HannibalBarca
Chirping
- Mar 21, 2018
- 12
- 17
- 59
Hello everyone who is a poultry enthusiast! I am a second year veterinary graduate student at UC Davis and I have been raising backyard chickens for four years. If you have concerns about treating a chick with a suspected slipped tendon(s), you may find that my experience can help you.
I had two three week old cochin bantams with slipped tendons. The first, a partridge, had it in one leg and the second, a splash, in both legs. They were the largest in a brood of nine. The bedding from day one was paper towel atop two inches of soft pine shavings. The starter feed contained vitamin b, manganese, and choline so I do not think poor nutrition was the cause. My guess is that they grew too quick and their weight exceeded what their legs could handle.
The partridge recovered on its own within four days of the injury without me having to isolate it or treat the leg. The splash, however, had it in both legs and could not reach the feed/water or be around other chicks without being bothered. I isolated it inside the main brooder with feed and water. It would sit on its hocks or side and when it tried to stand it would whine in pain and was in obvious discomfort.
Others who have dealt with this leg problem recommend tying the legs together or making a chicken chair immediately after diagnosing the injury so you can prevent further damage to the leg/tendon. The only thing I have done is isolate the bird and make sure it has all the food and water it wants.
A week and a half later the chick could stand on one leg with no (noticeable) pain and proper alignment under the carriage. Two days later it could stand on both legs. It is now running and jumping with it's brood-mates.
This may be an outlier but my result can be substantive in treating slipped tendon in chicks. Isolation with food, water, and rest might be just what your bird needs to recover. Before you consider a vet visit, attempt to fix it yourself, or contemplate culling the animal you can let the bird heal naturally because sometimes...
I had two three week old cochin bantams with slipped tendons. The first, a partridge, had it in one leg and the second, a splash, in both legs. They were the largest in a brood of nine. The bedding from day one was paper towel atop two inches of soft pine shavings. The starter feed contained vitamin b, manganese, and choline so I do not think poor nutrition was the cause. My guess is that they grew too quick and their weight exceeded what their legs could handle.
The partridge recovered on its own within four days of the injury without me having to isolate it or treat the leg. The splash, however, had it in both legs and could not reach the feed/water or be around other chicks without being bothered. I isolated it inside the main brooder with feed and water. It would sit on its hocks or side and when it tried to stand it would whine in pain and was in obvious discomfort.
Others who have dealt with this leg problem recommend tying the legs together or making a chicken chair immediately after diagnosing the injury so you can prevent further damage to the leg/tendon. The only thing I have done is isolate the bird and make sure it has all the food and water it wants.
A week and a half later the chick could stand on one leg with no (noticeable) pain and proper alignment under the carriage. Two days later it could stand on both legs. It is now running and jumping with it's brood-mates.
This may be an outlier but my result can be substantive in treating slipped tendon in chicks. Isolation with food, water, and rest might be just what your bird needs to recover. Before you consider a vet visit, attempt to fix it yourself, or contemplate culling the animal you can let the bird heal naturally because sometimes...
Somewhere I have some pictures that you might find interesting and will post them here if you want.
