Best recovery diet for bone fracture with possible tendon and nerve damage?

[Shadrach]

I'm not quite as strict as @EggSighted4Life with regard to food for injured chickens.
He is right however the a feed designed for chickens is going to have all the right amount of nutriants.
But, I know when I have injured chickens, and I've had quite a few over the years I feed them whatever will make them eat.
You write you've tried yogurt and she turned her nose up at it; try adding a small amount of honey.
Sunflower seeds are good.
Walnuts and grapes always go down well here.
Asprin, probably not a good idea. You can get Metacam and give her that. It comes with a syringe; give 2 graduations of the syringe once a day for up to five days.
The possibility of a limp would concern me if your chickens free range and you have predators. They will pick her out.
Good luck and I hope she recovers.

 

[TylerEngland]

I had a pigeon with a broken leg. I gave it symphytum and covered the area with Arnica cream. I know this is holistic but it did make an improvement. Within a couple of weeks it had healed. I didn't splint it because of the swelling but a pigeon is lighter than a chicken and seemed to manage OK. I hope your hen will make a full recovery.

Thanks for those recommendations! I'll probably have to order those products as I live in rural Kentucky, but I looked them up and they seem promising!

 

[TylerEngland]

I'm not quite as strict as @EggSighted4Life with regard to food for injured chickens.
He is right however the a feed designed for chickens is going to have all the right amount of nutriants.
But, I know when I have injured chickens, and I've had quite a few over the years I feed them whatever will make them eat.
You write you've tried yogurt and she turned her nose up at it; try adding a small amount of honey.
Sunflower seeds are good.
Walnuts and grapes always go down well here.
Asprin, probably not a good idea. You can get Metacam and give her that. It comes with a syringe; give 2 graduations of the syringe once a day for up to five days.
The possibility of a limp would concern me if your chickens free range and you have predators. They will pick her out.
Good luck and I hope she recovers.

Thank you! I'll try adding some honey to the yogurt and also keep trying to mix up her diet with some of the other food items you recommended plus some chick food so that she'll hopefully get a balanced diet.

As for the free-ranging, I let them free range (sort of anyways, in about a 1/8 acre fenced-in grassy area) only if myself or my dog are out there with them, usually 3-4 hours a day. Otherwise they're in their covered run. Hopefully that will keep her safe enough. I'm more worried about the flock accepting her back if she is noticeably handicapped at all. The rest of my flock are dual-purpose breed chickens (all my other Polish and smaller breeds ended up being roos), and I think they didn't bother her since they've all grown up together. She wasn't even at the bottom of the pecking order before, but I feel she definitely will be now.

 

[TylerEngland]

One more quick question for you guys! So I was administering her shot of Baytril this morning (for her head wound), and I noticed lice on her for the first time ever. Not a ton, but still. I'm feeling all creepy-crawly now because I have long hair and because we've been keeping her in the house.

Do you have any recommendations for what I should use to get rid of the lice that would be safe on her in her weakened state and also safe to be indoors around people? I guess I may as well treat the rest of the flock too.

Thanks! You guys have been a wealth of information for this newbie

 

[Shadrach]

Thank you! I'll try adding some honey to the yogurt and also keep trying to mix up her diet with some of the other food items you recommended plus some chick food so that she'll hopefully get a balanced diet.

As for the free-ranging, I let them free range (sort of anyways, in about a 1/8 acre fenced-in grassy area) only if myself or my dog are out there with them, usually 3-4 hours a day. Otherwise they're in their covered run. Hopefully that will keep her safe enough. I'm more worried about the flock accepting her back if she is noticeably handicapped at all. The rest of my flock are dual-purpose breed chickens (all my other Polish and smaller breeds ended up being roos), and I think they didn't bother her since they've all grown up together. She wasn't even at the bottom of the pecking order before, but I feel she definitely will be now.

I wouldn't be too pesimistic about her position in the flock if she recovers.
All the chickens I've had injured went straight back to their old position and none of the others bothered them. I've had a lot of injured chickens!

 

[Kiki]

I couldn't agree more with @EggSighted4Life about stopping feeding all the treats.
A complete poultry feed is best.

Lice - Permethrin.
Treat every bird and the entire coop weekly for a few weeks.

Permethrin Concentrate, Martin's on Left - Durvet on right

• Kiki
• Jul 28, 2018
• 2

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

A good read:
Common Lice and Mites of Poultry - ANR Catalog

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One more quick question for you guys! So I was administering her shot of Baytril this morning (for her head wound), and I noticed lice on her for the first time ever. Not a ton, but still. I'm feeling all creepy-crawly now because I have long hair and because we've been keeping her in the house.

Do you have any recommendations for what I should use to get rid of the lice that would be safe on her in her weakened state and also safe to be indoors around people? I guess I may as well treat the rest of the flock too.

