Broken leg or dislocated?

[Giddyup]

I'm assuming this is not a common thing in young birds. Ours are 3 months. Noticed today a young pullet limping, but putting a little weight on her leg. Went over and picked her up to check. She flexes her toes, and does not show obvious pain (but I know animals won't show it if they can help it), even when I manipulated the leg slightly trying to figure it out. Can feel crunching (sorry) and the leg is loose. One handed I couldn't tell if it was the joint or not or a break - but I think joint. She limped badly but did run with a hobble and did not have to use a wing. No apparent injuries.

She's in an intermediate pen with 5 others (3 pullets 3 cockerals) but I've been letting them out the last few days in the barnyard. I'm wondering if the alpaca put a run on her.

Anyway - woud it cause more harm to try to vetwrap it? I'd like to separate her out with one other hen but we have run out of spaces with 2 duck hatches in the birdyard.

 

[threehorses]

Is it possible to take a picture of it? Is there any swelling? Honestly, if she's using it at all, that's not very bad. I'd definitely separate her.

You can try to make a splint for her, certainly. You really need to know where the 'break' is though. It doesn't sound broken through because she wouldn't be able to move her toes. Mine never could. She also couldn't hobble on it - it would bend like rubber.

You can use popsicle sticks cut to length and you can even split them width wise to make them be the same width of the leg bone. Wrap the cut end with some soft cloth tape barely so the splinters won't cut.

Wrap the leg first with cheap wrapping gauze because it's airy. Wrap only tight enough to have it conform. Just a few times to make a padding. Then place your splints on both side of the leg. Use one strip of cloth tape or strips of duct tape that you've cut into very thin strips at top, middle, and bottom to secure it - not too tightly. Then use vet Wrap on the outside of that for only a couple of layers. You might be able to help strengthen or support the joint this way.

I would also recommend separating her with another hen - she must be confined to not a lot of running for it to best heal, honestly. But at least keep her and a buddy in when the others go out in the barnyard to reduce her moving too much on it. Unless you find an actual break, you might not even have to splint her - just keep her confined to the inside rather than barnyard.

Monitor the foot daily for any swelling and/or blackening. Bones take 10 days to heal a full fracture, more days for them to be able to walk normally. Offer her some yogurt daily for the calcium and D3 in it to help her as she repairs her bone.

I'm available here or via email if you want to ask any questions.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I agree with threehorses.

 

[threehorses]

Just as an aside, I've had a few breaks here. Two were from horses stepping on a goose and duck, another was probably hit by a car or possibly a horse again. THey were full breaks, all of them. I've also had some more minor breaks like the one you described. They're much easier to heal and I didn't splint them. I did reduce their movement though.

Know that if you have big animals and little animals something always happens.

BUt I wouldn't change a thing, still. Chickens make wonderful clean up crews for oats.

Although I WILL say that setting a big goose's leg...... yeah.... not fun.

 

[Giddyup]

Thanks for the info Threehorses.

When I went back with hubby to have a better look it is definately the hock joint. It is swollen a bit but more because it now looks "flat" compared to the other. I do not believe it is a break now, so we decided not to wrap as we could have caused more harm than good.

Looks like I'll be setting up a pen in my tackroom.

Glad you can relate to the "mix". I thought alpaca because our black one gets rather frisky in the evening after the hot days. The dogs were barking up a storm so hubby looked out the window and sees Moe, our ISA, streaking like heck down the fenceline with Zeus' (alpaca) nose right behind her. He's a trouble maker!

 

[threehorses]

Oh interesting about the hock! I wonder what caused it. You know I don't believe I've ever really heard anything particularly about treating a sprain in chickens - other than a little more limited movement if it's an issue. Curious. I might have to read up on that.

Ours who had similar incidents (including some bad bruises and lucky calls where a bone wasn't broken but a horse stepped on it) usually I just kept up close to feed and water and watched for any indication of infection, which there never was one.

But I wonder if anything could be used on it?

 

[Giddyup]

topically I don't think so. Especially since it is no longer "swollen", just a different shape.

Whenever I check on her she is standing, more or less, and not spending all her time lying down so that's a good sign!

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Ohhh, I get it about "flat" now. Nice! And the standing is great. I'm relieved!