Chicken help!

CassandraCarbis · #1 08/07/14, 02:03 PM

I have 9 four week old chicks, one of which leg seems a little off. When she was about a week old I noticed that her toes were not quite right, last week or so we noticed that one of her legs is actually crooked. Kind if knocked kneed if you will. It does not seem like it is broken. She still walks around, even stands on it to stretch the other leg. We have decided that as long as she is walking around we would just let her be, she seems happy and not in pain. I am curious to what is wrong with it, right now I have settled on a deformity. Does any one have any advice as to what could be wrong?

Maura · #2 08/07/14, 04:03 PM

About 30 years ago my sister’s husband bought a group of meat chicks. Most of them had at least one deformed foot. They don’t know anything is wrong, they did fine. This chick has already proven she can get around, get food, etc. As long as the others don’t start picking on her, she can stay with the group.

ntjpm · #3 08/07/14, 04:08 PM

Kind of sounds like Spraddled leg. http://www.poultryhelp.com/spraddle.html
If you really like her and it is not causing her pain I am not sure at this point I would worry about it. I would also recommend you go to Backyard Chickens forums and post about it there. Lots of amazing chicken advice and help.

Tracy in WA

Forcast · #4 08/07/14, 04:09 PM

I have a 3 year old hen that started out like yours she is fine, kinda has a limp. dont know what it was from. But humidity while hatching can cause deformities in the legs. so can helping a chick hatch.

haypoint · #5 08/08/14, 08:53 AM

Common in the fast growing meat chickens. They need a high protein diet. What are you feeding your chickens?

PrincessFerf · #6 08/08/14, 11:58 AM

Over the years I have had a number of laying hens of all different breeds with leg or toe deformities. I don't breed them, just raise them for eggs. The hens have never had problems with it, they just look a little funnier than the others. It never seemed to be an issue with them living their life as normal.

BlackFeather · #7 08/08/14, 08:40 PM

I have flat feet and my feet go out like ducks do, no pain, I get along fine, glad no one took me out and chopped my head off because of it.

CassandraCarbis · #8 08/09/14, 06:55 AM

They are four weeks old and eating medicated chick starter. I am not going to put her down lately she has been one of the more inquisitive chicks, and has the most feathers. Friends and family who see them don't notice any thing is any different about any of them. They are buff brahmas so not fast growing I don't think it's a protein issue with as many crickets as I feed them. she is my rose and might be my best layer! this is my first flock so I just wanted to make sure that it wasn't in humane or any thing to keep her

Piper_Scout · #9 08/09/14, 02:31 PM

As long as she doesn't act like she's in pain there's no reason to put her down. I think the wrong or fluctuating humidity while they're in the egg can cause foot deformities (like Forcast said).

I have a hen who had 2 toes stuck together as a chick, and one who lost her feet to frostbite, they get around fine. They'll adapt.