Our emu chick started limping

[madime39]

Good morning, I've seen several posts about emu chicks that are limping, but none seem to apply to our baby. We have two chicks that are almost six weeks old; we got them when they were 10 days old. During the day they are kept in a grassy enclosure (weather permitting) that is approximately 8' x 15'. At night we bring them into our family room and keep them in an extra-large dog crate that has a folded flannel sheet on the bottom for traction. Yesterday it was quite chilly and rainy outside (we're in Mid-Michigan) so unfortunately they were kept in the crate most of the day. This morning when we woke up, one of the chicks was limping. His right foot doesn't appear to turn outward (that's what I gather would indicate splayed leg?). We have peafowl, pheasant, and chickens, but this is our first experience with emus, and obviously my daughter is quite worried. Any suggestions or thoughts? Thanks so much in advance.

 

[drumstick diva]

He may be limping from the confinement of a crate. Legs are very important to an Emu since they grow to be heavy birds. Have you checked his leg and feet for any sores or injury? Does he seem to be in pain, cry out if you touch his leg, or hip. I think it would be good to limit his movement (small pen) so he won't be using his bad leg so much.

Do you have any vet that would see him? If you were near a large city zoo, I would think they might have someone on board with experience. Brookfield Zoo in Illinois does have a couple emus. if you could contact email or otherwise - they may have advice to offer.

 

[madime39]

Thank you for the response. He doesn't have any obvious wounds on his legs. We can pick him up, hold him, and manipulate the leg without him crying out. I read on another thread about a slipped tendon in emus, but that doesn't seem to be the case here either. The crate that we keep them in at night is 3' x 4' and 3' tall, so they can get up and move around somewhat, but yesterday the weather just wasn't nice enough to let them outside. Right now they are outside in their temporary pen. I check on them every half hour and I'd say about half the time he's walking around, the other half he's sitting.

Our friend is a newly-graduated veterinarian; she's returning home tomorrow so I can ask her then if she has any thoughts or knows a good avian vet.

Thank you again for your insight and suggestions.

 

[madime39]

Update: I have had a very difficult time finding a vet that will look at Bilbo Baggins. There are only two avian/large animal vet offices that I could find that would look at his leg. Both are within 15 miles of us and are the vets for a small zoo nearby. However the two are married to each other and are both out of the country until Monday. Another vet that doesn't treat emus but does own them had me email him pictures; he believes that it is a slipped tendon just above the hock. I did some research online and it sounds like there are sometimes ways to manipulate it back into place. We will try that this afternoon when I have someone to help me with it. Beyond that, I will have to wait until Monday before an experienced vet will look at him.

 

[enola]

I think being on a nice thick soft bedding would be of benefit. I am wondering if the sores/callouses on his hocks are caused by the hard floor in the crate.

 

[madime39]

We do have a thick flannel sheet, folded several times, on the bottom of their crate for traction. I'd say it's about 1/2" thick. They will be able to be moved out to their permanent pen hopefully tomorrow. We did wonder about the marks on his hocks, if they were normal or not. The other chick has them as well. This is our first experience with emus and the only help I can find is online How would you recommend treating the hocks?

 

[enola]

I have never had emus, so my concern may be unwarranted...... But, they appear to be scabs caused by pressure on the hocks. (I would concerned about staph entering under the scab)

I may be wrong about this, perhaps some one can chime in and let us know.

 

[madime39]

I have never had emus, so my concern may be unwarranted...... But, they appear to be scabs caused by pressure on the hocks. (I would concerned about staph entering under the scab)

I may be wrong about this, perhaps some one can chime in and let us know.

That's a very good point about staph. Unfortunately we have to learn as we go with these birds so I greatly appreciate the input Callouses on some animals are normal, and I guess I just figured it was normal for these chicks as well. We are anxiously waiting for Monday morning so we can get him to the avian vet. In the meantime we have cleaned the hocks and applied antibacterial cream. Thank you again!

 

[enola]

I have learned a LOT of things the hard way, much to my disgust.

 

[madime39]

Us too And sometimes the internet is a very contradictory venue for getting accurate information. This forum has been invaluable though!