Thanks! You guys have been a wealth of information for this newbie

These products are found in the equine section. Part feathers under each vent, wing pit and nape of the neck at base of the head... making sure to hit skin a SMALL spritz is all it takes. This bottle for under $8 lasted me over 2 years with 82+ birds, 2 large goats, and 3 medium dogs. I bought it to keep mosquitoes off but soon discovered the many benefits! Yes, treat everyone... even if you don't see evidence on them... as they could become a target if not treated. I'm under the impression this product might not be safe for use around cats... but it is safe for dogs, humans, birds, rabbits, goats, and many more... reading labels is always important. I have even used it on fresh hatched chicks as well as hens that have set for extended periods of time. I would not use it near a pond with fish.

Poultry lice don't care about humans. You might get one on you but they won't stay there or inhabit you. I know how the creepy crawlies go though!

I'm more worried about the flock accepting her back if she is noticeably handicapped at all.

House her in their sight, like a kennel in the run or something. This will make your transition be smoother.

If you need to use pick no more or blue kote... or even just blue food die to cover the red patch when you are ready you can do that... when it is no longer an open wound but still growing in feathers.

Each flock is so individual... it's kinda hard to know what will happen. In my opinion it isn't RED that attracts pecking... it's blood. Let's be real... combs and waddles are red, as well as their face and even some legs... blood on the other hand is tasty and causes a treat craze essentially.

If it's just a wound... I won't personally administer antibiotics... the body already makes them. And antibiotics kill good bacteria too... (did I already say that earlier in the thread? ) Treating to "prevent" a secondary infection is exactly why so many drugs we have these days don't work. I have had birds completely scalped that recovered WELL without the use of antibiotics... I know each situation is unique though. If I didn't see puss building, or hot redness spreading... that looked like an infection... I would lay off the antibiotics. Getting shots ain't no fun in my experience and could just be another stresser. If I was going to use antibiotics for the head wound I would do so topically... unless the vet suggested it for the leg. We just make out best decisions with the information we have.

Yes it is true that if your body is focusing TOO much of its' energy at a different location that a bird *may* not lay eggs (like during molt)... Even hard core athletes will forgo menstruation during periods of heavy training. So it is possible, but doesn't make it an absolute truth... another poster on here (rebrascora) has birds with Marek's that continue to lay. Without protein (and amino acids) being up... not likely. Many of my birds may squat a whole month before they begin laying... and it is a hormone that is light dependent, so this time of year (at my location) can take a little longer.

Glad to hear your had a wry neck actually recover! That in fact can be a symptom of Marek's too. And recovery doesn't make it not true, per say. Many Marek's birds do recover. However, it's also possible that some birds just aren't processing or absorbing as well. Could be genetic, left over mal-absorption from coccidiosis when young, or too many treats, internal or external parasites or both... I tell you, the learning just never seems to stop... so many possibilities... again we do our best with the info we have.

The sling is awesome... as well as the fact that the vet actually looked at her. I would say that once the pain response is diminished significantly a little physical therapy might help recovery... making the sling where even though the foot dangles it can make contact with the surface and put some weight and try standing to strengthen the muscle back. To me actual signs of injury like swelling, heat, or redness are a good thing as they would not likely happen with Marek's. An injury effects one bird... so while it still stinks is not as scary as the other possibility that could effect the whole flock.

Hoping she makes a full recovery, and quickly!

 

[TylerEngland]

I couldn't agree more with @EggSighted4Life about stopping feeding all the treats.
A complete poultry feed is best.

Lice - Permethrin.
Treat every bird and the entire coop weekly for a few weeks.

Permethrin Concentrate, Martin's on Left - Durvet on right

• Kiki
• Jul 28, 2018
• 2

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

A good read:
Common Lice and Mites of Poultry - ANR Catalog

Thank you! bought some Permethrin and I'll treat the flock and also treat her in a few days, once she seems really robust Also, I'll try my best to significantly cut back on any treats, and to at least infuse the ones I give her (she's kind of picky and I do want to keep her interest) with a little extra nutrition. We finally got her some chick crumbles (the first time my hubby picked up 'mini' layer pellets thinking that was what I meant, lol) and she's loving them as they're easy to eat and kind of resemble her scratch treats.

