Injured Chick, don't know what to do

[affacat]

Hello, I have 3 chicks that are maybe 7 weeks old or so. We keep them in a private outdoor pen during the day, and bring them into the house (cardboard box) at night.

Over a week ago, we noticed one of them started limping really badly. She spends most of her day sitting, and just hops around on her good leg. Sometimes she'll stand with her leg bent, so only the tip of her bad foot touches the ground. We don't know what happened to cause this.

My wife and I both checked it for visible injuries, but couldn't find any. I have checked a couple times since then, still to no avail. Nothing seems broken that I can tell. I have no idea if the injury is foot, leg, knee, or thigh...

I expected her to be better in a few days, but at this point, it's been well over a week and she doesn't seem to be improving.

She IS eating and drinking. Just not improving.

Any ideas on what I should do? Should we wait it out? We could bring her to an avian vet we know of but I fear that there's nothing they could do or tell us except 'wait it out' and then charge us (and we're not made of money).

 

[realsis]

Yes I understand your situation. If she were mine I'd keep on eye on it or perhaps you can wrap the leg in a splint and see if that helps? Have you checked her foot to make sure she does not have a foot injury? If she does not show improvement after a week or so you might be forced to take her to the vet.but you can try splinting it yourself and see if that might help. Best wishes I hope she improves soon!

 

[mg15]

If she has a sprin or trauma it takes time to heal. Give her time. And if it hurts at all she is going to show you she just does not want to injure it any more by putting weight on her leg. She will let it heal. That is a trauma or sprain. It just takes time.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have had pullets sprain a leg and hold it up for a month before improving. Give her some time, maybe some chick vitamins in the water (or a drop of PolyVisol-no iron daily), she will probably be fine. I probably wouldn't splint, but that is my opinion.