Broken leg

[Softanchor]

My chicken broke her leg. She is a pullet and I don't want to have to put her down. It is snapped at the joint. What can I do?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

@azygous

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Pics?

 

[azygous]

She can live with one leg. If the bone snapped into two separate pieces, you probably will not be able to adequately splint it. Sometimes it's a better idea to remove the lower portion of the leg.

However, it's impossible to give accurate advice without seeing a photo of the damage, including the extent of the break and if tendons are also torn.

Knowing how this happened can also clue us into how bad it might be.

 

[Softanchor]

She can live with one leg. If the bone snapped into two separate pieces, you probably will not be able to adequately splint it. Sometimes it's a better idea to remove the lower portion of the leg.

However, it's impossible to give accurate advice without seeing a photo of the damage, including the extent of the break and if tendons are also torn.

Knowing how this happened can also clue us into how bad it might be.

There is nothing really to see. It just dangles. There is no broken skin. She jumped off of a perch and her leg got caught. It snapped.

 

[azygous]

A broken leg needs to be immobilized and stabilized or it is going to cause immense pain and possibly more damage. Have you ever taken a first aid course? Immobilizing a broken bone isn't the same as setting a bone, but sometimes it may be all you can do unless you can afford a vet.

Use any materials on hand. First wrap a cushioning material around the break. Then use something stiff such as a couple of tongue depressors to hold the break in position, then wrap with elastic wrap to keep it all in place, careful not to wrap so tightly it inhibits circulation.

The leg should be unwrapped and checked every few days.

Chewable aspirin can be given twice a day for pain control.

 

[Weeg]

A broken leg needs to be immobilized and stabilized or it is going to cause immense pain and possibly more damage. Have you ever taken a first aid course? Immobilizing a broken bone isn't the same as setting a bone, but sometimes it may be all you can do unless you can afford a vet.

Use any materials on hand. First wrap a cushioning material around the break. Then use something stiff such as a couple of tongue depressors to hold the break in position, then wrap with elastic wrap to keep it all in place, careful not to wrap so tightly it inhibits circulation.

The leg should be unwrapped and checked every few days.

Chewable aspirin can be given twice a day for pain control.

I've also heard that finger braces make good splints, but obviously not something you likely have on hand.