One of our chickens broke her leg just about 1 week ago. I believe she got it caught between some heavy thick sticks and freaked out, jumping quickly and breaking it. I heard her squeal as I was outside when it happen, and immediately saw she would not put weight on it. There was no compound fracture, but it was clear that she had a fracture (maybe 2) above the foot but below the ankle. There was a small cut (from the sticks?) and I noticed it was oozing dark bubbly blood/fluid. Cleaned it as best I could and used a human finger splint (on top of gauze). Also gave her amoxicillin for five days in a row.
I had/have her isolated to a small kennel with soft bedding.
I was monitoring this every day and after the first night, I noticed it might've been too tight. I loosened it and it seemed to be OK for a day or two.. I must have loosened it too much because she clearly hurt it again somehow. At this point, I tightened it back up, but tried to make sure it was not too tight.. It seemed fine for a couple more days, and then I noticed that her foot, which previously she had moved her toes/clearly had feeling and could tell she still had nerve function etc, was now curled up w/ darker skin, blood under her toenails, and some weird looking tissue. (see pictures - this is from today). During this entire week, I did two or three Epsom bath soaks. I also loosened the splint again when I saw the foot curled. This was a couple days ago, and I figured since I had her isolated that I would remove the splint because I was worried about the tissue and blood flow. The bone itself does seem to be at least somewhat healed.
Now my concern is whatever the heck this is tissue degradation is. It looks like something similar to gangrene!? but I've never experienced it before and I always heard it smelled awful but it doesn't really smell that bad.
When this happened, I did go online and order a 3-D printed chicken foot/leg splint, but of course just arrived today... I may go ahead and put it on her because it does have support under the foot which may help her use the leg again.
She is also losing weight but still eating and drinking, at least some, but not normal amount.
Easter Egger, was 4.28 lbs when this happened, she is now 3.7 lbs
I'm doing my best to make sure that she has all the support she needs including electrolytes, scrambled eggs, mealworms, legit everything that I can give her to keep her eating.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation??
I do not think the tissue/nerve issue is getting better, and it seems that the foot is dying or is dead.
If it came to it, I was considering amputating and treating it best I can, though I do not want to do that unless I have to.
I can figure out a way to make the splint function as her semi permanent foot if she does not regain function, but I want to make sure that I stop the spread of any gangrene or infection.. and I don't know if the best bet is to consider amputating if it doesn't get better.
It does not appear to be spreading at all, and all of the discoloration of the skin is below the ankle.
Help! any recommendations/input/experience with similar situations is appreciated.
(on the pictures, it doesnt do it justice, but notice the skin color difference between the healthy foot and the curled foot. It is nearly black all the way up to the ankle)
I had/have her isolated to a small kennel with soft bedding.
I was monitoring this every day and after the first night, I noticed it might've been too tight. I loosened it and it seemed to be OK for a day or two.. I must have loosened it too much because she clearly hurt it again somehow. At this point, I tightened it back up, but tried to make sure it was not too tight.. It seemed fine for a couple more days, and then I noticed that her foot, which previously she had moved her toes/clearly had feeling and could tell she still had nerve function etc, was now curled up w/ darker skin, blood under her toenails, and some weird looking tissue. (see pictures - this is from today). During this entire week, I did two or three Epsom bath soaks. I also loosened the splint again when I saw the foot curled. This was a couple days ago, and I figured since I had her isolated that I would remove the splint because I was worried about the tissue and blood flow. The bone itself does seem to be at least somewhat healed.
Now my concern is whatever the heck this is tissue degradation is. It looks like something similar to gangrene!? but I've never experienced it before and I always heard it smelled awful but it doesn't really smell that bad.
When this happened, I did go online and order a 3-D printed chicken foot/leg splint, but of course just arrived today... I may go ahead and put it on her because it does have support under the foot which may help her use the leg again.
She is also losing weight but still eating and drinking, at least some, but not normal amount.
Easter Egger, was 4.28 lbs when this happened, she is now 3.7 lbs
I'm doing my best to make sure that she has all the support she needs including electrolytes, scrambled eggs, mealworms, legit everything that I can give her to keep her eating.
Does anyone have any experience with this type of situation??
I do not think the tissue/nerve issue is getting better, and it seems that the foot is dying or is dead.
If it came to it, I was considering amputating and treating it best I can, though I do not want to do that unless I have to.
I can figure out a way to make the splint function as her semi permanent foot if she does not regain function, but I want to make sure that I stop the spread of any gangrene or infection.. and I don't know if the best bet is to consider amputating if it doesn't get better.
It does not appear to be spreading at all, and all of the discoloration of the skin is below the ankle.
Help! any recommendations/input/experience with similar situations is appreciated.
(on the pictures, it doesnt do it justice, but notice the skin color difference between the healthy foot and the curled foot. It is nearly black all the way up to the ankle)
