Limping Chick

[Strong86]

Also, what does standing in a teacup do?

We did this to make sure he was standing correctly (and not with the leg twisted or out to the side at all). And then to gain strength in the leg since he wasn't using it as much (hence increasing in time over the week - up to 15 or 20 minutes). We started off in a pint glass so we could see his legs, but this was too big for him and when he got tired he would almost get stuck in the glass. After a couple times with this, we moved him to a teacup, and could look down to make sure the leg was properly positioned and then when he started to get tired he would rest his chin on the edge.

 

[Strong86]

Thank you for the advice! I do not think he has slipped tendon. I can feel the tendon and it feels like it is in the correct place. He is limping but the foot is not splayed inward or out an it feels and looks perfectly normal. I am starting to think it may have been a toe injury. Some parts of the skin on his foot look a little funny, like human skin would while peeling after a bad sunburn. Do you think his leg muscles could have just been underformed? Maybe he was helped out of his shell unnecessarily. He fights when I pick him up but he calmed down when I tried stretching his leg, so I think I might do PT anyway. Even if he does not have a slipped tendon, hopefully this will help his leg and make him less skittish around me. When I pick him up he will run and flap his wings to try to get away. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.

The stretching is probably a good move no matter what the cause is to make sure the tendon doesn't shorten.

 

[FlocksOfFluff]

Thank you everyone for all the advice! He has been doing a lot better recently. I can barely see the limp and he is still a little small but growing much faster. I have also quit stretching his leg since he has started doing it himself now!

 

[Strong86]

This is fantastic news!! always wonderful to hear a success story

 

[FlocksOfFluff]

Update!
Forrest is about 6-ish weeks old now and it is becoming clear that he never recovered. His right back toe is swollen to three times the left one, and he has a weird half- limp when he walks, no, struts. His proud, tall walk is adorable. He is most likely a rooster and has some very pretty saddle feathers. He is about the same size as two Swedish flowers that are about a week younger, and a third of the size of a massive buff o/ rir cross that is a day older than him, so he is pretty small, and much less energetic than the rest of the chicks. He seems to be growing pretty well, if slowly, but he eats a lot, so I am a bit confused where all that food is going?! Should I still be worried about him and his toe? I will post pictures in a minute.

 

[FlocksOfFluff]