Suggestions on rehab of extreme curled toes/ splayed legs 6-8 week old chick

[Phillyndilly]

Hello all so I went to someone’s house to see piglets and in the next paddock were about 60-80 meat/ barnyard mixed chicks. I immediately noticed one flapping about on the floor grabbed it and was like this one can’t walk! The guy must’ve heard the panic and was like well u can just have it if you want.
She looks to be around 6-8 weeks, fully feathered but her whole back is bare. Legs completely splayed out, unable to stand at all, toes completed curled in. One foot is curled and twisted I’m sure from trying to hobble on her ankle. But girlfriend lasted all that time with 80 other chicks picking on her (granted they were all looking rough) and was able to eat and survive. She was given zero help I am sure of and I think she deserves a chance. I know I might have to cull her but as I said I think she deserves a chance or at least to be humanely put down. She eats very very well and drinks well which isn’t surprising since she made it this long.
I rehab waterfowl but have never had a lame chicken. Right now treatment is at follows:
Nutritional yeast for the vitamin B2
Nutridrench vitamins
20% crumble
Feet taped flat
Brace to hold legs closer together

My main question is about her rehab I made a sling out of a sock to hang from a cage. I put her in while I am watching her but I’m not sure what height it should be?
Should I be trying to hang it higher so her toes just touch the floor and stretch out the leg? Or should I be starting lower and then pulling it up?
I try to push her feet flat and hold her chest up to mimic an appropriate standing position. I also massage her legs a bit.
Anyone experienced with this I would love input!!!
Also would like input on the nutrition I know curled toes is usually riboflavin.
I’m also not fully sure of her mix . I know she is half frizzle but a lot of the chickens were meat (royal) but they also had some regular layers running around. She said a friend gave her 3 frizzle Roos and a lot of their babies have had problems. I have an area with special needs/ sensitive birds and I have a Muscovy drake I took in with a completely curled in foot who lives his best life and is completely happy.
Sling photo 1-2 is of her in a lower position, 3 hanging is higher up.
The photos are of her resting position as well as when she kind of props herself up on her hocks flapping her wings for balance.
I will try to include videos eventually as well.

 

[Phillyndilly]

I figured I would update for anyone who was following well.. I decided not to cull Ruby Rupert because she just seemed to have so much fight left in her and welllll she is now WALKING! All of a sudden she gained more and more strength and balance. She started to fully stand and now she can walk! It’s amazing I honestly cannot believe it. She is definitely unsteady still. Recently her one leg/ foot began turning in a little so I may have to splint it again but she is living her best life. I try to let her outside to move around in a larger area when I’m there but if not she stays in a metal pen where she can eat grass and be with the others and I cover it . I’m going to have to make her something larger for long term as I don’t think she’ll ever walk perfectly and she will most likely come inside during the winter or in the basement area. I’m hoping she finds a friend I wish I could find another chicken with a slight disability because I hate to close one up on purpose.
The things I did were:
-mega dose with poultry cell and nutritional yeast
-splint her feet with cardboard shoes, mostly just one that was curled more
- wheelchair: she hated this but u did put her in it to sleep for a week or two I’m not sure if it helped but it did allow the muscles to stretch and her not lay in an awkward position. I would sometimes try to put her in during the day but she would mostly flip herself over so it worked best at night when she was more calm
-I used vet wrap to hold her legs closer when she began standing.

I don’t recommend keeping a crippled bird alive who is suffering but these things remained consistent with her from the moment I found her
- spunky as all heck; she was never lethargic or weak
- eating like a horse. She consistently scarfed down whatever I offered her fav is scrambled eggs for sure though
- trying to move, huge will to stand and move around. This was a negative at first because I would often find her completely flipped over or jammed into awkward spots in her crate or pen but it was just her trying to figure it out.
Below is a photo of her hanging with some pals and one fully standing . I’m so proud of her I’m glad I didn’t give up!

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for the update and glad that she is still fighting.

 

[Phillyndilly]

I have a seven week old chick with the same issues. I'm torn on whether to cull her. Any update from your situation???

He’s completely better it’s amazing! He has a little limp that’s it. But he can run and is just super happy. He even has a little wife he bonded to now. I listed everything I did a few posts back here are some updated photos I just took! I just love him I’m so happy for him!

 

[Phillyndilly]

Also here is a few photos of her chair which we just googled and YouTubed the design. As @sunshinemomee said takes so much trial and error I never was able to sew the fabric in the correct position because nothing seemed right so I just would constantly adjust the safety pins.

 

[Phillyndilly]

Wow! What a wonderful update!

Thank you! I am so proud of her!! It’s such a miracle

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I figured I would update for anyone who was following well.. I decided not to cull Ruby Rupert because she just seemed to have so much fight left in her and welllll she is now WALKING! All of a sudden she gained more and more strength and balance. She started to fully stand and now she can walk! It’s amazing I honestly cannot believe it. She is definitely unsteady still. Recently her one leg/ foot began turning in a little so I may have to splint it again but she is living her best life. I try to let her outside to move around in a larger area when I’m there but if not she stays in a metal pen where she can eat grass and be with the others and I cover it . I’m going to have to make her something larger for long term as I don’t think she’ll ever walk perfectly and she will most likely come inside during the winter or in the basement area. I’m hoping she finds a friend I wish I could find another chicken with a slight disability because I hate to close one up on purpose.
The things I did were:
-mega dose with poultry cell and nutritional yeast
-splint her feet with cardboard shoes, mostly just one that was curled more
- wheelchair: she hated this but u did put her in it to sleep for a week or two I’m not sure if it helped but it did allow the muscles to stretch and her not lay in an awkward position. I would sometimes try to put her in during the day but she would mostly flip herself over so it worked best at night when she was more calm
-I used vet wrap to hold her legs closer when she began standing.

I don’t recommend keeping a crippled bird alive who is suffering but these things remained consistent with her from the moment I found her
- spunky as all heck; she was never lethargic or weak
- eating like a horse. She consistently scarfed down whatever I offered her fav is scrambled eggs for sure though
- trying to move, huge will to stand and move around. This was a negative at first because I would often find her completely flipped over or jammed into awkward spots in her crate or pen but it was just her trying to figure it out.
Below is a photo of her hanging with some pals and one fully standing . I’m so proud of her I’m glad I didn’t give up!
View attachment 3567462View attachment 3567464

Ruby Rupert looks wonderful!

Thank you for the update, photos and details of how you've been caring for her.
I'm glad you didn't give up on her and she is doing much better!

 

[Phillyndilly]

So RubyRupert is def a Rupert lol I gave him 2 names because I suspected but his comb has gotten big and I’ve heard him do something resembling a crow although it is just a super pathetic random half scream usually lol. Recently one of my new little pullets I hatched, Pippie somehow hurt her leg and they’ve been together and taken a liking to each other. I plan on putting them together in a small section that I keep younger chicks that are newly ready for outdoors in while she is healing and hopefully they bond and maybe they can be the official babysitters lol. I really want him to have a friend because I’ll have to keep him indoors in the winter and I don’t want him to get lonely.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you for the update, and so glad that he is doing well. Cute pictures.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

His sling needs to be low enough where the feet can touch the floor.

When you take off the tape and splints, get photos of the toes, legs, feet, joints, etc.

Sometimes chicks have leg and toe deformities which cannot be corrected.

Some things you may be able to correct when they are just a few days old, but after they get older, it can be difficult and painful to try to correct.

Give him 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily and chick starter.