annettec Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 We brought home a Legbar aged 10 weeks with very deformed feet. Managing to get around ok , scratching and roosting too. We probably shouldn't have taken her and the breeder was very honest with us but my son fell in love with her after seeing her aged 2 weeks ! She was the only Legbar in the batch. She is now approx 14 weeks old and I think she is getting worse the feet are still the same, but one of her legs appears to now be splayed out to the side like an L shape at the "knee joint" and with the deformed feet appears to be making her more and more unsteady. She is lively eating and drinking etc but I am beginning to fear the worst is to come I would like to do everything we can for her, to keep her with us but am worried the leg is not going to hold her as she grows bigger I presume she will Does anyone know if it would be worth splinting the leg and if so how do I go about it ? I have reassured my son that we will do all we can to keep her going but..... help please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 15, 2010 Share Posted May 15, 2010 Some advice **here**. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 It could be a dislocated joint, I understand from my vet tat this is sometimes a congenital problem. If it was then splinting would not be good unless you really know what you ae doing and you could splint it wrong. I would take her to a experience vet and see if they will tell you exactly what is wrong, and take it from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annettec Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 Thank you for your help must admit am floundering a little after looking at the thread above, as looks quite complicated and as an inexperienced chicken keeper don't know where to start ! She is also quite a big chicken not a chick so may be too late to help, but want to give her the best shot we can. Have looked and found a vet about 10 miles from me who has a particular interest in "pet chickens" and they are on the Omlet site so am going to ring them tomorrow ! Think that even if it costs £30 for a consultation at least they should be able to advise us as to what is best for the Chicken rather than put her through weeks of splinting and foot plates when it was not the right thing to do in the first place ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I'm sorry you are having troubles. 10 weeks is a bit old to start to correct the damage but as you say a good vet may be able to help I am shocked that a breeder would pass on a chook so obviously deformed, some breeders will miss the odd thing in a large hatch but something so obvious is pretty bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annettec Posted May 16, 2010 Author Share Posted May 16, 2010 To be fair to the breeder we were fully informed and aware of her feet being deformed and went and looked at her before bringing her home and there was no pressure to have her at all and she had said that if she did get worse she would take her straight back, but due to my son falling in love with her and wanting to give her a chance we were probably a bit naive and in experienced to think it through ! She really is a lovely friendly girl Just hope the vet can give some honest advice, but must admit I do fear the worst long term Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 I totally understand why you did it but such a chick should not have been allowed to grow on in the first place I really hope you can turn its fortunes around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 16, 2010 Share Posted May 16, 2010 The ex bats often have injuries that sound similar to your girls, as I said I have one that has 2 dislocated hocks, it is to late to operate on her but I have a friend that has had one successfully operated on, you might find the photos if you have a look on the exbattery hen forum, Also have a friend and my vret successfully operated and pinned a very nasty break, so all is not lost for her. go d luck and keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annettec Posted May 17, 2010 Author Share Posted May 17, 2010 Well went to the vets today ! They kept her in to try and splint her legs tocorrect her hock position . After trying 9 different methods using syringe tubes with glue, tape and anything else they could try by 6 members of staff . They found they could not find anything that supported her enough without breaking or that would allow her to sleep or eat . So we have brought her home to live as best she can ! The vet say she is not in pain and in fact was lively and active at the vets and ate for England so were amazed by her character ! I have to say the vets kept her all day tried everything they could and the only charged me £25 for the consultation ! A highly recommended knowledgable vets and Fleur is settled back home with her friends for as long as possible ! : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted May 17, 2010 Share Posted May 17, 2010 Oh bless her. At the risk of sounding dumb, have you tried lollypop sticks and micropore tape? The leg must be free of dirt, and we powdered her leg, and used the tape inside out so it didn't stick to her scales. Trouble is where the joint needs to be isolated. Good luck Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 18, 2010 Share Posted May 18, 2010 What great vets have you listed them on the recommended vets for others? AS I said previosly I have a seriously disabled ex bat with 2 dislocated hocks. She has some arthritis in then and is on metacam for this. Arnica is good too, my vet recommended popping a pill in the water(won't hurt they all get some ) She is not able to get far on her own, but enjoys a life of princess like living. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annettec Posted May 24, 2010 Author Share Posted May 24, 2010 RIP Fleur Not good today limping and falling over constantly so back to the vets Who said she was probably in pain now as leg so bad and twisted so kindest option really and there was no way it would get better just worse , so sad though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Sorry to hear it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 very sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staceychristie Posted May 26, 2010 Share Posted May 26, 2010 Oh that is a shame. You did all you can, and your vet sounds like the tops. Bless her. (((HUGS))) Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
