Leg Problems in Baby Chicks

[atief1253]

Our cuckoo maran chick started out with two normal legs and toes. After a week, the toes on her right foot curled inward. During the last two weeks, her right leg has twisted and now points backwards. The foot is down and she is dragging the top of the foot on the ground. She is in no pain. I have turned her leg every which way and she doesn't care. She is happy, eats and drinks and can get to where she wants to go. Part of me thinks she should be put down but the other part sees her healthy, happy, eating and drinking and for that reason, you can't put a healthy animal of any kind down. Has anyone experienced this? She is now a month and two weeks old.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she may have a leg bone deformity. Varus-valgus deformity, tibial dyschondroplasia, and other problems that affect the tendons can cause these problems, and are very common. They may have been caused by mineral deficiencies in the parent stock or heredity. Not much can be done, but I would give vitamins that contain trace minerals in the feed, and try to let the chick lead as normal as a life as possible.