question about chick with bad leg, ***just got back from vet edited***

[AHappychick]

I had a chick hatch with what seemed to be a twisted foot. Thinking that maybe it would straighten out I did not cull it (as have for the few other deformed chicks I have hatched). Other than the foot the chick seemed to be ok so I figured I would let it have a shot. My sister who is a school teacher became attached to it so I did not want it to die and would hold it up and make sure it ate and drank several times a day for the first week. After that and despite definitely not thriving like the others it seemed to have adapted and has been able to get around and feed itself although it is painful to watch because it flops alot.

Now though its bad leg stays extended all of the time (cant seem to bend it at all on its own) and it gets stepped on by the other chicks that are now twice its size even though they are the same age.
I am not sure how to proceed from here...

1. First has anyone seen a chick with a leg like this and do you know what is wrong or if it is fixable?

2. Should I separate it from all the other chicks for safety? (I finally did tonight but it seems lonely but at least now it is not being stepped on.)

3. If I do separate it for a bit while it builds up more strength and then return it wont that make it worse for it because then it may not be accepted by the flock?

4. Should I try to find just one friend for it and just let those two live together or are chickens ok alone?

5. Should I attempt to ask a vet or get it fixed, (something I do not have the money for but would consider if it was an easy fix and not more than $200

Or is it going to get worse in time and should I cull it now (I don't want it to suffer and certainly wont be able to breed it).


Isnt it cute I just think it has the sweetest face and really is a very friendly chicken.

Here it is turned over, surprisingly it does not mind being held this way, to me it seems to me the whole hip is out of whack and the joints seem like they are almost fused. I can bend it a little bit and I try to do PT with it which seems to help a little, but lately it just sticks straight out.

 

[chickenzoo]

Can you bend his leg into the correct position? If so you might try to use the treatment for spraddle leg, by taking a long band-aid and wrapping one end around one leg and the other end around the other so it keeps his legs at the same distance apart as his shoulders. I would give him some liquid vitamins, seperate him so he does not get crushed and give him a docile friend to be with. I would continue to massage that leg and physically bend it over and over into the correct position as many times a day as you are able. Hope this might help you.

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
I can bend it a bit I try to fold it up but I dont think it moves like it should. I am afraid to tape a brace to it, it does not seem to like it folded back up, but I will try. Does anyone have a pic?

 

[AHappychick]

I gave it a stuffed kitty for a friend I figured it should have something to snuggle with, and could not find any stuffed chickens, I hope that it does not think cats are friendly after this lol

 

[AHappychick]

I tried to make a brace for it but the chick was really unhappy about it, does anyone have any other sugestions? or does anyone know a Vet who deals with chickens in NY or northern NJ, or southern CT mine charges $75 just to make the appointment to see the bird, and that is crazy to me because if nothing can be done it will cost me $75 for just the "look".

 

[chickenzoo]

Hope this image helps.

They don't like it, and will through themselves around a bit. If that does not work it is very hard to splint that type of injury. The more it slides outward the harder it will be to recover. I had a peachick that did that, they wanted $500 to fix it. He lived awhile but gave up after almost 6 months. Chickens don't weight as much, so can handle it better. The only other option besides surgery would be to take Vet wrap(feed store) and wrap his leg in bent alinement with his body, and somehow wrap it to his body in the correct position. I'll try to design an image.

 

[chickenzoo]

Ok it's a quick sketch, but I think it shows well. I'd take sturdy foam and cut a piece to hold the leg in the bent position. I'd use vet wrap to secure the foam to the foot and then to wrap the vet wrap around the body, under wing etc. to keep the leg in the under the body position and to keep it from splaying outward. It would have to be worn for awhile to give time for the bones and muscle to set.

 

[AHappychick]

ok Ill give it a try

thank you for all of your help.

 

[AHappychick]

just got back from the vet, the leg is splayed and can not be splinted with any good results.

I had heard of this but was not sure if that was the problem or if it was just a defect. If the other leg does not go and it is a hen I will keep it and use it for raising baby chicks or something since it can not live with the rest of the flock.

Maybe it will become a broody hen, that would be cool. My sister is so attached to it that I cant cull it she would freak out and I don't want that!

I am ticked though since I know the vitamin deficiency did not come from my end (all my chickens are on organic high end feed) That is the LAST time I buy from E-bay my bad experiences have now out-weighed my good with that auction site.

 

[silkiechicken]

Good luck with the chick. Sometimes though if they are shipped, something can get messed up in development no matter how well your incubator works and how healthy the flock was.

*hoping it is a girl!*