Not an emergency -- chicks limping

[LaurenRitz]

There are two chicks involved, both 13 weeks old. The first got in my way when I was chasing an unruly cockerel and I stepped on his foot. JUST the foot, but he's acting like he has splayleg, but only part of the time. Has a bad limp and wants to eat sitting down. They free range dawn to dusk.

The second is his sister. She was being raped (I use that word deliberately) by the cockerel that I was chasing. Her limp has gotten progressively worse over the last few days.

I don’t know how to tell what is wrong. A vet is not an option. I have separated them both in the hope that rest will help.

No sign of parasites, disease, or other contributing factors. Any ideas or suggestions? Might the boy have a dislocated hip? How can I tell? What am I looking for?

 

[Debbie292d]

Even though it's 13 weeks, the one with splay leg I would bind for a few days while it's healing up. I would think as he heals up his leg will go back.

Both I'd give 1/3 of a human B-Complex once a day for a week or two.

I'd keep them both like you do so they aren't using their legs/feet so much for a few days at least.

I've got one limping for an unknown reason and I'm soaking twice a day in Epsom salts for 15 minutes. It's only been two days, but I still don't know what's wrong. She's about 4 months old but has had issues since hatching so is about at a 2-month old size.



You could try soaking too.

 

[LaurenRitz]

They're in the greenhouse with food and water so they don't have to keep up with the flock free ranging.

I hadn't thought about doing a chick brace on him. That's a good idea.

 

[LaurenRitz]

She's still limping. I put hobbles on him and he's able to walk ok with them on. I made them a little too short so I'm giving him a break until I make him a new set.

 

[LaurenRitz]

The pullet is improving, slowly. She's moving around, and although it obviously hurts she is mobile.

The brace/hobble is not working on the cockerel. It's almost as if he has no feeling in that leg. When he tries to walk with the hobble on he steps on his own toes and falls down. I thought it might be dislocated, but the two legs feel identical in the structural sense. He's not moving or using the foot, he's mostly using his wings to try to move around.

If I place the foot under him he'll stand on it, but the leg doesn't move. There's no movement in the toes and no sign of pain.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I think there might be a chance. He moved that hip spontaneously a few minutes ago, so PT it is.

 

[LaurenRitz]

She must have been injured worse than I thought. I brought her in from the greenhouse a few nights ago and the next morning she was gone.

The boy is a different issue. He got mites (he was clean when I brought him inside) and when I sprayed his backside he jumped and ran. Definitely using both legs at that moment. Then he collapsed and was back to using only one, dragging the other behind him.