Indio walking?

[IndioHatch07]

So i know indio giants are not a common breed seen, especially in the US. This young male is only 4 months old and has trouble walking and keeping balance. He is in a cage with his siblings and he puffs up to them to fight but he just kinda stands here like this(photos below). We give them a high protein diet, due to their rapid growing nature. We have not had any other indio do this and we really dont want to loose him. Fred is such a sweet boy and we love him so much. Any help on what this could be and what to do to fix it?

 

[coach723]

It could be a varus/valgus deformity (this would be the valgus form). It's caused by a deformity in the bones, often seen in broilers or other fast growing breeds.

 

[coach723]

There are a lot of variables. It can make it more likely that they suffer from a slipped tendon, and it can get worse sometimes, as they get heavier. If vet care is an option they could better advise, and sometimes surgery might be an option. Sometimes splints can be used to help support the leg in a more normal position. If it gets worse, it could become bad enough that the bird can no longer move well enough to get to food and water.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/valgus-deformity

 

[Saveria]

Welcome to BYC.

How long has it been going on for? It reminds me of splayed leg, but he seems too old for that.

Is an avian vet a possibility? I hope someone who knows more can write to you soon.

 

[IndioHatch07]

How long has it been going on for? It reminds me of splayed leg, but he seems too old for that.

Is an avian vet a possibility? I hope someone who knows more can write to you soon.

I noticed it about a month ago. When he was a young chick, he jumped around and played perfectly fine.
I haven't found an avian vet yet in my area

 

[IndioHatch07]

There are a lot of variables. It can make it more likely that they suffer from a slipped tendon, and it can get worse sometimes, as they get heavier. If vet care is an option they could better advise, and sometimes surgery might be an option. Sometimes splints can be used to help support the leg in a more normal position. If it gets worse, it could become bad enough that the bird can no longer move well enough to get to food and water.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...ctious-skeletal-disorders-in-poultry-broilers
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/valgus-deformity

Thank you so much!

 

[IndioHatch07]

Hoping for the best for your special guy.

Thank you so much! I will post updates for this sweet little boy

 

[LaFleche]

From my own experience with Shamo LF I can say that large and heavy breeds with long legs undergo growth spurts that can easily bring too much weight on the then still soft and not sufficiently calcified bones, so I found it very important to restrict their access to feed during certain growth phases and add brewers yeast and silicea to help the tendons to keep up with the growth spurts of the bones.

Ever since I took the above mentioned precautions they no longer had leg issues.

The restricted feeding with additives during certain growth phases is also recommended for giant and heavy dog breeds like Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds, Mastiffs and similar that also undergo growth spurts at a certain young age, to avoid bone issues like hip displasia, valgus deformaties and similar.

 

[IndioHatch07]

Hi, It's been a while since your last post, wondering how your little roo boy made out & if you have any more info on this. I have Indio Gigantes & have experienced similar leg issue on several occasions too. Same as you, all chicks equally running around normally, and issue arises at about 4-5 month age.

Out of initial 13 chicks (from reputable FL breeder), had 1 roo develop that way. He's kept separate & hasn't bred with any others. He walks with a limp, but's almost 4yrs old now & otherwise normal. Over past couple yrs, I've had 2 hens develop this at same 4-5 mo age, 1 progressed til she could no longer walk & had to be put down & other hen is almost a yr old & limps, or if she's in a hurry, hops around like a kangaroo, but otherwise normal.

I don't know if maybe it's something specific to indio gigante breed? I don't think it's due to injury, it just seems to happen.

Any info would be helpful as I can't figure it out!

Sadly my boy did not make it. I have discovered that it is a breed thing due to how quickly they grow.
Since I have changed their feed I've not had a problem. I mix feather fixer and game bird feed. Many people are afraid to give them too much protein but that is not the issue. I also give them a scoop of oyster shells once a week to keep their calcium up.
For another questions or updates have a farm facebook page called Boss's Barns! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550931279838&mibextid=ZbWKwL

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

So sorry to hear that IndioHatch It's so heartbreaking after watching them grow & develop over several months!

Thank You for feeding info, I've been feeding Kalmbach Flock Raiser because I've read about too much protein issue, supposedly less protein slows growth somewhat. They love that food, but obviously, by itself, it's not working here, so I may add the feather fixer.

And thanks for input LaFleche, reading on Silicea, that's interesting. I see it comes in liquid, powder tabs - what form and dose do you give to your birds?