Days old chick’s leg cut by string

Fluster Cluck Acres

Crowing
Premium Feather Member
5 Years
Mar 26, 2020
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Frederick, MD
Hi all.

I finally got some Silverrudd Blues (bucket list breed) from a feed store today and discovered a thin string (or umbilical) wrapped tightly around this one’s leg. I suspect it’s been there since hatch as it was already beginning to heal over in places. From what I can tell, the string cut into a significant portion of the leg, 360 degrees around the leg, but it’s deepest at the front/inside of the leg. I assume there’s muscle damage as her leg juts out to the side. At times, depending on the position of the leg, her toes go limp. l

She can walk fine on non-slick surfaces and can bear weight on it. She just doesn’t have great control of where the leg goes. I’ve cleaned and wrapped the site, and I think the wound will heal okay. She’s eating, drinking, and keeping up with the others (and not getting picked on even with her neon pink bandage).

I was curious if I can do anything to help her regain control of the leg/repair the muscle. Should I treat it like a splayed leg and put hobbles on it to keep it in place? I have experience with splayed legs and could do this easily- but don’t want to cause her more discomfort/pain if it won’t help.

Or should I attempt a full leg cast/splint to keep the leg in the right place as the cut heals? I have low confidence in my ability to do this but will try if it could help her.

Or is she just always going to have a funky leg and I should just focus on healing the wound?

Thanks!
 

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This can be a common injury. It can be caused by a human hair, a feed bag string, and leg bands as well. Time will tell if the damage is permanent or gets a little better. There may be some residipual swelling, nerve damage, or weak muscle. I would soak the leg in warm Epsom salts for 10-15 minutes a day while you are with her. Then dry and apply antibiotic ointment. Let us know how it heals.
 
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