Leg turned sideways

[kmb221]

6 week old Royal Palm just started walking with leg turned out. Not sure what to do. It was fine yesterday. What can we do if anything?

 

[Judy]

hope this helps

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

 

[DuckRaiser]

Hey! That chicken looks like my sweet heart Isabella! I can't even tell you how sweet she is!

 

[kmb221]

Thank you, Flockwatcher. We have done all the things as far as bedding, etc. I guess it is puzzling because it just happened like overnight. I have tried manipulating the leg, etc. It does not seem to be in pain. Would a splint help?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Thank you, Flockwatcher.  We have done all the things as far as bedding, etc.   I guess it is puzzling because it just happened like overnight.  I have tried manipulating the leg, etc.  It does not seem to be in pain.  Would a splint help?

 

If you have tried all of that, then yes, I would splint it if I were you.

 

[casportpony]

Does it look like this? If so, it's a slipped tendon... not sure how to fix it.

-Kathy

 

[DuckRaiser]

Maybe you need to get a farm vet, I have never had this happen before so I'm just saying. When did it happen? I remember fixing a chicks leg, but it was a long time ago so I don't really remember what we did. And I am NOT an expert at this so don't listen to ALL I have to say. I bless your bird with Gods protection and I hope everything goes out well. PS you can put a splint on it I think and maybe your cute little bird will be walking the right way again

.

 

[kmb221]

Yes, somewhat. It's hard to tell in your photo, but when it walks, it looks like it's leg is turned the wrong way, if that makes sense. We were away all day Saturday and I noticed it Saturday night.

 

[casportpony]

From: https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry#chick_crooked_leg​

Fix Slipped Achilles Tendon in Hock Joint

Click here to read one little chick's success story of recovery from a Slipped Tendon & Perosis.
Click here to see a video of movement patterns of one chick with Perosis. Editor's note: The video says Perosis can't be treated after 24 hours, but I have not seen any other source say this, so I don't know that is true.
Note from Editor: I have had no personal experience with a Slipped Achilles Tendon being treated successfully, though a number of people have. Information below is from what I have read & tried to analyze myself, but may not be sufficiently informed. Please do additional research to ensure best treatments. [If you have a success story, photos, or treatment tips, it would be very helpful if you would Contact PoultryPedia so they can be shared to help others!]

• Slipped Achilles Tendon is a condition that results when tendon that runs down through the groove on the back of a bird's hock has slipped out of place off to the side.
• This problem frequently occurs in conjunction with Chondrodystrophy / Achondroplasia & Perosis, conditions in which nutritional deficiencies in parent bird's diet keep chick's bones from developing properly to hold tendon. May also lead to Twisted Leg.
  • See "Ensure adequate nutrition to prevent Perosis" section to be sure that your chick feed has appropriate amounts of essential nutrients, and try supplementing in extra if your chick is showing a problem.

• Symptoms: If a leg has a slipped Achilles Tendon, the joint will look swollen and the back of the hock will look flat (Compare to other leg to double-check). The bird can't fully straighten its leg by itself if this is what's wrong with it. One leg will turn sideways, and may stick straight out to the side
• Treat this problem as soon as possible, so the tendon does not end up shortened or deformed.
  • If the tendon has been out of place more than a few days, it may be unbearably painful to the bird to try to fix it or may cause damage. You could try gradually stretching the leg the leg a number of times a couple days to lengthen the tendon, & then try correcting the placement.
    • This is especially true of young chicks because their legs are growing so quickly. Various bones, tendons & muscles will have done a lot of growing in just a couple of days and may have become too short, long or twisted so they can't allow the achilles tendon to be back in the correct location.
      
• To reposition the tendon into the correct place: Gently pull the upper part of bird's leg a bit behind normal position and then carefully straighten the leg as though bird were stretching its leg back in a pretty normal stretching motion. Press gently against the side of the tendon if needed, and it should pop back into place pretty easily and cause little if any pain. Gently release the leg and it should return to a normal bent position.
  • Some sources recommend pushing the tendon back in place just by pressing with your finger. However, stretching the leg back is a much less painful method.
    
• Sometimes a tendon has a hard time staying in place. It may have been out of place for too long or a chick's hock groove may not yet have developed enough to hold the tendon well (Be sure to provide very good nutrition to support optimal bone growth at this time. Do NOT give Calcium or other nutrients in excessive amounts, however--that could cause other problems.).
  • You can repeat the repositioning of the tendon additional times, if needed.
  • It will also help if you put the bird in a Chick / Chicken Sling or Chair and/or put its leg in a cast (such as one made from a bendable drinking straw) for a few days (~5) while re-alignment stabilizes.
    • (Note: There is some debate on whether it is better for feet to not touch the ground--as recommended below-- or to touch the ground a little. Please research further when making the choice.)
    • It is important for the legs not be able to reach the ground. The bird needs to be suspended with its legs just hanging freely or in not-too-tight casts shaped in normal bent angle. In this position, the chick won't try to use its legs as much. Its legs need relaxed rest in their normal position until the tendon(s) have stretched and adjusted back to the right place and shape.

• You can try Surgery for a tendon that won't go into place or won't stay in place, along with other treatments. Click here to read one little chick's success story.
  
• If there is swelling on hock:

• If infection is part of what is causing joint to swell, you will find pus. In this case, recovery is almost always impossible, and would be EXTREMELY difficult. In almost all cases the bird should be put down to avoid additional suffering.
• If swelling was just caused by displacement that has now been fixed, swelling will go down in 2-4 days.