Knock-kneed at 3 months

[Eggcessive]

So sorry about your chick. Leg issues are certainly confusing in chickens. She could have had a riboflavin deficiency that caused her lameness, or perhaps Mareks disease, but she also could have a valgus-varus leg deformity which causes bowing and twisting of the legs. Here is a good link, and you will need to click on each page to look at the pictures: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790586/

 

[Khavilah]

So sorry about your chick.  Leg issues are certainly confusing in chickens.  She could have had a riboflavin deficiency that caused her lameness, or perhaps Mareks disease, but she also could have a valgus-varus leg deformity which causes bowing and twisting of the legs.  Here is a good link, and you will need to click on each page to look at the pictures:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1790586/

Some of those do look like her condition. Thanks for the link. I am having trouble posting from my phone or I would say more.

 

[Khavilah]

She is still hobbling around and eating and drinking and doesn't have any other health concerns, but with her feet out like that, even when she sleeps, I don't think she will survive the winter. She'll get frostbite and nobody else is sleeping on the ground that she can snuggle up with for warmth.

That makes me the most sad because the only solution would be to bring her inside the house and that would be a boring life indeed. It would be a warm life, but nothing as exciting as being a chicken outside.

I am hesitant to cull her because she's otherwise healthy as far as I can tell. I don't want to kill something just because it's inconvenient to keep alive or because it's ... you know what, I'll try bringing her inside. Next week's temps drop to the 20s Monday and Tuesday. We'll see how that works out. I'll put her by a window so she can at least see the sky.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could she just stay in the coop all day? I have had silkies and other bantams who don't particularly like the outdoors in the winter, so they remain in the coop and run mostly where the pine shavings are more warm. It is a shame that she can't cover her feet at night when she sleeps. Many people do have house chickens, and it wouldn't be that hard if you had a large pen for her. She could go back outside in the spring. I can understand not wanting to kill her unless she is suffering or sick. Here are some vitamin supplements that also contain minerals that may help her legs. The Vionat is the only one I can't double check to make sure it has riboflavin, but the others do. You can also give minerals in her food. Good luck with her.

 

[Khavilah]

Hey, thanks for the info on those supplements.

She's been an indoor-at-night chicken this past week and it seems to be working out ok. I bring her in for the evening feeding and take her out in the morning. Her legs look like they're twisting more now, though.

Before I put her in the box for dinner, I stretch out her legs some, like you would for a stroke patient. I also massage her hips while her legs are stretched out, which makes her close her eyes; whether it's from pleasure or pain I can't tell, but she doesn't squirm or squawk or fidget while I'm doing it so I'm hoping she likes it.

I sorta rub her knees a bit but I don't think that does much and it might be hurting her.

I wonder if her legs will stop twisting eventually.

 

[Khavilah]

Well, she died last night. I don't know why but I guess it's a relief since her legs weren't getting any better. She was active and "running" with the flock at dinner time just yesterday... no signs of predator or injury. She just ... just died. I found her under the straw in the chicken house this morning.

 

[Erien88]

I know this is a really old post but if someone finds this today it might have been a case of slipped tendons.