twisted leg in 10 day old chick

[patandchickens]

One of the two chicks from my last, very pathetic hatch has quite suddenly developed bad "twisty leg" at about a week and a half of age.

Goldilocks' right leg rotates outwards at the hock, so that if she is facing 12-o'clock that foot is pointed towards 3 o'clock or even 4 o'clock. I don't understand why this has come on so rapidly, I am *sure* she was fine before yesterday. She *was* large in the shell and pipped the wrong end without ever getting her head out from under her wing, and had to be helped out of her shell when it became clear that she'd die otherwise, I don't know if that's related.

Anyhow, I have seen the larsencreek 'chick orthopedics' site and applied a hobble to her made of a strip of vetrap connecting her lower legs which she doesn't like much but it DOES keep the leg in much better alignment; and i have added some poultry vitamins to her water. They are getting regular chick starter.

I have examined for a slipped achilles' tendon but honestly I do not see/feel anything different than in the other leg, or in the other chick's legs, and manual manipulation has not seemed to help at all.

Is there ANYTHING else y'all know of that I can do to help Goldilocks?

And, how long should I leave the hobbles on fulltime? I don't want to take them off too soon and lose any progress, but I also don't want to atrophy her muscles or anything like that by unknowingly leaving them on too long, and have no experience with this...

I especially don't want to lose her because then Bluey will be a lone chick

Thanks for any advice,

Pat

 

[kateseidel]

Pat, I am so sorry - I don't have any advice, but I shared the experience. My little Madeline developed a twisted leg at about 2 weeks. We were not able to improve it, and it got gradually worse over 4 days, to the point where she could not really walk on it, and we decided to put her down. If your chick can walk, and your environment is suitable, I'd give her time to learn to deal with it if possible, and if she does not seem to be in any pain. In the right circumstance, chickens can live long happy lives with some leg crippling.