Not using foot after splint...

[Jandsloch]

So 2 weekends ago (nearly 3) we were away. When we came home one of my then 7 week old houdan was walking on her “ankle” with her foot turned sideways. I gave extra vitamins (rooster booster) in water for a couple days with no improvement. I inspected the leg and it all seemed normal. After a bit of researching I decided to splint from elbow to toes to straighten the foot as it could have been a simple sprain in the ankle. I left splint on for 4 days. Removed to see how she was. And she was still limping but using the foot. I gave her the day to see if she was limping due to being used to the splint. After several hours the foot began to turn sideways again which in my eyes meant she wasn’t fully healed so I splinted again this time for 3 days (total of a week in splint). My daughter removed the splint Saturday and it all appears straight. She was walking but With difficulty so we started excercise game the leg as it looks a bit thinner than the other most likely from not using. It seems now she refuses to use her toes. Sometimes she will correct her foot and stand properly but most of the time she refuses to use her toes. She grips my finger with the toes and if I fix her foot she will stand perfectly fine on them take a couple steps forward properly but then she drags them behind her foot walking on the ankle. I tried a ”shoe” that I found on here and it actually caused her to turn her foot sideways. So I removed it...don’t want that again. 3 times a day we are doing these excercises with her leg, toes, and ankle but it does not seem to make much of a difference. Does anyone have experience with this? Should we just keep doing what we are doing or is there something different we can do. She has been in isolation for nearly 3 weeks and busts out every time we try to feed and water her lol poor girl is goin stir crazy. Her “brother” a polish busted in with her this morning and last couple nights so I have left him. He doesn’t mind and she has a buddy. Any insight or ideas would be much appreciated. Thank you

 

[Jandsloch]

Adding some screenshots of videos hope you can see as I’m not good at describing

 

[Eggcessive]

Foot issues are hard to diagnose and treat. It is difficult to tell vitamin deficiencies, from slipped tendons or leg bone deformities. Then there are injuries and symptoms of Mareks disease that can cause issues. So that said, none of us are experts on splinting. Sometimes I think that splinting when done improperly or too tight, it can make things worse. I’m not saying that is what happened here, but we just need to be aware of that. Posting pictures of the chicken might help.

Edited to say, from the pictures you might want to leave off the splint because of the severe swelling. It looks a bit more like a leg bone deformity or a twisted tibia. Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a third type of defect where the bone itself actually twists with growing. None of those are treatable with splinting, and are permanent.

 

[Jandsloch]

Foot issues are hard to diagnose and treat. It is difficult to tell vitamin deficiencies, from slipped tendons or leg bone deformities. Then there are injuries and symptoms of Mareks disease that can cause issues. So that said, none of us are experts on splinting. Sometimes I think that splinting when done improperly or too tight, it can make things worse. I’m not saying that is what happened here, but we just need to be aware of that. Posting pictures of the chicken might help.

I did post a few photos and making sure it wasn’t tight was a huge concern for me as I obsessively checked toes and for swelling and cold. I’m no expert...have splinted a few wrists and ankles human though lol but the problem with chickens is they can’t speak. I at this point am not sure if she was used to walking on the splint and not using her foot of if it’s bothering her. I have kept the extra vitamins in her water for nearly 3 weeks so I might just add That to the bottom of the list of possible issues. I don’t think it’s marek’s though I’ve not much experience however no Symptoms of mareks. She actually gets around great on the ankle I would just like to correct it before it gets to the point of her never using it again. she acts like a normal chicken. Eats, drinks....is so mad she is isolated attempts jail break every chance she gets. And every time runs straight outside I feel for her I just don’t want her to injure it more or again whichever it may be

 

[Eggcessive]

I doubt that it is Mareks either, but was just pointing out another cause of foot problems or limping. Here are some good links to read through, and I would download the last one for pitures:

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/en-c...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

 

[Jandsloch]

I doubt that it is Mareks either, but was just pointing out another cause of foot problems or limping. Here are some good links to read through, and I would download the last one for pitures:

https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

https://www.merckvetmanual.com/en-c...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens

Thank you. reading over and looking at pictures her leg looks nothing like these. It’s straight...she keeps it straight except when she tries to turn and I’ve made her use her foot properly she turns and leaves it in position but then lifts it and uses ankle to stand and walk on. also when I put the shoe on she turns her foot. I am baffled. I thought putting the shoe on would help her use the foot but it seemed to possibly cause more trouble than anything. I’m considering sending her to my moms as she thinks spending more time correcting her foot manually and doing more leg work and ankle work daily this will help Her to use it. So basically in your opinion as I know we aren’t experts...do you think this is a good way to go? rehab at moms or do u think there is something else I should do. What would you do. Edited to add although vaccinations aren’t 100% she was vaccinated if that helps.