Silkie Chick Leg Issue - Please Advise!

[KylesKoop]

Hello,

My 2 month old silkie chick suddenly started displaying leg issues last week. Here are the symptoms:

1. Leg is swollen and bowing outward, specifically at hock joint.
2. Leg is positioned more towards her rear than the other leg.
3. She is limping to not put weight on it and not being herself, but still eating and drinking.
4. I’ve noticed her one toe is almost “erect” (like not flat) and sticking upward on the bad leg at times.
5. Her one toe is also swollen/larger on the bad leg as well.

Originally I started with Epson salt baths for a day or two because I thought it was something else but then did some research and felt like it was a slipped tendon. Since realizing that I immediately began to stretch her leg backward twice a day and hold it for a few minutes and tried to manipulate the tendon. I also have been using a hair tie to keep her bad leg somewhat controlled because it seems to just want to bow outward and slip behind her. I have been wrapping her leg with medical tape as well to keep it someone straight after I stretch it. When I do the stretches and manipulation on her joint I can put pretty good pressure on it and stretch it completely back without her making a sound (she almost acts like it feels good). I have been doing that routine for about 5 days now and started baby aspirin about 3 days ago on top of that.

I do not see any infections or anything like that on her leg (like bumble foot). I have 13 other chicks who are thriving and I just feel at a loss on if I can do anything else for her or if I need to just wait it out.

At this point I am not sure what to do which is why I am seeking feedback from the group here! Do I keep doing what I’m doing another week or should I try something else? She seems to be pretty much the same. I’ve included a picture I took when it first started (she was wet from the Epson salt bath).

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and sorry about your silkie.

I would start giving some B-Complex. Of the human ones, I'd go 1/4 or 1/3 of one daily. If liquid, about 1/3 of the eyedropper. That'll help bones and muscles repair.

I would also watch those toes and leg bowing as it's still growing and you could still fix it. I just wouldn't want to hurt it, so see what you think about putting a boot on the foot to make the toe lay down, and bind its legs to stay the proper distance apart.

By boot, we cut a piece of cardboard like from a cereal box or little bit stronger, then lay their foot flat on that, and tape it to the cardboard. Usually for a day old chick, their toes are fixed in 12/24 hours. Yours might take several days. For binding legs, we use a strip of Vet Wrap.

Otherwise, it sounds like you're doing the right things.

I'd pick up some Poultry Cell and put that in her water every day for a week too. The others can have it, but I'd go every other day for them.

 

[KylesKoop]

Hi, and sorry about your silkie.

I would start giving some B-Complex. Of the human ones, I'd go 1/4 or 1/3 of one daily. If liquid, about 1/3 of the eyedropper. That'll help bones and muscles repair.

I would also watch those toes and leg bowing as it's still growing and you could still fix it. I just wouldn't want to hurt it, so see what you think about putting a boot on the foot to make the toe lay down, and bind its legs to stay the proper distance apart.

By boot, we cut a piece of cardboard like from a cereal box or little bit stronger, then lay their foot flat on that, and tape it to the cardboard. Usually for a day old chick, their toes are fixed in 12/24 hours. Yours might take several days. For binding legs, we use a strip of Vet Wrap.

Otherwise, it sounds like you're doing the right things.

I'd pick up some Poultry Cell and put that in her water every day for a week too. The others can have it, but I'd go every other day for them.

Thanks! I have been giving poultry cell as well but forgot to mention.

 

[Lacrystol]

Hello,

My 2 month old silkie chick suddenly started displaying leg issues last week. Here are the symptoms:

1. Leg is swollen and bowing outward, specifically at hock joint.
2. Leg is positioned more towards her rear than the other leg.
3. She is limping to not put weight on it and not being herself, but still eating and drinking.
4. I’ve noticed her one toe is almost “erect” (like not flat) and sticking upward on the bad leg at times.
5. Her one toe is also swollen/larger on the bad leg as well.

Originally I started with Epson salt baths for a day or two because I thought it was something else but then did some research and felt like it was a slipped tendon. Since realizing that I immediately began to stretch her leg backward twice a day and hold it for a few minutes and tried to manipulate the tendon. I also have been using a hair tie to keep her bad leg somewhat controlled because it seems to just want to bow outward and slip behind her. I have been wrapping her leg with medical tape as well to keep it someone straight after I stretch it. When I do the stretches and manipulation on her joint I can put pretty good pressure on it and stretch it completely back without her making a sound (she almost acts like it feels good). I have been doing that routine for about 5 days now and started baby aspirin about 3 days ago on top of that.

I do not see any infections or anything like that on her leg (like bumble foot). I have 13 other chicks who are thriving and I just feel at a loss on if I can do anything else for her or if I need to just wait it out.

At this point I am not sure what to do which is why I am seeking feedback from the group here! Do I keep doing what I’m doing another week or should I try something else? She seems to be pretty much the same. I’ve included a picture I took when it first started (she was wet from the Epson salt pull the leg towards the back of her, keep a couple of fingers on the joint and feel to see if it pops. She may have a slipped tendon. Apparently it's not a whole lot that can be done.

Thanks! I have been giving poultry cell as well but forgot to mention.

I don't know what happened with trying to post something here but when you stretch her leg to the back, place two fingers on the joint and see if you can feel a pop.

 

[Slothinc]

If it is slipped tendon, they can be extremely difficult if not impossible to fix in chicks over a week or two old. I hope it isn’t slipped tendon!!

 

[KylesKoop]

I don't know what happened with trying to post something here but when you stretch her leg to the back, place two fingers on the joint and see if you can feel a pop.

I do feel some popping when I manipulate it

 

[Lacrystol]

I do feel some popping when I manipulate it

The popping is the you putting it in the correct position but when you let it go it will slip back into the wrong position...My guess is slipped tendon. I haven't heard of anyone getting this corrected. Sorry..

 

[Slothinc]

The popping is the you putting it in the correct position but when you let it go it will slip back into the wrong position...My guess is slipped tendon. I haven't heard of anyone getting this corrected. Sorry..

I was once able to fix a chick with this issue, but it took several days and it was right after hatch. When it happens later I think that it is impossible to fix (maybe unless surgery is involved) because the muscles and ligaments holding the tendon in place are already formed, and have either torn or formed incorrectly. So sorry about your little one. Maybe if you research on this site you can see if anyone has fixed an older chick but I do think it is extremely unlikely.

 

[Lacrystol]

I was once able to fix a chick with this issue, but it took several days and it was right after hatch. When it happens later I think that it is impossible to fix (maybe unless surgery is involved) because the muscles and ligaments holding the tendon in place are already formed, and have either torn or formed incorrectly. So sorry about your little one. Maybe if you research on this site you can see if anyone has fixed an older chick but I do think it is extremely unlikely.

I agree I believe once they reach a certain age, surgery is the only option..

 

[KylesKoop]

If it is slipped tendon, they can be extremely difficult if not impossible to fix in chicks over a week or two old. I hope it isn’t slipped tend

I agree I believe once they reach a certain age, surgery is the only option..

Ugh that is what I was worried about. I guess I’ll give it another week.