Advice needed for a bird with a broken wing

[OmeletMan]

Back Story: This morning a hen came off the perch harder than usual and rolled out the door on her side. I really don't know what happened in the coop, but she laid there for a few moments until the others came to her and started to peck at her. I went in the run picked her up and she walked off dazed but normal. I watched her start scratching and eating and thought all was well.

Lately I noticed the same bird has been having some sort of issues jumping off the perches. I decided to re-arrange them for easier access. She came in to roost for the night. Went to jump up, made it 3/4 of the way and fell to her side. That is when I noticed she had an issue with her wing.

The right wing is broken at the joint of the primaries. I can feel the grinding. If it was a long bone, I would try splinting it, but there isn't much there to even immobilize it.

She is separated from the flock. I put her in an old dog crate with food, water, and bedding. She is listening to Willies Roadhouse.

I am considering the following:

1. Amputate at the joint. Hope that she will pull through the stress and chance of infection.
2. Leave her be and let her heal as best she can?
3. Cull her from the flock?

#3 is a last resort as she is one of the birds that as a chick had the most personality. The rest of my flock don't have names, but she is "Sweetheart" because of how she is so enamored with me. I gave her amnesty hoping she would live out a productive healthy life.

What do you think is my best option?

 

[AmyBella]

Yeesh - That's tough. I would be inclined to leave her be, or wrap the wing as well as you can so that it stays still long enough to heal/fuse... whatever bones do. I personally don't have the guts to do an amputation myself, (or the $$ to pay a vet!) but that seems really traumatic and invasive in my opinion..

A few years ago I had a bird with a break in a different area. I immobilized her wing the best I could with vet-wrap and she did pretty well. She couldn't really use her wing or flap at all, but she could move it enough to preen and she got around just fine.

Good luck! Let me know what you choose to do and how it works out!

 

[MarcoPollo]

I had to look up Willies Roadhouse to know what that meant, lol.
Is "Sweetheart" eating? Walking? Breathing ok?
I would go with option 2, although I've never dealt with a broken wing issue before. Chickens are able to adapt to all sorts of handicaps, so if you do your best to keep her alone and give her time to heal she just might cope with it well. Continue to keep in mind that she's handicapped when you arrange the coop and she should get around ok.
By the way, I like your signature comment about butternut squash.

 

[OmeletMan]

She is doing just fine overall. She is eating and doing just about everything she did previously.

I haven't had much time to do a lot of research on the broken wing subject. There are a lot of posts to weed through on here, and most that I find are about long bones/or leg injuries. These are at least relatively easy to splint.

I cant see any reason she cant be with the flock through out the day. When it comes roosting time, I will separate her out. See how that goes for a while. I am going to check and see if there is a way I can imoblize it.

If anyone else has suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks

 

[ten chicks]

She is doing just fine overall. She is eating and doing just about everything she did previously.

I haven't had much time to do a lot of research on the broken wing subject. There are a lot of posts to weed through on here, and most that I find are about long bones/or leg injuries. These are at least relatively easy to splint.

I cant see any reason she cant be with the flock through out the day. When it comes roosting time, I will separate her out. See how that goes for a while. I am going to check and see if there is a way I can imoblize it.

If anyone else has suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks

Try and join the bones together,then put wing against her body,wrap securely around her body,under good wing and back around,but not too tight(you don't want to cut off circulation). This will hopefully keep wing immobilized,so bones can heal. She may never regain the mobility that she had before,but wing should not be hanging on the ground,and she will have some use of it. Keep wrapped for 4-6 weeks,i believe that is the allotted time for bones to join together.

 

[OmeletMan]

Thanks 10 Chicks. That is some good info, and just what i was looking for.

Just a little update:
She seems to be doing very well overall. The wing isn't dragging at all, but the tip is drooped slightly. I'll try to snap a pic tomorrow.

I separated her for the last couple nights, but during the day I put her in the run with the other girls. She spent all day out in the yard with them eating, dust bathing, and eating. She is not overly stressed and is still laying. She actually sought out her nightly dog crate to lay, which was quite odd.

I made it easier to move around in the coop today. Put a couple more perch rungs at lower levels, new nest boxes...overall more handi-capable.

-Adam

 

[ten chicks]

Thanks 10 Chicks. That is some good info, and just what i was looking for.

Just a little update:
She seems to be doing very well overall. The wing isn't dragging at all, but the tip is drooped slightly. I'll try to snap a pic tomorrow.

I separated her for the last couple nights, but during the day I put her in the run with the other girls. She spent all day out in the yard with them eating, dust bathing, and eating. She is not overly stressed and is still laying. She actually sought out her nightly dog crate to lay, which was quite odd.

I made it easier to move around in the coop today. Put a couple more perch rungs at lower levels, new nest boxes...overall more handi-capable.

-Adam

Excellent,sounds like she is on the mend. Great idea moving perch to lower level,and love how you have incorporated handicap plans for your girl. You can check her wing after 2 weeks,might be enough time for bones to mend,all depends on what bone was fractured.

 

[kkflagg]

Hi 10 chicks,

I have the same problem. My favorite chicken was attacked by a possum 3 nights ago. He pulled off most of the feathers from her right wing and it was a little bloody. I cleaned the wound, applied some cover up lotion with antibiotic properties (not actual antibiotics) and trimmed the rest of her feathers. I'm new to chicken raising and it didn't occur to me until today that her bone (where wing inserts into body) is actually broken. she is eating, drinking, and the other 4 chicks are not harrassing her. she just seems listless is all. do you think demobilizing the wing at this point will make a difference? any other suggestions?

thank you!!

kirsten

 

[kkflagg]

update: i made a sling for her of cloth and safety pins, goes under body and underneath her other wing. her legs and vent aren't unobstructed. but it makes her unsteady and now she can't walk right. also ... worried that she can't move the wing at all. i don't want it to get necrotic and cause infection. i'm close to taking her to the animal hospital but i know it'll be absurdly expensive. how worried should i be???

 

[ten chicks]

Hi 10 chicks,

I have the same problem. My favorite chicken was attacked by a possum 3 nights ago. He pulled off most of the feathers from her right wing and it was a little bloody. I cleaned the wound, applied some cover up lotion with antibiotic properties (not actual antibiotics) and trimmed the rest of her feathers. I'm new to chicken raising and it didn't occur to me until today that her bone (where wing inserts into body) is actually broken. she is eating, drinking, and the other 4 chicks are not harrassing her. she just seems listless is all. do you think demobilizing the wing at this point will make a difference? any other suggestions?

thank you!!

kirsten

I'm guessing that she broke the humerus bone(long bone from body to first wing joint). Clean wounds several times a day,watch for infection. After 3 days, i am not sure if immobilizing wing at this point will help,but you can try. Can you feel broken bone? You could try to join the broken bones as best you can. Place wing in natural position against her body,then wrap(not to tight,you don't want to cut off circulation).Wrap injured wing carry wrap around to other wing, and go under good wing and back around broken wing. Check her wing after 2 weeks. If she does not due well with wrap,or seems stressed then just leave wing alone. She is listless because she is in pain,and probably in shock,i hope she does not have internal injuries. Give her some electrolytes for shock and stress. Chickens get stressed easily and a attack is very stressful. Keep her inside home if possible,keep her quiet and calm,maybe give her some of her favorite foods. Watch for other chicks,they may peck/cause more damage to wing,that is why i suggest bringing her into home.