My young chick has a deformed leg and foot. Is surgery an option?

Question

My one week old chicken hatched with a deformed foot and fused hock on her left leg. Her right leg is fine and she is bright and healthy otherwise. She also has two vents and uses both of them. Her bad leg seems to have rotated so the bottom of her foot is facing upwards. She hops around on her right leg. Would surgery be an option, perhaps when she is a bit older? Pet's info: Bird | Unknown - Bird | Female | unspayed | 7 days old

Bobbi Musgrove, DVM · Accepted Answer

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.

My young chick has a deformed leg and foot. Is surgery an option?

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