Outward Bent Leg

[PolarBerry]

I heard loud peeping and went to find the small chick curled up under the larger chick. I separated them by putting little one in a taller cardboard box. With both of them having hobbled legs I’m not sure how that happened but probably the larger chick grabbed/drug over the smaller one. I don’t need the little one getting crushed and injured further so keeping them separate when not being observed.

 

[PolarBerry]

Olive egger chick is standing better now. Easter Egger still won’t use leg in the right position but gets around mostly ok using it like a peg leg. Need to re-wrap the legs but a family death has put most things on the back burner.

 

[PolarBerry]

So far good appetite and thirst on the little one. She wasn’t sure about the paper towel and was semi hunkered down when I took the picture (since her hocks are slightly bent in). Feathers are starting to fill in!

The other one (4 wk old Easter Egger) still has the sideways leg, it seems no amount of splinting is going to win that fight. She kind of flaps to get around on her one leg so going to let her be for the time being.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I hatched a cockerel with a similar problem. I tried many many things but nothing helped his leg. He ended up doing fine and living like a normal chicken, leg never did heal so he just hopped around. I named him Long John Silver.

Sadly he ended up dying, but it was unrelated to his leg. There were times when I thought it was hopeless, but it wasn't. Hope it goes well for you and the chicks!

 

[PolarBerry]

Thanks. The black and white one is only a week old and has been hobbled and kept on non slip since day one so there’s more hope for her.

It’s possible the other one had a break from the hatchery near the hock and the tendon slipped and it all healed up crooked.

Both get around fine and eat/drink well on their own. The little one gets a bottle cap half full of water so she can’t drown herself. So time will tell.

 

[PolarBerry]

So get this... I hear peeping loudly and go in the room with the temp brooder and find the little stinker Olive egger running around and following around the 4x larger ameracauna.... she somehow hopped about 8” vertical with hobbled legs. Sooo she’s fiesty. I may see about getting her a buddy this next week since we have some
Copper marans coming in on a one time shipment and the new one(s) would be smaller and less likely to knock her over. I think she really wants to be with other chicks.

 

[PolarBerry]

The Easter Egger was euthanized today. I was re wrapping her leg splint and noticed her tendon was ruptured and sticking through the skin... the swelling was still there and red so I assume it was starting to get infected.

She had a giant callus/scab on her hock that must have been hiding the tendon. In the last day or so she had been making non stop noise so I knew she was uncomfortable.

Thanks for your support guys, I think I got to her a little too late.

Meanwhile the Olive egger is doing much better and walking great with her hobbles. So at least there’s some hope.

 

[PolarBerry]

Update: the olive egger is fully recovered and can even climb up my shoulder to perch (and poop down my back).