Broken hen... PLEASE advise

Murdy

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I've got a 16(ish)week old orpington girl who has developed a leg issue. I'm 75% sure that she is the one that this happened to, but I'm not certain... I picked her up one day, and got her up to about 5' off the ground in order to put her in the coop. She tried to get away, I instinctively grabbed, and caught her leg. She didn't squawk or anything, I thought nothing of it. She started to have a bit of a limp, and her leg seems kind of.... Dead? It's only gotten worse, to the point that she is on the ground 97% of the time. She can't get into the coop at night, and she panicks when other birds come near, as they pick on her.

I've considered marek's, but all other birds are good. It's been a few weeks from when I first noticed the limp.

I've now put her in a cage by her self. Is there anything I can do... Or is she doomed? Unfortunately, I've grown an attachment to this girl, or I would just put her down. I don't think I have the heart to do it. 😢


Thank in advance, all.
 
I wish she recovers for you.. :hugs I do not have any solutions to offer.
You are keeping her separated, which may help her recover:idunno

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and:welcome
 
I wish she recovers for you.. :hugs I do not have any solutions to offer.
You are keeping her separated, which may help her recover:idunno

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and:welcome
Thank you.

Nobody has any bit of advice? Don't pull punches... If she Needs to be put down, I'll make it happen. I just really don't want to. Maybe I'll make a friend do it.
 
How long ago did you grab her leg? Did you look for any green bruising, redness, or swelling along the whole leg up to the hip? Injuries can sometimes involve the nerves, so it can be hard to distinguish between nerve damage and Mareks. Since the flock has picked on her, she isn’t safe being with them unless she is in a dog crate with food and water. You can make her a chicken sling where food and water is within reach. She can spend some of the day in it, and have periods of rest out of it. A lot depends on how much time you have to take care of a disabled chicken.

It is hard when you get attached to them, but if you decide to cull her or she dies, I would recommend sending her body to your state vet for a necropsy to look for Mareks. B complex vitamins (human) 1/4 tablet daily would be good to give to her. Injuries can take weeks to heal. Leg bone deformities can also be a problem in chickens, and can lead to lameness over time. Here is a link for your state vet in the US:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
Oh I see that you are in Canada. I will see if there is a place that does necropsies near you.

Here you go:
https://vet.ucalgary.ca/departments-units/dsu/tests
 
Last edited:
How long ago did you grab her leg? Did you look for any green bruising, redness, or swelling along the whole leg up to the hip? Injuries can sometimes involve the nerves, so it can be hard to distinguish between nerve damage and Mareks. Since the flock has picked on her, she isn’t safe being with them unless she is in a dog crate with food and water. You can make her a chicken sling where food and water is within reach. She can spend some of the day in it, and have periods of rest out of it. A lot depends on how much time you have to take care of a disabled chicken.

It is hard when you get attached to them, but if you decide to cull her or she dies, I would recommend sending her body to your state vet for a necropsy to look for Mareks. B complex vitamins (human) 1/4 tablet daily would be good to give to her. Injuries can take weeks to heal. Leg bone deformities can also be a problem in chickens, and can lead to lameness over time. Here is a link for your state vet in the US:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm
Oh I see that you are in Canada. I will see if there is a place that does necropsies near you.

Here you go:
https://vet.ucalgary.ca/departments-units/dsu/tests
Thanks for the reply. I'm not sure how I missed the notification for this. As far as I can tell, the leg looks fine... Aside from seeming to be dead. I've got her in a cage by herself in between the water and food. She doesn't have to live much to get either. If she's not any better in a week or 2, I won't have much of a choice. 😢
 

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