Broken chicken leg joint possibly

[Neeser Fam]

Hi everyone,
I'm looking for input on the best way to splint a hens leg at the "elbow" please.
My daughter went to bring the girls in tonight & her favorite light brahma (of course) appears to have broken her leg somehow, possibly our rooster. We want to give her a fighting chance but I'm nervous. I can feel up near the elbow the loose area where I believe the break is. Her toes aren't moving or reacting either. Leg is warm.
We brought her inside, gave her aspirin water (1.5 gallon of water mixed with 500mg asprin) with electrolytes tonight as well as she ate meal worms and medicated feed. We've got an ace bandage around her tonight to keto her from flying around and placed her in a cat kennel but want to splint it best we can in the morning.
Any input would be great on best approach to this. Photos if you have them!!!!
TIA!!!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, can you post some photos of the leg?
How old is she?

Could it be slipped tendon?

Seeking vet care would be good if at all possible.
You may find some helpful information in this splinting manual.

https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[Neeser Fam]

She's a year old. I fear it may be up further on the leg actually. There isn't a bone protruding or anything but I feel it up further when I palpate. I'm not sure how to tell if it's a slipped tendon. I can try to take a photo but there's not much to take a photo of sadly.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's a year old. I fear it may be up further on the leg actually. There isn't a bone protruding or anything but I feel it up further when I palpate. I'm not sure how to tell if it's a slipped tendon. I can try to take a photo but there's not much to take a photo of sadly.

Ahh I see, I thought maybe this was a chick since you mentioned medicated feed.

An adult, I don't know it would have to be a terrible injury to have a slipped tendon or break. Can you take her to a vet for an xray?

 

[Neeser Fam]

I put her on medicated feed due to the injury.

I could, it's one of those tough calls type of deal. I'll see if our vet can look at her. Thanks again

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I put her on medicated feed due to the injury.

I could, it's one of those tough calls type of deal. I'll see if our vet can look at her. Thanks again

What is the medicated feed? Chick starter?
If it's chick starter like Purina Start and Grow or similar - then that contains a Coccidiostat - it won't hurt her, but it has no antibiotic properties.

 

[hayls1812]

How is your hen doing? I have a similar issue ..
So.. 2 days ago I found one of my hens on the floor in the rain and when I went to her she never moved, she seems to have a broken leg at the knee joint, she’s not moving her toes and the lower leg just wobbles from side to side. I have tried stretching it out incase it was just dislocated but nothing helped. My hen is around 5 years old, she’s a good lawyer and a brilliant sitter, Hatcher & mum so I really want to give her the best chance of recovery.. can someone advise the best way you splint it ? Is it like I’ve seen above at a near right angle? I was thinking of strapping it up under her so she doesn’t catch it on anything but then would it heal up under her and never stretch down? PLEASE HELP!
She’s in her own hutch in lots of straw and laid an egg yesterday so she can’t be in too much distress. I have vetwrap etc as I have horses and am used to bandaging.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your hen doing? I have a similar issue ..
So.. 2 days ago I found one of my hens on the floor in the rain and when I went to her she never moved, she seems to have a broken leg at the knee joint, she’s not moving her toes and the lower leg just wobbles from side to side. I have tried stretching it out incase it was just dislocated but nothing helped. My hen is around 5 years old, she’s a good lawyer and a brilliant sitter, Hatcher & mum so I really want to give her the best chance of recovery.. can someone advise the best way you splint it ? Is it like I’ve seen above at a near right angle? I was thinking of strapping it up under her so she doesn’t catch it on anything but then would it heal up under her and never stretch down? PLEASE HELP!
She’s in her own hutch in lots of straw and laid an egg yesterday so she can’t be in too much distress. I have vetwrap etc as I have horses and am used to bandaging.

I'm sorry to hear about your hen.
I wouldn't strap the leg under her, I think like you, it would likely heal that way or be frozen.
Can you feel if the tendon is slipped? In the previous post, that splinting manual is probably one of the better guides you will find.
If you can afford an xray that would help tremendously.

 

[hayls1812]

It feels like the bone from the knee is detached from the tibia bone. I have posted a picture how I have splinted the leg and bandaged it now, I dont know what her chances are of the leg healing though?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It feels like the bone from the knee is detached from the tibia bone. I have posted a picture how I have splinted the leg and bandaged it now, I dont know what her chances are of the leg healing though?

Oh no! All you can do is splint it and see if it heals. I'm sorry, I don't know what the chances are of it healing properly and her being able to use it though.