chick with injured foot

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chickenfan

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I was out yesterday. When the 3-week old chicks came out this morning one could not stand on one leg and its foot is bent under. I've no idea what happened, but can only think it must have somehow trapped its foot under the edge of the coop when I was out. I've taken it to the vet and she doesn't think the leg is broken, but was unable to diagnose what was wrong. She didn't think it was worth x-ray as it is not a part of the leg that could be splinted. She and has given it a painkiller in the hope it may improve or if not be put down. Its a strong, bright chick so I want to give it a chance.

The chick is coping, and eating a little, but it is very worrying its toes are bent under, and it is just sitting down most of the time (painful to move), rather than being able to run around.

Any suggestions?
 
I now have another chick that is just sitting down, but not as bad as the first. It is in a different pen and has different parents, but is from the same incubator. Both chicks just sitting on their hocks with limp feet. It must be an illness. Does anyone have any ideas?
 
I'm puzzled by this Chickenfan. Is there something wrong with your chick crumb? Lack of vitamin B causes curled toes I think?
 
Thank you for your help. Yes, I saw about the food and gave them a multivitamin in case there was a problem with the food (recently purchased and in date). I'm not sure it was this as the chicks (20 days old) were so bright and strong and suddenly went down with such severe and painful symptoms. I thought they might have gone down with mycoplasma synoviae (Tim Daniels article on this is very helpful). It is a very contagious infection of the joints, so sadly I had them both put to sleep yesterday, and the rest of the chicks are now on Tylan. I'm sad as one of the chicks was particularly bright and pretty, and they didn't look ill apart from the distressing joint/leg problems.

I keep a healthy, unvaccinated biosecure flock. The chicks were not exposed to any wild birds, so it must have come from the egg. Is it a hazardous business rearing birds even from bought in eggs?
 
I don't know what diseases can be carried in eggs Chickenfan, apart from pneumonia, which manifests at about day 3 with the chicks lungs filling with fluid until it drowns. On that basis there must be others.
 
Mycoplasma synoviae is carried through the egg, and in adults can be symptomless. Most strains now don't tend to affect joints so much, but can have mild symptoms of respiratory disease in adult birds. In young chicks though symptoms would be more severe and would appear at around 5-6 weeks old. I did have one of my flocks test positive last year which was a surprise as they had no symptoms at all.
 
Thank you so much Foxy. It did look like mycoplasma synoviae - very severe symptoms in the two chicks I had put to sleep, but no respiratory problems, and they seemed healthy apart from the pain in their legs. On my vet's advice I treated all the chicks with Tylan, although they had no symptoms. I guess the other chicks may now be carriers? I am wondering whether I need to keep them permanently separate from the rest of my flock?

How have you managed your own group that tested positive? Have you found it has passed on to any other birds or chicks?
 
chickenfan said:
Thank you so much Foxy. It did look like mycoplasma synoviae - very severe symptoms in the two chicks I had put to sleep, but no respiratory problems, and they seemed healthy apart from the pain in their legs. On my vet's advice I treated all the chicks with Tylan, although they had no symptoms. I guess the other chicks may now be carriers? I am wondering whether I need to keep them permanently separate from the rest of my flock?

How have you managed your own group that tested positive? Have you found it has passed on to any other birds or chicks?
Click to expand...

The group that were tested were all culled, and then randoms tested from the other flocks were negative.
 
Hello Foxy,

I visited your website. What amazing and stunning Faverolles you have! I can see why you you took action to cull to keep a healthy flock. Do you think I'm taking big risks keeping my pullets? I would hate to part with them.
 
Thank you chickenfan, sometimes I have to make hard decisions, and that was one of them, it was a very small flock so not a great loss in terms of numbers but very sad nonetheless. It is why I keep a closed flock, and monitor very carefully so if anything does affect any birds I can take action swiftly. I have a responsibility to my customers and would feel awful if I sold an unwell bird.

Saying all that and regarding your situation, If they are garden pets, I wouldn't be too worried, but would keep a close eye and control the symptoms through antibiotics and supportive care, as it is usually quite a mild disease.
 
I fully sympathise with your situation and feel you did just the right thing, even if it was sad. I guess I should have had the 2 chicks post-mortemed to be sure what was wrong with them. One day they were fighting fit, the next day unable to stand and in a lot of pain. But perhaps it is only a severe disease in chicks and something mild in older birds?
 
chickenfan said:
I fully sympathise with your situation and feel you did just the right thing, even if it was sad. I guess I should have had the 2 chicks post-mortemed to be sure what was wrong with them. One day they were fighting fit, the next day unable to stand and in a lot of pain. But perhaps it is only a severe disease in chicks and something mild in older birds?
Click to expand...

Thank you, yes it was very difficult.. now I am nursing a 9 year old hen as I type, I know that she won't make it through the night..never mind... :(

Anyhow, yes you are quite right, mycoplasma synoviae in my experience and consultation with the vet, is more likely to cause acute symptoms in younger birds and chicks than adults.
 
Oh you poor thing, Foxy! I hope she has a peaceful passing on with you. Nine years old sounds a lovely long life.

Thank you for your thoughts.
 
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