Hen hurt her leg?

[Zemeraire]

I'm not sure how or when, but today I noticed one of my hens was sitting weird and the rooster kept mating with her because she wouldn't or couldn't get up. I moved her into my newly set up brooder (chicks due next week) to at least give her a break from the rooster.

Her right leg seems sore and kind of limp compared to the other, though I can't feel any breaks or anything. Its too late for a vet visit tonight, so I set her up with food and water and turned the red brooder light on for her. She is shuffling around the brooder on the hay and I've watched her go from the food/water and to the light. She seems to be enjoying the heat.

Here are a couple pics

Is this probably just because the rooster has been at her more than the others since his favorite went broody (and hatched her 2 week old babies) and he had no access to her? Or could she have sprained it? The only time the chickens fly down from anything is when they come off the perches.

She is still eating and drinking fine, and still enjoys cuddles. She is under a year old. In the run she was still eating grass just shuffling around instead of walking. I can remember seeing her walking around yesterday but did notice she was sitting around a lot too.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Is that a 250w light? Seems to me if it is that is her biggest and most immediate life threat. The brooder seems to be indoors is this correct? I am assuming that is a 2ft x 3ft(60x100cm) cage that affords no escape from excess heat. Since she is fully feathered she doesn't require the heat in my opinion. I do agree with isolation and allowing time to heal her wounds.

 

[Zemeraire]

Its a 100w light in a large cage but I will go turn it off.
Also its in a shed with an open door.

 

[Cape parrot]

Good luck with your hen, please let us know how she’s doing.

 

[AllenK RGV]

For pain you can consider this posters https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/equipment-list.48992/ Aspirin mixture. I have seen Aspirin offered as a safe medication numerous times. 1 US Gallon=3.78 Liter. I used lidocaine injections last time I needed pain management(mowed over a broody who then needed surgery) but rest is the best medicine.

Their math is way off so do more research as 81mg/quart and 4 quarts make a gallon for 325mg total, but in a gallon they say to use 5x 325mg(1625mg) aspirin.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/farmer-kittys-page-misc-info-from-byc.48606/ seems better researched and uses the 5x325mg/gallon mentioned.

 

[Zemeraire]

So I have 300mg tablets of aspirin, For the one hen should I just mix 1 tablet with 1/5 the amount of the water?

 

[AllenK RGV]

So I have 300mg tablets of aspirin, For the one hen should I just mix 1 tablet with 1/5 the amount of the water?

my math says 300mg to 700ml water. Just a simple cross multiply.

 

[LaFleche]

This might be a contusion due to overmating. Sometimes the swelling of the bruised tissue will pressurize on the sciatic nerve which leads to lameness.

I would not administer any kind of painkillers as chicken do not tolerate them well, their kidneys are very sensitive and easily damaged.

Separating her from the rooster for at least 10 days and allowing for some rest might be the best.

Very rough mating and a severe difference in weight can even lead to dislocation at the hip and in some cases a broken spine.

 

[Zemeraire]

She is actually bigger than the rooster! But for every time I have seen him mate with another hen in the last few months, I have seen him on her a dozen times. I usually see him on her 4 - 5 times a day. Her back feathers are starting to show wear and tear.

Should just a few days in total isolation be ok? I have a little portable pen setup I can put inside the main run to keep the rooster away but let her socialise, and I can keep her inside the run area of the broody hen's little coop or in a cat carrier at night. She has never been away from the rest of the flock for this long and sounds very upset, and I have chicks due next week that will need the brooder.

 

[LaFleche]

The only anti-inflammatory/painkiller I would use for a chicken is Metacam as it will not damage the kidneys.

If she only is able to move about by skidding on her abdomen, a sling chair might be the right thing to give her leg the needed rest.

You could try to install her near her flock mates, so they will be able to come and visit. Some chicken will be ok with it, others will raise hell to get out of their sick ward when they see their flockmates and are not able to follow them around.