 

[TylerEngland]

I wouldn't be too pesimistic about her position in the flock if she recovers.
All the chickens I've had injured went straight back to their old position and none of the others bothered them. I've had a lot of injured chickens!

that is really encouraging, thank you! BB's bff is a my biggest pullet, a Barred Rock, so maybe she'll help be her back up? lol

 

[TylerEngland]

These products are found in the equine section. Part feathers under each vent, wing pit and nape of the neck at base of the head... making sure to hit skin a SMALL spritz is all it takes. This bottle for under $8 lasted me over 2 years with 82+ birds, 2 large goats, and 3 medium dogs. I bought it to keep mosquitoes off but soon discovered the many benefits! Yes, treat everyone... even if you don't see evidence on them... as they could become a target if not treated. I'm under the impression this product might not be safe for use around cats... but it is safe for dogs, humans, birds, rabbits, goats, and many more... reading labels is always important. I have even used it on fresh hatched chicks as well as hens that have set for extended periods of time. I would not use it near a pond with fish.

Poultry lice don't care about humans. You might get one on you but they won't stay there or inhabit you. I know how the creepy crawlies go though!

House her in their sight, like a kennel in the run or something. This will make your transition be smoother.

If you need to use pick no more or blue kote... or even just blue food die to cover the red patch when you are ready you can do that... when it is no longer an open wound but still growing in feathers.

Each flock is so individual... it's kinda hard to know what will happen. In my opinion it isn't RED that attracts pecking... it's blood. Let's be real... combs and waddles are red, as well as their face and even some legs... blood on the other hand is tasty and causes a treat craze essentially.

If it's just a wound... I won't personally administer antibiotics... the body already makes them. And antibiotics kill good bacteria too... (did I already say that earlier in the thread? ) Treating to "prevent" a secondary infection is exactly why so many drugs we have these days don't work. I have had birds completely scalped that recovered WELL without the use of antibiotics... I know each situation is unique though. If I didn't see puss building, or hot redness spreading... that looked like an infection... I would lay off the antibiotics. Getting shots ain't no fun in my experience and could just be another stresser. If I was going to use antibiotics for the head wound I would do so topically... unless the vet suggested it for the leg. We just make out best decisions with the information we have.

Yes it is true that if your body is focusing TOO much of its' energy at a different location that a bird *may* not lay eggs (like during molt)... Even hard core athletes will forgo menstruation during periods of heavy training. So it is possible, but doesn't make it an absolute truth... another poster on here (rebrascora) has birds with Marek's that continue to lay. Without protein (and amino acids) being up... not likely. Many of my birds may squat a whole month before they begin laying... and it is a hormone that is light dependent, so this time of year (at my location) can take a little longer.

Glad to hear your had a wry neck actually recover! That in fact can be a symptom of Marek's too. And recovery doesn't make it not true, per say. Many Marek's birds do recover. However, it's also possible that some birds just aren't processing or absorbing as well. Could be genetic, left over mal-absorption from coccidiosis when young, or too many treats, internal or external parasites or both... I tell you, the learning just never seems to stop... so many possibilities... again we do our best with the info we have.

The sling is awesome... as well as the fact that the vet actually looked at her. I would say that once the pain response is diminished significantly a little physical therapy might help recovery... making the sling where even though the foot dangles it can make contact with the surface and put some weight and try standing to strengthen the muscle back. To me actual signs of injury like swelling, heat, or redness are a good thing as they would not likely happen with Marek's. An injury effects one bird... so while it still stinks is not as scary as the other possibility that could effect the whole flock.

Hoping she makes a full recovery, and quickly!

Thank you for your healing vibes and also for all of the info! We're definitely appreciating everything!

Also, thanks for reassuring us about the poultry lice because both my husband and I were freaking out a little.

I totally agree with you about using the antibiotics cautiously. When I first got my chicks, I was trying to do everything holistically/naturally/organically...but then after a really bad bout of Cocci in week one and then a roundworm infestation, and now lice, I've been breaking my own rules a lot these days, sigh. My vet suggested Baytil for the head wound initially...and then, as I was cleaning her sling the other day, BB somehow managed to scoot across the bathroom floor and get one of the toes on her bum leg under the door where one of my cats proceeded inflict a couple minor claw wounds, so we kept up the Baytril for a couple extra days, just in case. Hopefully the probiotics help balance things back out. Poor BB can't catch a break and I felt like the worst chicken Mama

As for the wry neck in BB's brother. It was pretty minor and resolved within a few days after upping the Vit E, Selenium, and Polyvisol. I'm hoping that the wry neck came on as a comorbity of the coccidiosis the flock was suffering rather than all of these issues being a comorbidity of Mereks ...but I have had more random health issues than I would have expected with with my small flock in the short time I've had them...so now I am starting to get nervous.

The vet that is look at BB is amazing! She has been checking up on BB every few days and didn't even charge me for my second visit (when I was sure it was time to put BB down), so I do think that she's invested and will help me problem solve with whatever disabilities BB might have if she makes it. I found the office on http://www.poultrydvm.com/poultry-vets.php, and I couldn't recommend that resource more highly. I never would have found her through a normal google search as the office website only mentions wildlife and not poultry.