Tell me about your one legged birds?

[ChocolateMouse]

So we went to TSC and they had a bunch of discounted chicks for sale. We picked some up and, with our consent and for free, they threw in a CX chick with one janky leg. I'm talking something is deeply wrong with the joints and makes it stick out almost completely sideways. It won't bend down in the slightest. I figured I'd take it home and worst case scenario it'd get a peaceful end - it's not like TSC is gonna do anything positive with it. :T

Now I'm not expecting this chick to live long, it's a CX and when it starts getting bigger (if it does) we'll process it, probably pretty small. But for while it's around I'm trying to keep it relatively cozy. The leg doesn't seem to stop it by any means. It hops about like a robin and does remarkably well. It keeps up with the other chicks from TSC, it eats and drinks, it goes up and down our chicken ramp. It doesn't like to move about too much but if they other chicks are moving it moves with them. The leg only seems to bother it if I try to move the joints - then it shakes.

So while I've got it, I'm wondering if there's other people who have one legged birds that they've done anything special for. I was pondering a wheelchair like they have for dogs but that wouldn't do well in a coop/run area because of the uneven ground, so then I was thinking a sort of temporary bionic leg for it, like they make for cats, but I'm not sure what that would look like. Probably something simple like a peg leg to just help take the weight but it has to fold up under them when they lay down.... Hmm.

Anyhow I'd love peoples thoughts if they have any. Chick seems otherwise healthy, just has an insanely jacked up leg.

 

[KimKat33]

Hey there!
So I actually have a hen with the same sort of condition. I have thought about ways I could possibly help it move around better and to this day I can't think of any, so I just let her do what she wants.

I got her as a chick from a feed store as well. From the start, I didn't think she would make it, but I figured at least she might have a chance with me since I didn't have an overcrowded brooder.

Its safe to say that she has adapted to her 1 legged lifestyle though! She gets around at her own pace but still manages to do chicken things, like roosting and eating the flock blocks I have in there. She is now about 6 or 7 months I believe and doesn't seem to be bothered much by her leg. All my other chickens are really sweet to her as well.

You could try to take the chick to a vet to see if they can fix it, but that also depends on how old the chick is as they grow fast. You could always let it live or cull it.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

I don't know if my info will help, but I have a hen with a broken leg. She is separated from the others, and seems to do just fine with one leg.
She hops around, eats drinks and even jumps. She just seems to get tired more easily.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

As long as I have food, water and shelter near her my hen seems fine. My friend once told me that as long as a chicken has the will to live, they will live.

 

[KimKat33]

as long as a chicken has the will to live, they will live.

Truth!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

All legit. Totally not taking a CX to the vet, though. XD This chick is for eating, regardless of my desire for it to do well and be comfortable, so I was looking for something low cost. My biggest concern is it getting too big for its leg too quickly - already a problem in CX, but raising it with the egg hens should help. Hence my desire for a peg leg option.

If this was a pet I would take them though and probably get the leg amputated because of how badly stuck out it is. But I won't be amputating this chicks leg. Nice to hear normal chicks can get full sized on one leg though.