The Story of Hops, deformed joint that will not hold tendon in place. Vet said prognosis is not good

[cutlerfam7]

I know I haven't written on here in a while and I guess that would be because I have nothing good to say about Hops. He has grown up a bit since I last wrote and his feathers have come in better but he is still significantly smaller then the others. There is no use in healing the leg because the joint will not hold in the tendon. As of now I just have a one legged chicken! He really gets around just fine and can keep up quite well with the others. He uses the deformed leg as a crutch and eats and drinks just fine.

I could no longer afford to bring him to the vet because I used up my last of the money in the savings account the first 3 times I took him. I am just going to let nature take its course and continue to provide the best care that I can.

Thank you to all that have been reading this and hoping the best for us. I appreciate it.

 

[dac63]

Wish you luck, i have a four month cochin and it had a bad leg from the start , but yours looks much better than mine, so i think there is hope it will get around. I did everything the chair the hobble the shoe a splint. He is a pretty little guy but now his lower leg and foot turns up in front of him. He seems content but i feel bad for him. i called a veterenary learning school near us and they said sometimes the growth plate can be damaged , but whatever i have a pretty little crippled bird that struggles to get around. I think yours looks very good compared to mine and i wish you lots of luck. it can be so frustrating. wishing your little one the best. donna

 

[cutlerfam7]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate it. My little guy has a deformed joint and it won't hold the tendon so I feel as if I am SOL! I hope that your little one continues to get around and do well.

Thanks again!


Take care

 

[cutlerfam7]

Updated picture! 7 weeks old but looks more like a 3 week old chick. As you can see he has a limp leg that he can't use. I am thinking this is a rooster. Any thoughts?

 

[itsren]

I'm sorry Hops isn't getting any better. Poor little one.

Kinda looks like a roo, but I'm definitely not one to know.

I wish you the best...

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

I think you will be surprised at how well he can survive with his special leg. Animals are great at adapting to their needs.
There is another thread about a chicken with no feet. She has no toes and walks on her ankles. the only thing she can't do is roost (but she has a buddy that enjoys cuddling with her on the floor of the coop)
I think he will be fine. Watch for infection and monitor his comfort level. God forbid something happen, he might be just fine without the leg as well.
Good luck
I am glad he has someone like you to help him out!

 

[cutlerfam7]

Thank you very much. You do not understand how much the support means to me. I really have been super worried about him but as days go on and I see how well he is managing I have faith that everything will be well. I agree that I need to monitor for infection and other signs of bad things. I am trying to find time to manage school, work, family stuff and also time to watch and check on all 31 chickens. Thank you again though for the support.

 

[BackyardFarmMom]

Has he gotten better/worse?
If he gets worse... one foot forward/ one foot back... Look into Mareks disease.
I don't want to scare you but it is contagious so just be aware of the signs.

I hear you on time management!
I have a 6 week old that I tried to integrate with his lady into the 16 week olds pen. There are younger birds in there... the youngest being 6-8 weeks.
Anyway, this poor little guy and gal got attacked after being intergrated for 3 days!!!! Errrrr! (My fault. I should have waited longer)
Now lil Nugget has brain damage/ vertigo. He has a hard time balancing, but it has improved day by day! So I am very hopeful!
He is eating, drinking, and pooing. He still gets around pretty good too... What more does a chicken need?!

 

[cutlerfam7]

Its more so of a genetic thing because he has been this way since he was a baby. His hock joint is not well developed and his growth plates are crooked so his tendon cannot stay in place. After 3 splints and a few xrays from the vet I could no longer afford to keep it up and instead I decided to let the little guy live his life and enjoy himself. He hops around just fine, plays with the others, eat drink and sleep just find. He can even get in and out of the coop all by himself.

 

[cutlerfam7]

Also my birds were vaccined for that as well which i know doesn't always work all the time but if anything he would have been dead a long time ago cause from my understanding that is a quick terrible disease. Right? or is it slow? I do not remember.

However,

good luck with your little one