Help! Chick with Knee & Toe Injury

[amg]

I have a month old chick with a leg problem. She had had a leg injury (cut) which was treated, but now she appears to have another problem with this same leg.

Her left leg seems to turn inward at the knee and some of her toes may not be straight.

How do I treat this? How long will this take? Can you recommend any good videos? Are these this two different issues or one? i.e. Toes, knee or both?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The joint looks swollen, is it? Any lesions or scabs on the joint?
Does it feel like it's out of joint?

 

[amg]

How can I tell if the joint is out of joint?

Her leg is bigger and swollen I think. She doesn't really have scabs or a lesion.

 

[amg]

The joint looks swollen, is it? Any lesions or scabs on the joint?
Does it feel like it's out of joint?

It could be swollen and it does look like there is something on her leg that you could say is a lesion.

Here are some more photos.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

At some point did she have a band or string on her leg?

At first I thought maybe slipped tendon, but looking at the angle of the leg and the tissue, I'd lean more toward the leg being broken or fractured.

Is vet care an option?

I'll tag in @Eggcessive and @coach723 to see if they have any thoughts.

 

[amg]

Yes, a rubber band grew into her skin. I found out too late and thought that was the only issue. I treated the skin injury for about a week and thought things were ok. Obviously they weren't or something else happened. (See the area in the attached photo.)

I might be able to swing a vet. But I can't take her anywhere Thursday as I need to go to LA for the day, unless I can drop her off on the way.

Who would I take her too? I am in Santa Barbara, CA.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, a rubber band grew into her skin. I found out too late and thought that was the only issue. I treated the skin injury for about a week and thought things were ok. Obviously they weren't or something else happened. (See the area in the attached photo.)

I might be able to swing a vet. But I can't take her anywhere until Friday.

Who would I take her too? I am in Santa Barbara, CA.

You'd have to call around and see if a Vet will see poultry in your area.

Was her leg crooked before you discovered the band?

 

[amg]

You'd have to call around and see if a Vet will see poultry in your area.

Was her leg crooked before you discovered the band?

No. She was fine before.

 

[coach723]

I think your best bet is to at least have it x-rayed. So they can see if there is any bone deformity in joints etc. Without that it's really hard to say if it was caused by the band, or if it's an entirely separate issue. I wonder if the joint had an underlying issue that the injury aggravated due to her limping or favoring that leg...Once they can see images, if anything is going on, then they can advise if it's fixable, or not. If there is twisting in the joint it could be causing nerve issues to the toes as well.

 

[amg]

After multiple calls to different vets AND 4 hours with phone problems today I may be able to take her to a vet tomorrow. IF not, it looks like the 7th is the earliest I can get her in.

Not many vets treat chickens.