Farm Help with one of my chicks

[KMR58]

This is one of my baby chicks. She is six weeks old. When she came in the mail her right leg was a little wonky. Other than her one leg which has not healed, she seems to be healthy. She’s a little under weight compared to the rest of them but I think she is not eating quite as much. She does eat and drink. She gets down out of the coop to get to the food and water and pack around then she hops on one foot and uses her wings to get back up into the coop. She is very friendly and sweet. When she puts weight on the leg it seems to hurt. But I don’t really know. This is my first go round with chickens. I am attaching a picture. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate them very much. Thank you.

 

[helen]

One of our incubator chicks had this problem. I used cardboard to make a flat bottom to spread the toes open and hold them in the standing position. I made a small cardboard leg brace that was just a strip up the back of the leg, bent into an L-shape so it slipped under the foot piece.

I attached it to the chick with surgical tape. The chick could walk immediately. It seemed happy and healthy. I removed and replaced the brace every week. The chick died within a couple of weeks without any obvious reason. Sometimes a visible defect may occur with internal problems.

If she can get around without help, she may be better off doing it her way.

 

[summerthyme]

This is one of my baby chicks. She is six weeks old. When she came in the mail her right leg was a little wonky. Other than her one leg which has not healed, she seems to be healthy. She’s a little under weight compared to the rest of them but I think she is not eating quite as much. She does eat and drink. She gets down out of the coop to get to the food and water and pack around then she hops on one foot and uses her wings to get back up into the coop. She is very friendly and sweet. When she puts weight on the leg it seems to hurt. But I don’t really know. This is my first go round with chickens. I am attaching a picture. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate them very much. Thank you.

It's too late to do anything about it now, I'm afraid. I have splinted then successfully on newly hatched chicks, but it doesn't always work even then. She may have a slipped tendon in her hock.

I'd probably leave her be, make sure she can easily access food and water, and watch to make sure the other birds don't pick on her. As long as she's getting around and eating, let her be. If she starts acting depressed, or develops breast blisters or bare spots from sitting too much, you may need to turn her into soup.

Summerthyme

 

[West]

It's too late to do anything about it now, I'm afraid. I have splinted then successfully on newly hatched chicks, but it doesn't always work even then. She may have a slipped tendon in her hock.

I'd probably leave her be, make sure she can easily access food and water, and watch to make sure the other birds don't pick on her. As long as she's getting around and eating, let her be. If she starts acting depressed, or develops breast blisters or bare spots from sitting too much, you may need to turn her into soup.

Summerthyme

Soup or bait.

 

[Hogwrench]

Another possibility is b2 riboflavin deficiency. That can cause the feet to curl like that. We have had that happen a few times where the feed did not have enough. We bought b complex injectable at the feed store and it took a week but did help. If that’s the case keep separate from the others so she doesn’t get pecked while she heals.

You can use human tablets also. We just did not have any. Some vitamin c will also help the nerves regenerate a little faster. B2 dosage for 6 weeks old is 6 mg per kg. Vitamin c is 250 mg per kg

Curly toe paralysis in Chickens

Curly toe paralysis presents as inward curling of the toes on the chicken's feet, which impairs their ability to walk. Affected birds may be seen walking or resting on their hocks. The condition occurs when the sciatic nerves are damaged. The two most common causes of this condition in chicks...

www.poultrydvm.com

 

[KMR58]

Thanks everyone. Funny thing the first week or so she was getting pecked at a lot but now they leave her alone. I think she stood up to them. She is quite the tough girl and I figured if she is willing to fight then I will do what I can to help her.

 

[buttie]

That foot looks like it's backwards.

 

[Tonic]

Defect, probably happened in the incubator. You can save yourself, and the bird, a lot of grief if you cull things like this as soon as you see it. That bird will never be productive and flourish. We are talking about one of the lowest animals on the food chain, it’s only defense is to run. Culling is merciful in this situation.