Long time reader, but I just joined. We have a flock of 11 hens and 1 rooster with 6 more chick hens a couple weeks old and 20 broilers. Having some trouble with one of my 2 year old hens. Found her in the horse barn today and she didn't walk away when approaching. Instead she refused to get up. I looked at her foot and found some of the scales rubbed. After further examination I found her entire leg wasn't functioning at all. He leg twists and moves at the hip in ways it shouldn't and she seems to not have any control. IT also didn't appear to put her in pain while moving the joint. He leg/foot is as warm as the other side. As with injured/sick birds the rest of the flock won't let her around. I have her resting in a box where she can eat/drink. I searched many other threads and found lots of leg splints for healing, but with no pain, and the damage appearing to be in the hip, there were no splints for this area. I really don't want to cull, but I can't think of many other options for this poor girl. Any ideas before that final option are much welcomed. Thank you!
If it is a broken hip, the prognosis is not good. A broken bone in the upper leg might heal on its own given enough time. You might try keeping her in a separate pen -= monitoring closely and making the decision to cull if it becomes evident that her quality of life is no longer good. Good luck.
Thanks. Right now I have her leg supported up with some loose gauze around her bag. After I did this we was able to stand more easily on he one good leg, but doesn't move around much. I do have her in a separate cage now with access to water/food. After more searching I did find a few good threads on dislocated hips. I think this might be what it is because I can't feel a break. but I also can't tell if its dislocated, just not moving. She seems to have an appetite and is drinking. On a lighter note I think I blew her mind by putting her where she can see the 34 baby chicken/turkeys we have.
