Chick hatched with deformed feet

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Update:I used the tape to make shoes for her last night, and just took them off. Her right foot seems to be almost normal now, with only a slight curve. And the left foot is better but still curls a lot. I'm going to try using cardboard for new shoes as having tape on both sides was hard to get off, and I ended up having to use baby oil. I'll update again tomorrow when I take them off. Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Now she isn't putting any weight on her left leg, I think it may be sore from when I took the tape off. Should I leave the tape off overnight to let her feet rest or would that do more harm than good? Should I put them right back on?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have any Coban or VetWrap? That would be better to use when wrapping the feet -see the link below for some photos (after the spraddle leg part) The vetwrap also gives "traction". I would keep her on puppy pads, not a bad idea to put down some shelf liner too (also in the link).

I have used shelf liner in my brooder for traction along with puppy pads. You can find the liner pretty cheap at a store like Dollar General. I think I paid $1.00 a roll. Dollar General also has the wrap - I think it's called sports wrap(?). You can cut it into small strips. I try to keep some on hand, you never know when you might use it. I recently had a rooster damage both his spurs - worked like a charm in wrapping both legs.

Yes, generally you want to keep the feet wrapped for a couple of days.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

 

[gtaus]

Should I leave the tape off overnight to let her feet rest or would that do more harm than good? Should I put them right back on?

In that video link, they left the tape on for about 3 days before removing.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

So I left the tape on for 2 days and her toes no longer curl, but now she isn't putting any weight on her leg. It looks inflamed at the joint. And she has a small sore on her hock.

 

[gtaus]

Wow, that foot looks so much better. Maybe another few days with little stress on the foot/leg and the chick will gain strength. Hope so.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you think that is from the tape or does she seem to have a slipped tendon or leg bone deformity? I would put a dab of plain Neosporin or Triple Antibiotic Ointment on her sore. Is she trying to get around to get food and water?

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

At first I just thought it was the tape, but now her leg looks like this...

her leg is twisted and I thought that may be her bone. And her leg is super inflamed. It wasn't like this a couple hours ago. She must have had some type of bone deformity and one of the other chicks must have bumped her the right way to make her bone pop out. That's what it looks like but I'm not sure, she did hatch a day late, so that may have something to do with it. She holds her leg at an odd angle and doesn't bend the joint connecting her leg and foot. I put some triple antibiotic cream on it but I don't know what else to do. And she can kind of hop around to get the food and water(I saw her go over to it on her own) but I bring her over to it too make sure she is getting enough. Another thing I noticed is that she doesn't have the normal fluff on her that the other chicks do, you can kinda see it in the picture, but it was like that when she hatched.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am sorry about her leg. I would continue keeping the sore cleaned and disinfected, and apply the antibiotic ointment. I would not try any more tape of the feet, and hopefully the sore will heal. Try to make sure that she can get enough food and water, and they sometimes love watery feed with a little chopped egg. Watch to see that she doesn’t get bullied. She may be able to fend for herself with some extra attention, even with her disability.

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

Thank you, the other chicks aren't really mean to her, only pecking at her foot every once in a while out of curiosity. She seems to be learning how to walk a bit better on just the one leg, and seems to be doing okay for now. I'll keep it cleaned and make sure she is getting enough food and water.