After Injury - Chicken Stopped eating

[RobAFish]

Hello, I have a chicken who got caught in a wire fence and dislocated her leg. I got the leg reset and she is now walking with a limp. But she has stopped eating. I started to force feed her with pea size feed balls I make, and she is now gaining weight and is much stronger. However, she still shows no sign of wanting to eat on her own; after a week of force feeding her. As I said she is able to walk with a limp and run if needed. I think she does have some pain. Does anyone have suggestions? How long will I need to keep feeding her this way?

 

[MarlaMac]

If she is not eating on her own you will need to keep feeding her until she does.

Sounds like she is with the flock. Is she being bullied away from the feed trays? Chickens are awfully mean others who seem lame or sick. It is a survival instinct.

If her leg is still hurting her you might consider putting her in a large dog crate so she can be among the flock and, at the same time, allow her to rest that leg w/out the fear of the others chasing her down/harassing her.

Have you tried to entice her to eat with some yummy treats? Cooked egg, berries, wetted feed into a mash are all good choices.

If she were my chicken, I would also give her some b complex just to help her leg heal. May not be necessary, but it will not hurt either and it may help. 1/4 human b complex.

I hope she feels better soon.

 

[Anon112]

Do you have any way to access a vet? Some painkillers might go a long way.

If not, I'd continue to support her with feedings as long as she seems to be gaining weight/strength.

As mentioned above, is she getting hassled by her flockmates?

 

[RobAFish]

We are giving her B and C vitamin, and when she first hurt herself about 4 weeks ago we were giving antibiotics. The leg has steadily gotten stronger over time. She is gaining weight and getting stronger daily. There are a few of the older ones who started picking on her. We are separating her from the meanest ones. In the night we keep her in our chicken prison for the broodies', and in the day we allow her to spend time with our newest young ones who get a long well with her. But she is tough also. I let her out with the others when I can supervise her. One of the younger adults tried to pick on her and she put the wiper-snapper in her place quickly. I was kind of proud of her for that, because usually she is the pacifist in the group. I just wish she would start eating something on her own. We haven't been able to access an avian vet where we are so we havn't tried pain killers yet. Is there anything over the counter that is safe for chickens to take?

 

[Anon112]

So just to state the obvious: she shows zero interest even if it's something like mash, blueberries, mealworms, etc?

 

[MarlaMac]

I don't know about OTC pain meds for chickens. I have read that aspirin can be given at low dosage, but there are risks. Meloxicam seems to be the go to for poultry, but, again, I am unfamiliar with it. I will tag someone who is a lot more knowledgeable about such things.

@Wyorp Rock, can you help ?

 

[RobAFish]

So just to state the obvious: she shows zero interest even if it's something like mash, blueberries, mealworms, etc?

No interest in food on her own. She will drink water, but I can't get her to eat worms, cookies, grapes, noodles... etc. All things she particularly likes.

 

[RobAFish]

I don't know about OTC pain meds for chickens. I have read that aspirin can be given at low dosage, but there are risks. Meloxicam seems to be the go to for poultry, but, again, I am unfamiliar with it. I will tag someone who is a lot more knowledgeable about such things.

@Wyorp Rock, can you help ?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello, I have a chicken who got caught in a wire fence and dislocated her leg. I got the leg reset and she is now walking with a limp. But she has stopped eating. I started to force feed her with pea size feed balls I make, and she is now gaining weight and is much stronger. However, she still shows no sign of wanting to eat on her own; after a week of force feeding her. As I said she is able to walk with a limp and run if needed. I think she does have some pain. Does anyone have suggestions? How long will I need to keep feeding her this way?

No interest in food on her own. She will drink water, but I can't get her to eat worms, cookies, grapes, noodles... etc. All things she particularly likes.

Will she eat regular poultry feed (Layer, Chick Starter)? Try the feed wet or dry.

Make sure the food station is sitting on a block so it's not on the ground so she doesn't have to bend her neck too far.

Cookies, grapes, etc., are not that nutritionally balanced. Instead offer bits of scrambled egg, sardines, or a little cooked beef along with her normal food to see if you can entice her to eat.

A vet can prescribe Meloxicam if you feel she's in pain, it doesn't sound too be if she's moving about. Perhaps she's being bullied kept from food, so put out a few feed stations.


If you feel you must give something for pain, you can give aspirin for up to 3 days, instructions are below.

6

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The problem:

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• 6of6chicks
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures