We am new to chickens and we got 6 10 week old babies in June. They are not laying yet but think one or two are not far off. We do have one though called Peggy who has a deformed leg/knee/foot. The knee makes the leg bend outwards and the foot seems to be back to front. This has got worse as she has got bigger though she is smaller than the rest. She is a Speckled hybrid. We have one other speckled, two browns and two Blackrocks. Peggy is feeding well, drinking well and takes no hassle off anyone -in fact she is a bit of a bully especially when she wants the fresh food. She is very slow and looks awkward when moving around. We have checked the joints and doesnt seem to be causing her any pain and there is no swelling or heat. She struggles to get out of the coop in the morning as theknee bends the wrong way and she keeps kicking the side of theentrance if she is not positioned right then she seems to jump orfall rather than try toa comedown the ramp. Hubby wants to know if there is anything we can do such as splinting or strapping. A friend says any vet will want to put her to sleep but dont want to do this as she doesnt seem to be suffering or in pain. Cannot afford large vets bills for any ops either.
Any suggestions what we can do - if anything?? ps she is not clucking properly yet either but all the others have been for about a month
Aww poor thing. Hope someone might have a suggestion for you. Welcome to the forum though
Welcome to the forum Denise (Chickencoop42).
Although I have kept chickens for about 10 years I have never had this kind of problem so I can give you no helpful advice other than to join a wonderful US online forum that has a huge archive of helpful chicken info. You can trawl this or ask a direct question.....they are friendly (especially if you are a Brit). You might be asked to provide photos or a video.
http://www.backyardchickens.com
It sounds as if she is coping OK so it might be better to leave her as she is especially if the other hens accept her & don't attack or worry her. I suspect to have made a difference you would have had to start when she was just a tiny chick as their bones set very early.
Good luck. Let us know how she gets on.
Hattie (aka Nadine)
"The beautiful is as useful as the useful...perhaps more so."
from Les Miserables
Thanks glad to have somewhere to ask my questions been trawling the net for weeks.
Yes she is coping fine just the getting out of the coop in the mornings is an ordeal to watch but she seems fine. Suppose she has not known any different as its always been bit dodgy which is why hubby called her Peggy.
Think he wants to try strapping it for support more than anything because the way she walks may put extra strain on the good leg
Most Users Ever Online: 767
Currently Online:
31 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
brightspark: 10535
danast: 10232
Aly: 9516
Sooliz: 8084
Hattie: 6920
Ambersparkle: 6699
JoannaS: 4800
Terrier: 4518
eileen54: 4424
Hannah: 4231
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 11
Members: 16223
Moderators: 3
Admins: 1
Forum Stats:
Groups: 6
Forums: 25
Topics: 2273
Posts: 123063
Newest Members:
expip, maximllPl, RobertasseK, EdwardDum, Suzanneclics, BrianalileModerators: Toffeeapple: 16337, AdminTA: 10, Fiona Nevile: 0
Administrators: Danny: 5517
Copyright © 2006-2023 Cottage Smallholder Our Privacy Policy Advertise on Cottage Smallholder