Leg problems with 2 week old Cobb chicks

[sumi]

I can't tell from the pic, sorry, but it does sound like it may be a slipped tendon or possibly an infection in the joint. There is some good info on diagnosing and treating leg and feet problems here:

https://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

and some more info here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/168626/what-is-a-chick-chair-and-how-do-i-make-one

I've never had meat birds, but I know they do tend to have leg problems due to their rapid growth. I hope you can get this fixed.

 

[loveourbirds]

thank you sumi, I couldn't find that top article again, I saved it to favorites. I hate being stumped.

 

[suzc]

Many thanks - it appears it could be lots of different things - I am trying to treat what I can.

I have trimmed their tone nails
Put them on restricted food
Added vitamins and mineral supplements
Cleaning them out at least 3 times a day
Encouraging them to exercise as much as possible
I have tried the manoeuvres to help with popped tendons but I don't think this is likely at 2 weeks with previously normal looking legs and gait.
They're bedded on a folded felt blanket with a double layer of rough paper towel on top so they are not tripping.
Starting too think they have just got too fat too quick and I may have left it too late to restrict food intake - I will know better next time :-(

 

[loveourbirds]

sounds like your doing all you can. i think the weight gain is the issue, but im not certain. keep us updated on progress/loss if you would?

 

[suzc]

Put the chiicks on antibtics in their water and they are much better - I picked up 3 chi is at about the same stage of development as mine to make up the numbers - the new chicks were less than half the size of mine so I think I must have been over feeding them which probably didn't help with their legs although it looks like the primary problem was probably a Mycoplasma synoviae infection, M.s. Infectious Synovitis

Looking much better now

 

[loveourbirds]

sounds like you got it figured out. that's great! its so hard to tell what the problem is when you cant see the chicks. its even hard to tell when you can see the chicks.

just remember the withdraw period on the medicine you give.

 

[suzc]

Thanks - they only need it or 5 days so I'll stop after today and there is a zero withdrawal period on these antibiotics - also the little is big enough for the entire worlds population of chickens !! 0.5 g in a litre goes a very very long way :/

 

[suzc]

Should say bottle not "little " flipping predictive text

 

[drumstick diva]

Good to hear you know what the problem is and are treating it

 

[sumi]

I'm glad to hear they are doing better!