Broken foot was taped up but not healing. Now what?

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ThIsafricanhome

ThIsafricanhome

Chirping
Nov 7, 2015
60
2
56
A hen of kine broke her foot a couple of weeks ago. I treated it by taping it up to cardboard but she would just lay around with it out behind her. After a week I took it off and she only hopped around on her good leg holding her broken foot up and closed. So I taped it up again but all she will do is lay on her side. I know this takes time but after a few weeks I would have expected some progress so I dont think its healing correctly. Now what do I do?

I have kept her isolated from the others in a small pen but just yesterday switched her over to a blocked off nesting box to give her more support for staying upright, keeping the foot in a more proper position. Some pics in the comments.
 
You could try a chicken sling or chair. I wonder if she could have something wrong with her leg such as a leg bone deformity that has become worse with age, or a slipped tendon. How old is she? Does she have any paralysis in either leg? Can you give her vitamins in her water, especially B complex? You can even dissolve a B complex tablet in a little water, and put it on her food. Curled toe paralysis can be a sign of riboflavin deficiency, nerve damage, and sometimes Mareks disease.

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Oh thats a great idea thank you! She is young, not even rouged in the face yet, so around five months or so I believe (we just bought her at market a few weeks ago) and is in good health otherwise. Her foot isnt realy curled into a fist - its more that she wont spread her toes at all. They stay together when she holds it up and when she hobbles the foot is bent backwards, topside down, and pressure is only briefly applied to the ankle joint area. I will try making a sling or chair of some sort to help her. Thank you!
 
I would be very wary that this is Marek's disease unless you are absolutely certain she has a broken foot. She is the right age for Marek's and the stress of moving to a new home could well have triggered it. I have had birds with Marek's that have gone lame in the manner you describe and I too tried to strap the foot to a polystyrene boot but in the end I gave up and let her hop and she managed fine. Marek's is a very contagious disease though and can kill many youngsters, so do be very careful and practice good biosecurity until you are certain it's not Marek's.
Buying from auction was how it came into my flock and it has caused quite a bit of heartache since then.
 
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Thank you mareks and new castle are common here but Im sure it isnt that - i actually saw her break it is why I say that. We have had her for a month now and she hasnt shown any signs of illness. Loosing your flock to a disease like that is SUPER hard. We actually are just restocking after a coryza infection that killed many and left the rest carriers for life so we had to start over, sooo heartbreaking. So yes, caution for sure, thanks.
 

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