Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Thread '3 day old Silkie Chick Slipped Tendon HELP' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/3-day-old-silkie-chick-slipped-tendon-help.1513461/

Wow he looks pretty good! Your doing an awesome job taking care of all your little chickies!
I almost culled my slipped tendon chick, he couldn't walk at all. he looked like he was in horrible pain and discomfort but after a couple of days on vitamins and braced with bandage he was all fine! And doing perfectly well now a few weeks along like it never happened

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Wow he looks pretty good! Your doing an awesome job taking care of all your little chickies!
I almost culled my slipped tendon chick, he couldn't walk at all. he looked like he was in horrible pain and discomfort but after a couple of days on vitamins and braced with bandage he was all fine! And doing perfectly well now a few weeks along like it never happened

The video was of the hobbled one with splay legs.
The link is of the one with slipped tendon...idk what to try now.
My body is Hurting from holding him so particular n workin on them both for 2 days straight. So only way I can lay it down without it crying is on its back in bowl under heat plate.
What did you do?
Did u brace the tendon back into place and cast with leg straight or in bent position?

I was just about to cull the lil thing and I held it up to the water bowl and it did its lil head over and drank repeatedly...so I don't think it is ready to give up yet.

 

[LynnaePB]

The video was of the hobbled one with splay legs.
The link is of the one with slipped tendon...idk what to try now.
My body is Hurting from holding him so particular n workin on them both for 2 days straight. So only way I can lay it down without it crying is on its back in bowl under heat plate.
What did you do?
Did u brace the tendon back into place and cast with leg straight or in bent position?

I was just about to cull the lil thing and I held it up to the water bowl and it did its lil head over and drank repeatedly...so I don't think it is ready to give up yet.

Oh I am so sorry the one is looking like it has a slipped tendon. I thought it might be that but hoped it wasn't. I've had a couple hatch like that but they had bigger problems internally I think and passed within the first day or so. Recently I had one survive that I believe had a slipped tendon as well as an issue with the hip on that side. I still don't know what the right choice is with that one but I just couldn't bring myself to put something down that was trying so hard to live. I couldn't figure out a way to fix mine. The knee was just so immobile and it seemed like it hurt the baby to manipulate it. I just could not find a way to fix the rotated hip either. That little one is smaller than the rest and will always be very crippled but still seems so happy to get fresh food and water and loves snuggling up to his/her big buddy (who is an adult but was doing poorly with the rest of the flock so now is keeping my 4 month old crippled baby company). With cases like this where it's hard to really say how quality of life is I think there probably isn't a clear right or wrong way to do things. Culling wouldn't be unreasonable but at this point for me personally as long as the little one still eats and drinks and gets around (albeit poorly) I can't make myself choose to end his/her life.

I wish your little sweetie with the slipped tendon the best. I'm so glad the other one made such improvements! Mine with the same issue did the same. It still stresses me out when I have one of those little paddlers hatch but knowing how well they've come out of it in the past makes it a lot easier.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Oh I am so sorry the one is looking like it has a slipped tendon. I thought it might be that but hoped it wasn't. I've had a couple hatch like that but they had bigger problems internally I think and passed within the first day or so. Recently I had one survive that I believe had a slipped tendon as well as an issue with the hip on that side. I still don't know what the right choice is with that one but I just couldn't bring myself to put something down that was trying so hard to live. I couldn't figure out a way to fix mine. The knee was just so immobile and it seemed like it hurt the baby to manipulate it. I just could not find a way to fix the rotated hip either. That little one is smaller than the rest and will always be very crippled but still seems so happy to get fresh food and water and loves snuggling up to his/her big buddy (who is an adult but was doing poorly with the rest of the flock so now is keeping my 4 month old crippled baby company). With cases like this where it's hard to really say how quality of life is I think there probably isn't a clear right or wrong way to do things. Culling wouldn't be unreasonable but at this point for me personally as long as the little one still eats and drinks and gets around (albeit poorly) I can't make myself choose to end his/her life.

I wish your little sweetie with the slipped tendon the best. I'm so glad the other one made such improvements! Mine with the same issue did the same. It still stresses me out when I have one of those little paddlers hatch but knowing how well they've come out of it in the past makes it a lot easier.

