Odd foot turned out on new 5wk old chick

[Anny]

I got a chick a few days ago, from a local person. It's able 5weeks old. I believe it's a Barred Rock. I noticed today that while holding the chick that it couldn't perch on my hand like the other one could. Then I noticed that it's one foot was being help oddly. Almost turned out and over. Sadly my camera isn't working right now so I played around on google image search for a while tell I found this photo that kind of look like what her leg looks like:

THIS IS NOT MY PHOTO I FOUND THIS PHOTO ON GOOGLE
But my birds foot looks like that foot (just on a 5 week old chick and not a little little baby like the one in the photos.)

The Hen appears to walk around on the foot just fine. Not even a limp. It doesn't seem like splay leg at all since the bird can stand up right. And walk around just fine. But she can't grasp things in the odd foot. As far as I know the bird has not been dropped or handled roughly since I got it. It could have been like this before I got it and I just wasn't paying enough attention I'm honestly not sure.

The chick is currently being housed with another hen the same age in a brooder, under a heat light and they seem to be getting along great. No bullying or anything, both are eating and drinking just fine.

Any idea what could be going on with the foot? Is this a genetic thing? Can I splint the leg to fix it?
(I have some splinting material on hand if I need to splint it) Or should I just leave it alone since the bird is getting around just fine.

Any help would be great.

thank you so much!

 

[Anny]

I came across this website and I though it might be helpful for someone else who has the same issue with their chicken.

http://sites.google.com/a/larsencreek.com/chicken-orthopedics/leg-braces

I believe the chicken I have has Twisted leg. I'm not completely sure how to fix it still. If anyone has anymore info please let me know.

 

[darkfur]

Quote:
I would suggest the "chick shoes" solution on the site and also give a vitamin supplement in the water as it may be due to a deficiency such as manganese (can occur if the mama was deficient). Also use a non-skid flooring such as that rubbery stuff you can get to line drawers with. PS doesn't look like a barred rock chick to me?

 

[chickenzoo]

Sometimes what I find helpful is to make them an oversized shoe on that foot, with more of the shoe facing the side opposite the way you want the foot to go, so it helps push the leg back inline. I use heavy cardboard and ductape.



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[Anny]

Thank you so much for the reply. I'm going to try to do that today. I love your little image you made to, very creative and helpful.

 

[chickenzoo]

LOL, I was hoping you could understand that............ I was limited to this keyboard... hehe