for your reply! All my researching didn't turn up slipped tendon. This may very well be the issue instead. This chick is 5 days old. I've been giving vitamin B in water. I will try massaging and see if I can help it.
Update: This is new to me! I've been massaging and trying to work the leg. Putting slight pressure on the scabby looking part. I don't know if I'm doing this right! I'm so afraid I'm going to break something or make it worse. Any suggestions? It's eating, drinking, hopping along, very active.
The hock looks swollen and scabbed. That is common with slipped tendons. Many chicks with this frequently do not make it. It usually needs to be fixed in the first day, and even then few survive. Is she able to move around to food and water? I hope that she can be helped.