New chicks - Some have problems...

[Acre4Me]

We just received our chick order via USPS. Paid for Express and they arrived here only 19 hours after the PO received them!

28 chicks (Straight Run):
4 Blue Copper Maran
3 Black Copper Maran
2 Blue Ameraucana
3 Creme Legbar
1 White Chantecler
5 Erminette
4 Gold Laced Wyandotte
2 Red Cap
2 Rose Comb Rhode Island Red
2 Salmon Faverolle

One looks like it has severe leg problems, pictures follow. Maybe slipped tendons? Tween thinks there is bone showing, but I am not seeing that, but by no means am I experienced with diagnosis. Sadly, I think we may have to euthanize it - but please offer opinions. We've put it in a cozy, fleece lined small box and given it water and nutri drench, so that it is comfortable as possible. I'm worried it is the only Chantecler, which was one of the breeds we were looking forward to in this shipment. I really hope it is not the Chantecler!

One has splay legs, so am going to try the rubber band with piece of straw between. Hard to find an appropriate sized rubber band, even when knotting it in the middle.

One has either sever crooked toes or broken toes. I didn't take a picture, but we did use blue painters tape to sandwich the feet (individually) into the correct position. I'm not sure how long to leave the tape on, but it appears the chick can walk with the tape on feet.

A couple look like they have eye problems - maybe they got pecked, so we will give them a chance to see how their eyes improve or not. But one looks like maybe eye is not correctly developed.

One has a bit of blood on beak, nostril area -hoping just pecked.

Several were lethargic, or would walk backwards - almost like they were surprised, and couldn't control moving forward or backward. We have given all of them Nutridrench, followed by water, so maybe will help.

Here are some pics. We tried to group them into what we thought were the breeds, but I'm pretty sure we didn't get them all right.

The sickest little chick (any idea which breed from my list?) - definite mobility /leg issues

The rest of them - tried to group them, but I don't think we got all the breeds grouped correctly. However, we did group feathered legs with other feathered legs and we think we got both 5 toed Faverolles together.

All together (We put any lethargic ones, and the one with splay legs and crooked toes in the fleece lined box.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

One looks like it has severe leg problems, pictures follow. Maybe slipped tendons? Tween thinks there is bone showing, but I am not seeing that,

One has splay legs, so am going to try the rubber band with piece of straw between. Hard to find an appropriate sized rubber band, even when knotting it in the middle.

One has either sever crooked toes or broken toes. I didn't take a picture, but we did use blue painters tape to sandwich the feet (individually) into the correct position. I'm not sure how long to leave the tape on, but it appears the chick can walk with the tape on feet.

A couple look like they have eye problems - maybe they got pecked, so we will give them a chance to see how their eyes improve or not. But one looks like maybe eye is not correctly developed.

One has a bit of blood on beak, nostril area -hoping just pecked.

Several were lethargic, or would walk backwards - almost like they were surprised, and couldn't control moving forward or backward. We have given all of them Nutridrench,

Congratulations on your babies! Cute chicks

I'm sorry that you have some problems.
Where did these chicks come from?

I would give them all some PND. 1-2 drops 2 times a day. In addition to that I would get some B-Complex and add that to their feed. OR for the ones with leg issues, try to get 1/4 tablet into each one of them. I do think all would benefit from a little extra B vitamins for a few days though since you are having problems. (PND does not contain B2(Riboflavin).

Now...let's look at that baby with the swelling on the joint you posted. What does that lump feel like? Is it hard or fluid filled? Do both legs look the same way or just the one?

For splay/spraddle leg, you may have better luck using vet wrap instead of a rubber band. The chickenchick has some good photos of that https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/ The problem with a rubber band or even hair tie, sometimes the narrowness of it cuts into those tender legs, with vet wrap it seems a little more gentle.

Eye problems - if they act like they can see, have no discharge or crust, then I would just watch those babies to see how they develop.

Sounds like you have a handle on the crooked toes. Taping may help, it depends on the cause. Crooked toes can be genetic, improper incubation and possible vitamin deficiency. B2 and the PND may help with that. If the tape is difficult to get off or it looks like it might damage delicate skin, apply some type of oil - baby/mineral oil and rub into and under the tape to help it loosen.

Blood on the nostril - I'd just watch that, likely got pecked. Chicks are exploratory so they do peck at eyes, nostrils, toes and butts.

Hopefully the lethargy, walking backwards, etc. is due to shipping stress and the PND will help with that. Try to encourage everyone to drink, then eat.

If I missed something...let me know! I think I got all of them.

Oh...where is your heat source, I don't see one?

