HELP! Limping baby Chick! Slipped Tendon, broken? HELP- Video provided

[skylarms]

I have a chick who hatched early yesterday. It seemed fine in the incubator but when I put in the brooder, it was not using a leg (see video). Suggestions? I tried slipped achilles treatment, but it doing the same thing still. Treatment options? Possible diagnosis? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvR__FTzE-8

please help! Is it splay leg? Slipped Tendon? Broken? What treatments would you recommend and how?

 

[fishermans wife]

I would treat for slipped tendon. gently pull leg back like it would do when stretching. If the tendon is slipped you will feel it on the inside of the knee and will be able to roll it back into place. Hold it there while wrapping vet wrap aroung the leg. That part is hard as they are so little! An extra set of hands is helpful! You can then splint it like pic above. also, start it on poly vi sol baby vitamins without iron! That can aid in resolving leg issues. 3 or 4 drops by beak 3x a day. Realize you will be wearing most of the vitamins before you are done Electrolites in the water is helpful as well. Good luck!

 

[skylarms]

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[ArtGirl]

First of all I wouldn't stress to much. As long as the chick is eating and drinking you have plenty of time to figure out whats wrong

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If it's not eating or drinking on it's own take a syringe (you can get them at your local feed store) and make a puddle at the top of it then hold the chick and hold the drip against it's beak. He should drink the drip.
If it's not eating try to find a mini ice cream sampler spoon or other mini spoon. If you don't have one cardboard shaped like one would work. Then find a cup and put some chick crumble and some water in it and let the chick crumble soak up the water. then put some on the spoon, hold the chick up to it and see if it will eat some.
You will have to experiment until you find a treatment that works

. I would try the band splint (below) first.

 

[skylarms]

Thanks! I will try! Right now it has a splint on its leg and refuses to use it at all. Maybe after it rest a bit, I will retry.

 

[fishermans wife]

It can take them a day or two to get used to the footwear! Any improvement today?

 

[skylarms]

Not much..... The wound is healing better. I talked to an avian specialist ( He was nice enough to call me back after I talked to his staff!!)) Their office call is 75 then meds and treatment from there. Ouch... However, he did tell me his opinion. He says it will not go back into place if its swollen. He suggests metacam, but cant prescribe with out a visit first, and a figure 8 wrap. We are going to try using what I have (Tylan for infection and Rimadyl in a VERY low dose) and see if that can help the swelling and get it to go back. Three things can happen- 1) the swelling goes down, the tendon goes back in, life is great 2) The tendon isnt slipped but the hock is painful. The drugs work, life is great 3) He doesnt get better and we spend 100 buck and an hour driving to see the vet....... Its a GORGEOUS cochin chick. Its fat and full of fluff. Its parent stock is very successful in the show pen, so Its worth it! It was in an egg marked as an Orp... Definitely not! The breeder has cochins too I dont know why Im such a softy for this chick. Im a BIG softy. I know most would just cull it. Any opinions an med dosages??

 

[fishermans wife]

No idea on dosage! Maybe someone can chime in! Good luck!

 

[skylarms]

So, I mixed a 6 cc syringe full of water and put half a baby aspirin in to dissolve. I gave it about 5 drops every 4 hours. Swelling went down and I can pop the tendon over, however it wont stay unless the leg is straight and barely at that. I have it splinted straight but the little guy HATES that and peeps non stop. It doesnt peck at food, but does drink. I am also giving it 4 drops of tylan 50 for infection. I havent killed it and its working kinda so I will continue! Im not sure if it is enough to help, but well see. At least I feel I am giving it a chance. I should add that its not eating has been an issue from the beginning not with the addition of meds. It actually willing eats from a syringe after its had some aspirin solution. I hope the thing pulls through. Im enhausted!! To top it off, I just had my next batch hatch! Theyre worse than kids, I tell you. Luckily this batch has no problem children in it and every hatched fine! Phew!!!

 

[fishermans wife]

I totally understand! I treated a chick with wry neck for a week, with no improvement and it was consuming my life. I finally decided if it wasn't going to turn around , it was "time", so the next day I went to check on it and it was doing great! One week later I can't tell which one it was! So glad I tried!