Slipped tendon

[Jparsons]

Hi, I have a 9 to 10 week old chicken with a slipped tendon I think, neither of her hocks are swollen. But her right leg is twisted towards her inside. She hobbles along and sometimes never really moves. She eats and drinks fine. I have seen people fixing little chicks legs, but everytime I try to fix her tendon it I Cant seem to even find where its slipped at. Is it possible to fix her fixed tendon at 9 to 10 weeks old and if so, is it possible to fix it even after 5 to 7 days?
Please help I dont want to lose this chicken but I don't want her suffer either.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, I have a 9 to 10 week old chicken with a slipped tendon I think, neither of her hocks are swollen. But her right leg is twisted towards her inside. She hobbles along and sometimes never really moves. She eats and drinks fine. I have seen people fixing little chicks legs, but everytime I try to fix her tendon it I Cant seem to even find where its slipped at. Is it possible to fix her fixed tendon at 9 to 10 weeks old and if so, is it possible to fix it even after 5 to 7 days?
Please help I dont want to lose this chicken but I don't want her suffer either.

If you have photos you would like to share, that would be great

She may have slipped tendon or it could be a leg bone deformity like Twisted/Rotated Tibia, Valgus Varus or similar.

From what I understand, slipped tendon is hard to correct, but you should be able to feel the tendon if it's slipped.
If it's a leg bone deformity, sadly, these cannot be corrected unless you find a vet that can perform surgery. Surgery is very risky in chickens and sometimes the leg still cannot be corrected.

Below are some links that have photos of various conditions with information. I hope these help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peachick-with-slipped-tendon.1092979/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/twisted-leg.1224187/#post-19616582
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/

 

[Jparsons]

If you have photos you would like to share, that would be great

She may have slipped tendon or it could be a leg bone deformity like Twisted/Rotated Tibia, Valgus Varus or similar.

From what I understand, slipped tendon is hard to correct, but you should be able to feel the tendon if it's slipped.
If it's a leg bone deformity, sadly, these cannot be corrected unless you find a vet that can perform surgery. Surgery is very risky in chickens and sometimes the leg still cannot be corrected.

Below are some links that have photos of various conditions with information. I hope these help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/peachick-with-slipped-tendon.1092979/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/twisted-leg.1224187/#post-19616582
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul.../noninfectious-skeletal-disorders-in-broilers
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._of_the_Intertarsal_Joint_in_Broiler_Chickens
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/

Appreciate it, here are pictures:

 

[Jparsons]

Sorry didn’t work

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh, the poor dear!
The toe on both feet are also bent backwards?

 

[Jparsons]

Oh, the poor dear!
The toe on both feet are also bent backwards?

View attachment 1620216

View attachment 1620217

Yes unfortunately, she is our problem chicken we noticed the toes a few weeks back and at that point it was too late to correct them. My understanding is the bent toe thing is relatively common? Do you think it could be related to her leg issue?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes unfortunately, she is our problem chicken we noticed the toes a few weeks back and at that point it was too late to correct them. My understanding is the bent toe thing is relatively common? Do you think it could be related to her leg issue?

Well, crooked toes can be a bit common, but they are still a deformity - genetics, incorrect incubation, etc. Chickens can most of the time manage if the toes are just crooked. They still would not be used for breeding.
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/

Your girl's toes are bent backwards. I don't think I have really seen that, but yes...I do think it's related to the leg. Best guess is bone deformity - whether genetics or incubation problems, I don't know.

Over time, the leg may not be able to support her or the tendon could eventually slip or blow out from her weight - you never know.
The toes...they may form a callous, but I would check those frequently. I'm going to say it is painful walking on top of the toes, the skin is thin there. Any scuffs, nicks or breaking down of the skin would be prone to Bumblefoot which is staph infection of the toes/foot.

Only you can determine what her quality of life is and how she gets along physically.

Hopefully others will chime in @Eggcessive @dawg53 @casportpony

 

[Jparsons]

Well, crooked toes can be a bit common, but they are still a deformity - genetics, incorrect incubation, etc. Chickens can most of the time manage if the toes are just crooked. They still would not be used for breeding.
https://poultrykeeper.com/skeletal-and-muscular-disorders/crooked-toes/

Your girl's toes are bent backwards. I don't think I have really seen that, but yes...I do think it's related to the leg. Best guess is bone deformity - whether genetics or incubation problems, I don't know.

Over time, the leg may not be able to support her or the tendon could eventually slip or blow out from her weight - you never know.
The toes...they may form a callous, but I would check those frequently. I'm going to say it is painful walking on top of the toes, the skin is thin there. Any scuffs, nicks or breaking down of the skin would be prone to Bumblefoot which is staph infection of the toes/foot.

Only you can determine what her quality of life is and how she gets along physically.

Hopefully others will chime in @Eggcessive @dawg53 @casportpony

Thanks I appreciate your feedback and any other input. This is our first time raising chickens and we are really at a loss on what is wrong with her and what to do. Do these deformities get worse over time as she gets bigger? She didn’t always have the leg problem until a week ago. Before a week ago she always stood and walked normally. She is still eating and drinking normally and walking some but her mobility is definitely limited.

 

[Eggcessive]

In the 3rd picture, it looks like she has varus deformity in her right leg. That is a bone deformity that can look like bowed legs if it affects both legs. Here is an article about it:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1051/leg-health-in-large-broilers/

This little cockerel in the pic below is Cleopatra, and he also has varus deformity in one leg. He is still alive anfew years later, and the owner keeps him in a small area with a friend. There is always a chance that the tendon could rupture as the chicken grows, but some are able to live fairly normally. I would not breed her of course, since these things can be hereditary or a mineral deficiency in parents.

 

[dawg53]

I agree with Wyorp Rock that it will become a weight problem for the good leg and will give out in time. I had it happen to a Black Star although her toes were normal. She had a pulled tendon or ligament and I had her in the hospital cage for almost two months without improvement. So I released her into a small pen and she hobbled around all day on one leg foraging. Two months later she couldnt walk at all. I decided to cull her at that time. It was difficult putting her down because I had spent alot of time with her.
It's definitely a quality of life issue that only you can decide.