Adult hen with broken leg at the joint

[xsoftangelwings]

I have a hen with a broken leg! I got home tonight & she was laying on the floor of the coop & her right leg is completely floppy. I believe it's broken at the joint. I know they can live with one leg, but what do I do about the broken leg? We don't have any vets around here that work on birds. I saw a couple of threads about wrapping / splinting it, but I don't know if that would help if it's broken/dislocated at the joint. I could amputate & stitch it myself if I had something to use as an anesthetic. Not sure what to do.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I would not rush into anything as drastic as amputation. Is the chicken alert, eating and drinking? Do you see any swelling or bruising in the joint or leg? Was your chicken vaccinated for Mareks disease? Could you post a picture of how she is lying? Could her leg be paralyzed or have nerve damage in it from an injury? Are her toes curled or does she move them? Is a vet a possibility?

 

[EJayO]

I have a hen with a broken leg! I got home tonight & she was laying on the floor of the coop & her right leg is completely floppy. I believe it's broken at the joint. I know they can live with one leg, but what do I do about the broken leg? We don't have any vets around here that work on birds. I saw a couple of threads about wrapping / splinting it, but I don't know if that would help if it's broken/dislocated at the joint. I could amputate & stitch it myself if I had something to use as an anesthetic. Not sure what to do.

Hi. I just went thru that with a hen.
I set and splinted it and kept her inside. Chicken diaper is good investment.
BTW: You can give a chicken aspirin and meloxicam for pain and swelling (only 3 days)
As long as eating and eyes are clear just be patient. My hen is mostly healed but only uses that leg for balance. Cant put her with my other chickens cause they beat up the weak ones. Specklers has become an indoor outdoor pet.

 

[Eggcessive]

Hi. I just went thru that with a hen.
I set and splinted it and kept her inside. Chicken diaper is good investment.
BTW: You can give a chicken aspirin and meloxicam for pain and swelling (only 3 days)
As long as eating and eyes are clear just be patient. My hen is mostly healed but only uses that leg for balance. Cant put her with my other chickens cause they beat up the weak ones. Specklers has become an indoor outdoor pet.

Glad that your chicken has mostly recovered. Can you share any pictures of her during her recovery? Good luck on reintegrating her back into the flock. I have a hen who was in the coop in a basket with other chickens while she recovered for 5 weeks from a balance issue, and she was beaten up repeatedly, and could never be back with the others. I will try again this fall to add her back.

 

[EJayO]

Glad that your chicken has mostly recovered. Can you share any pictures of her during her recovery? Good luck on reintegrating her back into the flock. I have a hen who was in the coop in a basket with other chickens while she recovered for 5 weeks from a balance issue, and she was beaten up repeatedly, and could never be back with the others. I will try again this fall to add her back.

There are 2 chickens that are very nice and the other 3 are just mean. I knew "Specklers" was feeling better when she defended herself and chased off/hopped after the bully!

 

[EJayO]

This was the day it happened. ~July 27, 2019

 

[EJayO]

...this is her today Sept. 28, 2019

 

[Eggcessive]

Thanks for the pics. The poor cat looks a little jealous that she is eating her cat food, LOL. My sick chickens will eat canned cat food, scrambled egg, tuna, and wet chicken feed.

 

[EJayO]

Thanks for the pics. The poor cat looks a little jealous that she is eating her cat food, LOL. My sick chickens will eat canned cat food, scrambled egg, tuna, and wet chicken feed.

Lol! I trained them with cat food. They love it!