Thank you to all the BYC's who have posted advice, you helped me save my Amelia's life!!
I'll share the story in hopes it helps someone else...
Amelia broke her leg two weeks ago, Friday night. I heard her fall (get pushed??) off the roost, and saw her limp to the nest, but thought she was just bruised.
Next day I found her 20 yards away up near the neighbors' chicken pen, she had to have flown/hopped up over a 3 foot fence and small hill. AMAZING!! When I went to check on her I realized the leg was broken, compound, in the lower large bone, a bit of blood on her skin.
(Panicked searches on BYC ensue!!)
My husband helped me. We layed her on her back in my lap, I kept her (somewhat) calm while Rich felt the bone. With his fingers he gently but firmly grasped either side of the break and pulled them apart (making the leg longer), then let the ends slip together. He could feel it lining up. Then he had me hold her foot out, keeping tension on it and keeping the bone straight while he made a popsicle stick splint. He cut two splints, making sure they weren't so long that they would rub her foot, and padded them with a bit of gauze. Then we taped them around her leg.
I was terrified about the infection. The local farm store, Cenex, had penicilin in the fridge, a small bottle only cost $6 (it's still a LOT of penicillin for a flock of chickens). We bought the syringes and size 18 needles. Total of 10 bucks, with one extra needle. We gave four doses, one each day, alternating which side of the breast muscle for each dose. To give the injections, I picked her up in a towel and layed her on her back in my lap while Rich did the deed. Then I cleaned her poopy butt with warm water. By the third day, I gave her a bit of physical therapy too, letting her stretch both of her legs out, massaging the thigh muscle, making sure toes weren't swelling.
Each day she improves, adding a bit of movement. The second week she started putting a bit of weight on the leg, a little bit More each day. Smart girl!!
I put her outside, in a dogcage, during the day, to keep her socialized with the flock, and it seems to encourage her to be more active. I don't know how much longer we will leave the splint on.
I am so grateful for all the advice we received here, you've given me the confidence to do this. Many Hugs to BYC's !!
I'll share the story in hopes it helps someone else...
Amelia broke her leg two weeks ago, Friday night. I heard her fall (get pushed??) off the roost, and saw her limp to the nest, but thought she was just bruised.
Next day I found her 20 yards away up near the neighbors' chicken pen, she had to have flown/hopped up over a 3 foot fence and small hill. AMAZING!! When I went to check on her I realized the leg was broken, compound, in the lower large bone, a bit of blood on her skin.
(Panicked searches on BYC ensue!!)
My husband helped me. We layed her on her back in my lap, I kept her (somewhat) calm while Rich felt the bone. With his fingers he gently but firmly grasped either side of the break and pulled them apart (making the leg longer), then let the ends slip together. He could feel it lining up. Then he had me hold her foot out, keeping tension on it and keeping the bone straight while he made a popsicle stick splint. He cut two splints, making sure they weren't so long that they would rub her foot, and padded them with a bit of gauze. Then we taped them around her leg.
I was terrified about the infection. The local farm store, Cenex, had penicilin in the fridge, a small bottle only cost $6 (it's still a LOT of penicillin for a flock of chickens). We bought the syringes and size 18 needles. Total of 10 bucks, with one extra needle. We gave four doses, one each day, alternating which side of the breast muscle for each dose. To give the injections, I picked her up in a towel and layed her on her back in my lap while Rich did the deed. Then I cleaned her poopy butt with warm water. By the third day, I gave her a bit of physical therapy too, letting her stretch both of her legs out, massaging the thigh muscle, making sure toes weren't swelling.
Each day she improves, adding a bit of movement. The second week she started putting a bit of weight on the leg, a little bit More each day. Smart girl!!
I put her outside, in a dogcage, during the day, to keep her socialized with the flock, and it seems to encourage her to be more active. I don't know how much longer we will leave the splint on.
I am so grateful for all the advice we received here, you've given me the confidence to do this. Many Hugs to BYC's !!
