Slipped tendon, splayed leg? Confused!

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Hey thanks! I've been trying to breed certain chickens into my EEs for egg color.

I agree with your sports medicine philosophy. As long as the chick is up and about, and not resting too much on the hock, or dragging itself around, I feel it's better for the chick to be moving around and trying to act normal, as much as it can. I've taken off the splint this morning, and I'm giving the leg a breather. Honestly the chick gets around just the same on the other leg whether he's wearing the brace or not. And the tendon refuses to stay in place. But at least the swelling hasn't gotten any worse. It's barely swollen at all.

Oh, and thanks to your description, I finally figured out where the slipped tendon was. Inside of the knee= body side. Of course!

Do you have a picture of your injured chick? We've named ours Professor Neutron.

 

[fishermans wife]

Hey thanks! I've been trying to breed certain chickens into my EEs for egg color.

I agree with your sports medicine philosophy. As long as the chick is up and about, and not resting too much on the hock, or dragging itself around, I feel it's better for the chick to be moving around and trying to act normal, as much as it can. I've taken off the splint this morning, and I'm giving the leg a breather. Honestly the chick gets around just the same on the other leg whether he's wearing the brace or not. And the tendon refuses to stay in place. But at least the swelling hasn't gotten any worse. It's barely swollen at all.

Oh, and thanks to your description, I finally figured out where the slipped tendon was. Inside of the knee= body side. Of course!

Do you have a picture of your injured chick? We've named ours Professor Neutron.

Hahaha! Love the name! I just told my husband this morning, I think I will name it Forrest....Forrest Gump! She is actually doing quite well! I took the vet wrap off last night as I was so afraid of it getting too tight and cutting circulation. I put the rubberband back on, and this morning she is still standing up straight and putting full pressure on that leg. I think I will keep her banded for a couple of more days. I read that taking it off too early is not good - they can relapse. I assume as she is using the leg, the tendon is staying put.

I will try and get a picture today!

Becky

 

[fishermans wife]

Not great pics of my little one - she's on the left obviously with her red rubber band shackles! Isn't she cute! Those are lavender silkies from Catdance!

today with her blue rubber band. ... she obviously is getting plenty to eat

She seems to be doing quite well. I think I will keep the band on through tomorrow, and then see how she does from there. I read 4-6 days. Tomorrow would be day 4. She puts weight on her leg no problem,and seems to be walking,but a little wobbly. Of course I would wobble too if I was shackled!. Just not sure the leg it will stay where it belongs when the rubber band comes off. I so badly want to give her her "freedom", but don't want to go backwards in her treatment by taking it off too soon.

How is your chick doing today?

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Awww. What a cutie! Love little Forrest Gump! Sounds like the chick is almost in the clear. That's awesome!

My chick is doing ok. I went to change the brace this morning, and the tendon had slipped out of place. But now I can't get it back in! The joint isn't swollen. Pr. Neutron is a week old today, so I'm wondering if the fast growth has left the tendon too short while the leg bones keep growing? I read that will happen. I'm going to try one more time, but for now he's not wearing a brace at all. He's getting around really well on one leg. Still eating and drinking, and doesn't seem to be in any pain, but he hops around on one leg, and holds the other one up. Not sure what to do at this point.

 

[LadyofChickRose]

Try holding it's leg back and massaging it into place, I did that when my chicken had that problem and it took a few months to heal.

 

[BroosterSpringsteen]

Ok, I managed to get the tendon back into place, and I rewrapped the leg. What did you use to splint your chicken's leg for all that time? How many months did it take

 

[fishermans wife]

Ok, I managed to get the tendon back into place, and I rewrapped the leg. What did you use to splint your chicken's leg for all that time? How many months did it take

Glad you got it back into place! I read somewhere that someone used the ends of q-tips on either side of the leg to create a "channel" to keep the tendon in place until the bone and tendon grew into the right place. I tried ... but banty silkies are so tiny, the q-tip was the size of his leg! Gave up! May be worth looking in to. Does Neutron put weight on the leg once the tendon is in place? The rubber band (or hair band) thing works well! It is so hard to unwrap tiny legs.

 

[LadyofChickRose]

I didn't use a cast but I bet you'll need one, and the healing process took 3 months, but I probably should of clarified this earlier, my hen was a pullet at the time, just keep that in mind.

 

[fishermans wife]

WEll, Just took Forrest's band off, and she seems to be OK. Her legs are a tiny bit farther apart than the others, but I am going to keep and eye on her and see if she maintains where she is at. It has been 4 days and she seems to be doing well! First thing she did was scratch her head! Poor thing! I would take her out a couple of times a day and scratch her as they need skin stimulation, but I think she was happy to be able to do it herself when she needs it! I am hoping she is done and can grow up big and beautiful with no issues!!

 

[LadyofChickRose]

Congradulations! I hope it goes just as well for you BroosterSpringsten!