Is a bad leg a death sentence?

[Mechanicor]

hello. This is my first batch of chickens, and second post on this site, and I’m not sure what to do.

We purchased are birds from Big R about three weeks ago and I just noticed today that the smaller of the two turkeys has a bad leg. It was always a little “needey” the first two weeks. My wife had to hold it for it to go to sleep otherwise it would cry all night. Neither of us remember seeing it having trouble walking be for. Today at lunch I noticed that it’s right leg/knee would twist inward when it walks. There is no sign of swelling and it didn’t appear to hurt when I moved it thru what would be a normal range of movement.

We lost a Guinne on Easter to intestinal problems and the other Turkey was throwing a fit while we had this one to examine it. I would hat to lose another bird, exspecialy so soon, but from what I have read there doesn’t seem to be much I can do.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My guess is that it's a broad breasted. They can have problems with their legs unfortunately. It could be perosis, or slipped tendon of it could be from nutritional deficiencies.

What are you feeding? Poults require a higher protein ration initially. Another issue to look at is how old the feed as it can loose nutrients and vitamins if it's an older feed.

I believe manganese in the feed can help correct perosis, I only know what I have read as I haven't experienced it.

 

[Mechanicor]

My guess is that it's a broad breasted. They can have problems with their legs unfortunately. It could be perosis, or slipped tendon of it could be from nutritional deficiencies.

What are you feeding? Poults require a higher protein ration initially. Another issue to look at is how old the feed as it can loose nutrients and vitamins if it's an older feed.

I believe manganese in the feed can help correct perosis, I only know what I have read as I haven't experienced it.

Thank you we are still using the feed from Big R for new chicks, per there recommendation, it is three weeks old in a Tupperware container. I will look for food with manganese in it.

 

[Mechanicor]

Thank you we are still using the feed from Big R for new chicks, per there recommendation, it is three weeks old in a Tupperware container. I will look for food with manganese in it.

We are also still adding the vitamins in the water also from Big R. Is there food okay or should I be going some place else for supplies?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you we are still using the feed from Big R for new chicks, per there recommendation, it is three weeks old in a Tupperware container. I will look for food with manganese in it.

It is recommended to feed poults a gamebird starter. I have raised poults successfully on a chick starter but I also feed them a daily helping of scrambled eggs. Chick starter alone gave very slow growth rates. In broad breasted varieties it probably isn't enough protein to sustain their rapid growth, mine are all heritage which grow slower. If the leg doesn't correct itself it's recommended to cull.

 

[Eggcessive]

It may be valgus deformity in one or both legs. This article can help to explain the different types of leg bone deformities in poultry:
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[Mechanicor]

Is it possible that the knee joint is just dislocated?

 

[Eggcessive]

I doubt it. If you read some of the links about leg bone deformities in poultry, you will see similar pictures. It is commonly seen in chicks. Here is some reading, and the link above is good to read.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-legs-goin-outward.1128340/

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Google perosis.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good article that shows valgus deformity:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
Slipped tendon and perosis are older terms to describe some of the leg bone deformities such as tibial dyschondroplasia (TD,) varus valgus deformity, and others. Many are caused by mineral deficiency in parent stock or from heredity. Unfortunately, most of those are not treatable. Many people try splinting, and there may be a vet willing to try and repair the joint, but most treatments fail. Some do try and let the birds live as a pet, and some may survive if they get enough to eat and drink. Here is one who has survived with a slipped tendon:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...yone-ever-try-to-fix-this-experiences.879233/