Limping 3-week-old chick

[snkjohnson]

We have 12 chicks, 3 weeks old. I noticed today that one seems to be limping/leaning on the side of the brooder and having trouble getting around. Poop looks ok, saw her eating a bit, haven't seen her drinking today but I may have just missed it. Any advice??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would dip it’s beak into the water often to get it drinking. Can you post a picture of it standing forward on a table or box, so we can see how it stands? It may have been injured jumping or trampled. Some chicks have leg bone deformities and a slipped tendon can be an issue sometimes. The important thing is that it is getting plenty to eat and drink. If it cannot get around well enough or is getting pushed around, separate or make a chick chair for it.

 

[Eggcessive]

This chick appears to have a slipped tendon. Sometimes you can try to roll the tendon back into place and splint the leg once a day to check if it is still in place. Here is a link that explains how to get a tendon back in place. I will look at your picture when you post one. Make sure to check if there is any swelling or redness on the outside of the hock joint.

 

[snkjohnson]

Here's a picture. She does stick her leg out like the chick you pictured. Do you think that is what it is? She also isn't as large as the other chicks.

View attachment 1724273
This chick appears to have a slipped tendon. Sometimes you can try to roll the tendon back into place and splint the leg once a day to check if it is still in place. Here is a link that explains how to get a tendon back in place. I will look at your picture when you post one. Make sure to check if there is any swelling or redness on the outside of the hock joint.

 

[Eggcessive]

The ankles appear slightly swollen to me. Does it look that way to you? Is she able to put the right foot down or are the toes curled? I would start some vitamin B complex in her food or in some cooked egg, 1/4 tablet crushed daily, in case of riboflavin deficiency. Swollen joints can be from a mycoplasma synoviae MS) infection or if the whole foot seems swollen, from gout.

 

[snkjohnson]

The ankles appear slightly swollen to me. Does it look that way to you? Is she able to put the right foot down or are the toes curled? I would start some vitamin B complex in her food or in some cooked egg, 1/4 tablet crushed daily, in case of riboflavin deficiency. Swollen joints can be from a mycoplasma synoviae MS) infection or if the whole foot seems swollen, from gout.

Thanks for the replies!! I think the ankle looked that way just because of the angle...it doesn't seem swollen to me. However, today she seems worse and I just noticed this wound-type thing on her foot. Thoughts?

 

[Eggcessive]

The other chicks might have pecked it or she could have pecked if it is sore. The foot looks to me different from the left foot, so she might have sprained it. I would try to use the B vitamins to see if it helps.