Broken leg

[vdietz]

I think one of my 7 week old easter eggers has a broken femur. My husband found her not using her leg a couple days ago. We have isolated her. She was definitely in pain so I had not really pushed moving and inspecting her leg until last night and today. She does seem to be more comfortable and we have been giving her aspirin twice a day. She will set her food down when she is standing but holds it up and hops on one leg to move around. I am at a loss as to what to do. I think that the bones are not aligned to which I fear we have no hope of any healing. What to do?

 

[vdietz]

Pictures but hard to tell anything.

 

[glassdragonfly]

So sorry for your chick! Will she try to move her toes at all,like curl them and straighten them out? I would get her on some paper towels or puppy pads to get her good footing,shavings can be slick. Keep her area small to help keep movement down to a low level. If you can try to feel along the bones,it might hurt her some but if you can find a break it might need to be braced. If you can't find a break it might be sprained badly. Rest,aspirin and time.

 

[vdietz]

She will move her toes some. It is not aligned so I am sure it is broken or dislocated. However I am pretty sure the end is sharp so....broken. If it isn't aligned is there any hope it will heal to be funtional?

 

[glassdragonfly]

If it is not aligned then it probably won't heal well. Can you move it so its close and set it there with some vet wrap? I had one that broke her leg but it was in line and I just gave her rest in a small cage,but it took a long time to heal.

 

[vdietz]

I cant get it close. The muscles are too tight.

 

[glassdragonfly]

If a vet is not an option you will have a special needs chicken,I have a few and really enjoy them. Maybe just try to keep her as quiet as possible then light exercise until healed. Homemade wheelchair might help.

 

[glassdragonfly]

Best of luck to her, she is so pretty!