 

[Acre4Me]

Thanks @Wyorp Rock !

Oh...where is your heat source, I don't see one?

They are in our house right now getting checked over, given NutriDrench and water, making sure they drink, then put into the plastic bin. We will transport to the brooder in the barn with a heat plate.

Now that they have had ND, many are quite perky, walking/running/ eating crumbles.

Now...let's look at that baby with the swelling on the joint you posted. What does that lump feel like? Is it hard or fluid filled? Do both legs look the same way or just the one?

It is hard, almost sharp, like the little bones are about to bust through the skin. Both are the same, although the area you circled is only on one side, but both have the same problem, and neither leg seems better than the other. We are keeping it as comfortable as possible, and giving it drinks every 30 min. It is wrapped in fleece inside the darkened and ventilated shipping box, to keep it from tumbling over all the time.

 

[Acre4Me]

I'm sorry that you have some problems.
Where did these chicks come from?

Sandhill Preservation. It was only their second hatch of the year, after a small first hatch. I've read that the first few hatches can sometimes come with more problems, so that may be what is going on. The other chicks we got in Feb (different hatchery) were from that very first hatch of the year for that hatchery, and a couple of those seemed a bit weak, and smaller - and might not have made it without our extra Nutridrench and electrolyte water, along with momma hen attentions and warmth. Now, those chicks are doing great and nicely integrated into the flock.

This time, no broody momma hen to help out!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks @Wyorp Rock !
It is hard, almost sharp, like the little bones are about to bust through the skin. Both are the same, although the area you circled is only on one side, but both have the same problem, and neither leg seems better than the other. We are keeping it as comfortable as possible, and giving it drinks every 30 min. It is wrapped in fleece inside the darkened and ventilated shipping box, to keep it from tumbling over all the time.

I'm glad that they are perking up!

The one with the major leg problem, I'm just not sure what that is. Could be slipped tendon. Does the chick indicate pain if you extend the leg?
@WVduckchick may want to chime in about those legs.

 

[Acre4Me]

I'm glad that they are perking up!

The one with the major leg problem, I'm just not sure what that is. Could be slipped tendon. Does the chick indicate pain if you extend the leg?
@WVduckchick may want to chime in about those legs.

We wondered if slipped tendon too. But, I'm not experienced with the various problems in chicks. I also posted in the emergency forum with pics of only this one chick.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We wondered if slipped tendon too. But, I'm not experienced with the various problems in chicks. I also posted in the emergency forum with pics of only this one chick.

Well, it's really not something I would say looks like slipped tendon, but it would be good to have others chime in.

 

[WVduckchick]

I’m going to check the other thread, but will come back here afterwards.

 

[WVduckchick]

Hmmm looks kinda deformed to me, but I can’t tell any better. Would it be possible to get a video of the chick trying to move? You’d have to post to YouTube or Vimeo or one of those sites, and link it here.

These were some instructions that I wrote up for someone else. You may try it before euthanizing, just to see if it helps. I don’t think it could hurt, unless you figure out the bone is broken. Then I wouldn’t try it.

Kinda looks like the hip is displaced. Can you bend the leg manually? Does it move at the hip joint?

Here's what I would try if it were mine. Hold your left hand out, palm up, fingers toward the right, in front of your chest. Lay the chick's belly in your left hand, feet pointing back toward your body, overhanging your pinky finger/palm. Grasp the feet and legs between your right thumb and forefinger. Slowly lower your left hand (kinda bowling ball or lawn-dart starting motion) and let the bird dangle for just a few seconds. Twist your wrist outward, and the bird's reaction should be to lift its head/chest/body upward toward your hand. (keep your hand under, but not touching, and don't drop her! lol) When it does, you can re-grab the body. This will sometimes "reset" a slipped hip or knee joint. It won't hurt the bird, and I would think its worth a try.

 

[Acre4Me]

We ended up euthanizing the poor chick that had the more extreme leg issue. It was more lethargic, not opening its eyes, and appeared to have some oozing around the joints (maybe due to the bone poking through that my tween could see, but I could not).

The others we have given Nutri Drench, water, and electrolyte water. We put foot "splints" made with vet wrap on the chick with crooked feet and put a brace on two of the chicks that appeared to have spraddle/splay leg. The one with crooked toes is still having some issues walking very well, even with the vet wrap which provides good traction, so we will see how it does over the next 24 hours. We put them all into the 3x6 brooder with a large heat plate, several water stations, 1 electrolyte station and 3 feed stations. We lined it with puppy pads for these next couple of days. So far, so good.