My chick's leg drags, is stiff, and she's not growing. What's wrong?

Poor Lily! The deformed limb issue can be common in chicks. Sometimes this deformity will correct itself as the chick develops. Veterinarians will often try to correct this type of issue with splinting the limb and teaching owners how to perform safe range of motion exercises to help the limb become normal. Sometimes surgery is an option too. Likely this would only be recommended when Lily is older and you would need to find a veterinarian comfortable with this type of orthopedic issue to find out timing and after-care requirements. I am concerned that Lily has two openings to her vent in addition to this limb issue and want to kindly caution you that more than one congenital abnormality is not good. I wonder about other abnormalities that could be internal. It would be best to have Lily examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure you are able to keep her healthy and happy.

Thanks for reaching out about Chika and including photos. First thought is the bitten toes were an access site for bacteria that settled in the joints or the trauma of the bites allowed a sub-clinical infection to manifest. Mycoplasma gallinaceum is a common joint infection in thickens. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Warm compresses on the joints can help lower the swellings. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Chicky and including photos. A physical examination must be made to determine which of these it is, and each will require a different treatment plan. There are some infectious diseases that can cause this also like bacterial infections or Mycoplasma gallinacium. Provide good diet and husbandry, especially heat support. Good luck.

It's possible your hen may have an injury to the leg such as a sprain or break, or even a potential nutrient deficiency causing weakness. If the leg isn't improving on its own, seeking veterinary care to have it looked at by a vet is best. They may be able to figure out the issue or create a brace while the leg heals to make sure it stays in the proper position.

Ideally Stella needs a vet visit to asses. She could have a fracture or dislocation or make have a viral infection suck as Marek's disease that can affect the nerves of the leg. In many cases a fracture or dislocation in a hen requires sedation to attempt to fix but because they are two legged animals it requires a lot of TLC and nursing care to help them recover. She needs to be kep inside and have a sling fashioned to help her stand upright. She may need help cleaning herself. And in the case of bone injury she should have pain medication. Many times culling or euthanasia is chosen for chickens with leg injuries because of the difficulty in recovery.

If the foot is shriveled up it could be that the leg was deformed in the egg rather than broken, though if it was trapped a while that could have injured it as well. I would keep an eye on it and if it doesn't improve or straighten out, or seems to be causing distress, have it checked by a vet. They may need to offer a splint or other treatment plan to help it improve and get the baby feeling better.

Thanks for reaching out about Cutie and including photos. This condition often arises from improper substrate that allows the legs to slip outward. During the developmental phases of grown, bones are soft and bend easily. You can attempt to "hobble" the legs underneath her in an attempt to correct things but prognosis is not good. A veterinary visit can improve odds, especially if avian experienced. Good luck.