Broken leg not healing

[Rocky Top Chick]

For about 3 weeks Bunny has had a broken leg. Unfortunately it isn't healing. I took the splints off tonight and her leg looks awful, swollen, skin looking bad. Her foot is also swollen and I don't think she can move it. My question, should we cull or amputate the leg. What concerns me is will she be able to hop up into the coop and will she ever be able to get on the roost. I really do not think it will heal. If we put the splints on it looks bad under the splints. Now with them off and just wrapped in vetwrap I know it will never mend. She was on Pen G for 5 days but I started another round tonight. It seems if we wrap it gets worse, but if we don't the leg will never get any better. She is our first hen that has had a problem that we can't seem to fix. I need some support and you all are the best. This is making me sick to my stomach I am so worried.

Thank you,

 

[damselfish]

I have no answer, only sympathy.

Are you keeping her pretty confined, or could she be re-injuring it by running around? That would be my only thought on the lack of healing.

Hope someone with more expertise will be along to help you shortly. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

She is confined and has been the entire time. It seems as if I secure her leg the skin gets bad and if I let the skin heal the break cannot stabilize. I am at a loss right now.

 

[janjan1]

Ive had two hens with broken legs. Both were obvious breaks in the bone, but it wasn't compound fractures, the skin wasn't broken thru by the bone. So I stabilized the broken legs by using not splints but by using the vetwrap. I first wrapped the broken leg area with a cushion, over the counter type 2X2 gauze, then used the vet wrap to hold stable. I kept them in a small cage for about a month. They were able to hobble around, able to see & communicate with the flock, but kept safe in the cage. I changed the wrap every couple weeks but looked at it daily to make sure it was secure and blood still flowing to foot. They both healed without problems. Sure they may have a slight wobble to their step, but they are walking fine.
Jan

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

I'm thinking about using a cardboard tampon holder, cutting it lengthwise and place around the leg, tape it closed. That way it should be secure enough for her leg to be stable and also get some air from both ends. Anyone try this before.