Tendon injury in adult Silkie ... treatment?

[pee-ridge chick]

My precious Fabio, love of my life, is having problems walking. He's 2 years old. Monday morning he was as crazy as ever. He is a very active boisterous little guy. In the afternoon when I went out he was not using his left leg at all. I brought him inside and did a thorough exam.... even washing his feet. I can find nothing, no heat, no swelling, tenderness or looseness. Every thing seems intact. Do Silkies ever get a sprain, or pull a tendon? How do I tell and what can I do for him? He's in a 10 by 30 chain link pen with just his lady and his 2 chicks. He's always been the crazy roo that thought he should be able to fly. Eye balling the rafters and jumping around all the time.
I love this little cuddle-bug and hope someone can give me some suggestions to help him. I'm going to try to post a video in the comments.

I finally got a Vet to look at him and she said there was no break, no sprain and no swelling. She said to contain him with minimum movement for 4 to 6 weeks. I asked if the leg should be immobilized and she said no.

Has anyone dealt with something like this? And do you think I could use a splint similar to one used on a splayed leg chick.
I

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your boy is having issues.

Sounds like Marek's is a possibility... Do you know if he was vaccinated for it?

Here is a good resource for that...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

No I wouldn't splint him unless your vet had detected an injury. I would substitute vitamins as sometimes a deficit of E, Selenium, and a few others can also cause these type of symptoms.

Hope he pulls through!

 

[pee-ridge chick]

EggSighted4Life

Mareks is always at the top of the list, but he's not paralyzed in that leg and actually holds it up sometimes and hops on one foot. He's not prostrate. He's been this way for over a week without change.

I'm fairly certain it's not a vitamin deficiency 'cause I routinely supplement adding E and selenium in addition to Poly-Vi-Sol. In the cold weather when I feed scratch to help keep them warm I always add Liquid 747.
I'm just desperate to give him a chance.... there is an Avian Vet that specializes in back yard flocks about 100 mi. away. If i take him could they tell if he does have Mareks or can that only be diagnosed by a necropcy?

 

[Eggcessive]

Since he is holding it up, that points to a sprain or a break. A mild break or spiral break may not show up without an xray. I would place him and his 2 friends in a smaller area to force him to rest his leg. It never hurts to grind up a vitamin B complex tablet with leg or foot injuries. Just make sure if you use another one that it has riboflavin (B2.) Make sure that you evaluate his leg often (I’m sure you will,) and make sure that he is eating and drinking enough if he is not getting around well. Good luck.