PLEASE HELP!!! Chick can't balance with splay leg support

[abs45]

May be wordy, but please read!

I have a 2 wk old Silkie that has a limp.

I think she got jossled by slightly bigger chicks,so she and a buddy are separated. She limps on her right leg, and sometime seems to rest with it slightly straightened. Hock isn't not swollen or deformed. It doesn't seem painful when I massage it. I can tell a difference in muscle tone due to her favoring one leg, but there are no deformities and she does put weight in it, just not full weight. She eats, drinks, gets around well.

I tried the "hobbling" to see if it helped, but she wasn't able to balance and just ended up on her belly with legs in the splint out behind her. She seems less troubled if I just let her be, while watching closely and making sure she eats and drinks. She also comes in and out of theory MHP warmer just fine.

I have given her Nutri Drench supplement as well.

Should I just continue monitoring and hope for the best?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just let her walk without a hobble. Can you post a picture of her standing, or a short video on YouTube with a link here?

 

[abs45]

I'll get a video!

 

[abs45]

UGH!!! I can NOT get the video to share to YouTube!!!

 

[abs45]

Let's try this!

 

[abs45]

UPDATED WITH VIDEO!!!

 

[peaceisgreen]

maybe try an angled splint that will keep the one leg in a natural position and prevent her from straightening it out so far should help with balance as well im no expert though

 

[Eggcessive]

I saw the video. Her right leg looks very rubbery which could be due to a slipped tendon. I am not an expert on slipped tendons. Most cannot be treated with success, and I am not even certain that is the problem. But it does look like she might get around better with a little splinting, say just wrapping the legs with a one inch width of vet wrap or Coban self adherent first aid tape. Paper tap is good for splinting and easier to get off than some sticky tape. She is so small that even a wider bandaid may be enough. Vet wrap can be applied too tightly to cut off circulation, so be careful with that. A slightly angled splint as mentioned in the previous post may be better. Here are a few pics of similar splinting by others with a slipped tendon.

photo by pinehillfarms

photo by The Egg Farm

 

[abs45]

I'll try it again, but it seems like she drags it more and gets ticked off if I put something on it. I'll try making ensplint a bit thicker around the hock like in the pic. Thank you. Fingers crossed.