4 month old hen, Squinting and not using 1 wing.

[Ren]

Hello all. I have a 4 month old D'uccle hen. She is squinting, kinda lethargic and not using one wing. If she's being held and you move her down quickly she only lifts one wing. She also seams to trip over it when turning that direction. I've read squinting can mean pain. I'm concerned she's sick on top of the injury. She's been treated with corrid for the last 5 days. I've kept her confined to a small cage inside and treated her with Vetrx for the last two nights. Anything else I can do to make her comfortable? or possibly to treat her wing?

 

[Ishcabibble]

Have you felt her Wing for a broken bone?

 

[Ren]

I don't feel anything that screams broken. But I'm not super experienced with such things.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Is the wing dragging a little, or not quite in position? If so, it is possibly broken, or at least badly strained.

Stretch the wing out completely (while holding her firmly so she doesn't hurt herself fighting you) and feel along its length. Check for swelling, abnormal warmth, and weird direction. Also feel the joint for the same things. Compare with her other wing, if you're not sure.

If you feel anything, gently make sure that the bone doesn't bend or shift. If it does, you could set it (pull completely straight and feel around the break, still pulling, until you know it's straight) but it isn't absolutely necessary.

Then bandage the wing together, (forearm to upper arm, if that makes sense) and tuck it against her body with a second bandage so that it's completely immobilised. You can use masking tape. and there's no need to bind the other wing.

Her shoulder might be dislocated. You would feel swelling at the joint. Again, pull straight and then tuck and immobilise (I don't know the exact motions for this one. I've only ever dealt with broken wings.)

If you feel no breaks or dislocations, then it's probably just strained. Just immobilise it and let her heal.

Also, I'd provide a nutrient supplement, simply because I believe in ruling out all problems at once.