Splay leg/knock knees at 4 weeks old

[msviolaceous]

I kept chickens years ago and took a long break but decided to get back into it this year. I'm still relearning all the things I forgot. I have a little flock of four and only recently noticed that one of them is walking with their knees together. They are getting along just fine but with an uneven gait.

I thought I took appropriate precautions against splay leg (aspen shavings layered over a puppy pad to keep things dry) and I don't know if there was an injury or it just developed slowly and snuck up on me. The other thing is that this bird (Olive egger) has some big dinosaur legs compared to the others (possible roo?) and that might be why I didn't notice slouching. The flock was exclusively on chick starter for the first three weeks and I only recently added in some bugs, plants and grit but their main diet is still chick mash.

I'm hoping that something can still be done at almost four weeks of age but these chickens are pets (and this one is my daughter's favorite) so a little lameness isn't a big deal if there's quality of life. They will be in a run, not free range. If it's a roo we will still keep him as long as it's just the one. So s/he doesn't need to be good at mating or fighting, just able to live a pampered chicken life.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/prognosis/gender predictions.

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity, which can occur in one or both legs. The legs have a knock kneed appearance, and the feet are pointed outward. The opposite deformity is varus deformity. Do not try to splint or remedy this because there is no treatment, and splinting could cut off the circulation or cause other problems. She may live a fairly normal life, but sometimes they can have tendon ruptures later on. Here is some reading with a picture:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is another more detailed article by R. Julien if you can read it and see all of the pictures:
https://www.researchgate.net/profil...hZCIsInByZXZpb3VzUGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIn19

 

[BlackHenCoop]

This is a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity, which can occur in one or both legs. The legs have a knock kneed appearance, and the feet are pointed outward. The opposite deformity is varus deformity. Do not try to splint or remedy this because there is no treatment, and splinting could cut off the circulation or cause other problems. She may live a fairly normal life, but sometimes they can have tendon ruptures later on. Here is some reading with a picture:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

I definitely agree.

 

[Eggcessive]

This is a picture of the same deformity in one leg:
See more at: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/valgus-varus-deformity

 

[msviolaceous]

Thank you very much. Does that mean I didn't cause this? That's reassuring. It doesn't look too bad, hopefully she will just have a long, limping life. I very much appreciate the input. Do y'all think pullet or is it still possible she is a he?

 

[BlackHenCoop]

This is a leg bone deformity called valgus deformity, which can occur in one or both legs. The legs have a knock kneed appearance, and the feet are pointed outward. The opposite deformity is varus deformity. Do not try to splint or remedy this because there is no treatment, and splinting could cut off the circulation or cause other problems. She may live a fairly normal life, but sometimes they can have tendon ruptures later on. Here is some reading with a picture:
https://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/leg-health-in-large-broilers

Thank you very much. Does that mean I didn't cause this? That's reassuring. It doesn't look too bad, hopefully she will just have a long, limping life. I very much appreciate the input. Do y'all think pullet or is it still possible she is a he?

It’s a disorder, I don’t think you could have caused it. I would say it’s probably what it was sexed as. it does kind of look like a roo, but some hens do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Thank you very much. Does that mean I didn't cause this? That's reassuring. It doesn't look too bad, hopefully she will just have a long, limping life. I very much appreciate the input. Do y'all think pullet or is it still possible she is a he?

No, you did not cause this. It is a common bone deformity. These defects are more common in meat birds, but are also found in egg layers.