Ok thank u!
I guess there are much bigger things going on in the world...so few people on byc lately (on my posts anyways) so had me down...not to mention takin care of littles all day!
Each time I thought I had the courage to cull it would do something like drink water on its own...then later hobbled over and actually ate!
Back to the heating pad (since the sun went down and can't be in brooder with others) for a nap. Then it wakes up in hour or so and I take it to get more water and it eats again!
I dont think it has thrown in the towel on it's little life of 3 days as much as I have my own!
Gonna have to come up with a really good name for this one!
Is yours in the house or does the older one watch over n protect it outdoors?
Thank u for your response!!! It means so much to me!

 

[LynnaePB]

Your little one sounds like a little fighter. It's a very lucky baby to have someone willing to give it a chance like you are. I hope things continue improving so you don't have to face the difficult choice of culling.

I'm sorry there wasn't much of a response to your threads as well. It does seem like sometimes BYC is less active than others. I can see why that would be discouraging when you have an issue with the little ones like you are dealing with.

My little one is in the house for now with the buddy. I had him/her out with the rest for awhile but with the cold nights I felt like that one being smaller and less able to get in the middle of the silkie pile would be better off inside. When the nights get a little warmer I'll probably make a place for that one and a buddy outside. We'll see how it is doing come the cold again next fall/winter and I'll decide if it needs to spend winter indoors.

I'd love to hear the name you come up with for your little fighter when you settle on one! I'm always terrible at naming mine. I call my little special needs one Stumpy. The legs looked somehow shorter to me when first hatched and that was before I figured out how bad the leg issue really was. Now I feel kind of bad calling him/her that but it just kind of stuck as I'd already been using it.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Your little one sounds like a little fighter. It's a very lucky baby to have someone willing to give it a chance like you are. I hope things continue improving so you don't have to face the difficult choice of culling.

I'm sorry there wasn't much of a response to your threads as well. It does seem like sometimes BYC is less active than others. I can see why that would be discouraging when you have an issue with the little ones like you are dealing with.

My little one is in the house for now with the buddy. I had him/her out with the rest for awhile but with the cold nights I felt like that one being smaller and less able to get in the middle of the silkie pile would be better off inside. When the nights get a little warmer I'll probably make a place for that one and a buddy outside. We'll see how it is doing come the cold again next fall/winter and I'll decide if it needs to spend winter indoors.

I'd love to hear the name you come up with for your little fighter when you settle on one! I'm always terrible at naming mine. I call my little special needs one Stumpy. The legs looked somehow shorter to me when first hatched and that was before I figured out how bad the leg issue really was. Now I feel kind of bad calling him/her that but it just kind of stuck as I'd already been using it.

Well like all chick moms...I'm afraid I won't hear the lil if in need - so awake I am!

Gonna go to dollar store tomorrow n get it a fluffy chick for company when I'm not right there with it.
DH said I could take it to the vet tomorrow...guess I'll see how lil one is in the morning n go from there.

Your lil sounds so cute!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hope the vet has some good advice!

Please keep us updated.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Hope the vet has some good advice!

Please keep us updated.

Only ONE place will see "farm animals" and they have no appointments unless urgent care for $85 AND do not believe it is big enough to do anything to help cuz of it being a bantam.
I think I need to go put it down...it's just every time I go to do it it eats on its own or drinks...or like walla go climbed up my gown from lap to neck.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Only ONE place will see "farm animals" and they have no appointments unless urgent care for $85 AND do not believe it is big enough to do anything to help cuz of it being a bantam.
I think I need to go put it down...it's just every time I go to do it it eats on its own or drinks...or like walla go climbed up my gown from lap to neck.

Tough decision. We have no chicken vets here either. I’ve had people bring birds to me to see if I could help them. Do the best I can but I’m not a vet!
I’ve only had to cull one chick here recently and it was definitely weak and not doing well. It was not eating or drinking at all on its own and taking very little food that I tried to feed it.
I think it comes down to do you feel this chick will have some kind of normal chicken life?Do you see any signs of improvement? That is wanting to eat and drink are always good signs.
You have done such a good job helping these little babies.
You will have to decide what you feel is best for the little bird and for you in the situation.

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

I know...I don't want it to suffer!
I've had it in a heating pad away from the others in brooder so as not to be picked on.
I cleaned up my mess everywhere thinking I'm fixing to just do it.
Come back from bathroom n crying n find it pecking the other one with splay legs!
I just don't know - it has been chirping lightly constantly most of the morning.
It is trying to put weight on that leg but then it holds it back up.