broken leg

BlackBart

Songster
10 Years
Mar 29, 2009
1,624
20
161
sad.png


I came home yesterday to find a young Wellie hen (just under a year old) with a broken leg. How it happened I have no idea.
She is eating and drinking and isn't in allot of pain. If she is in allot of pain I am going to give her aspirin, 25gr per pound of hen weight. Is that the right dosage?

I am not sure if it is broken at the hock or the hip. I splinted the leg at the hock. The leg from the hock down to the foot wobbles. She hasn't moved the leg from the hip and I am not sure if she could anyway even if she was healthy. ???????
I couldn't feel it broken at the hip but I am no doctor and she didn't show any signs of pain when I examined her at the hip joint.
If it is broken at the hip should I bind her whole leg to her body? or is the outcome grim?
I would like to give her the best chance possible. She is being so good about it, very docile. She's a beauty.

Any ideas? anything else I can do?

The Vets around here would charge me two/three hundred dollars to set her leg, can't afford that, so sad to say. Vet prices around here are outrageous.
 
If it isn't a compound fracture (broken skin) you can put a splint her her with popcicle sticks to hold the broken bone in place. I just went through this with one of mine, however, it was compound and has taken about 3 months to heal. She limps, but is very happy. I would suggest putting her in a cage so that she cannot move around and displace the bone.

Good luck.
 
thanks for the replies.
Not a compound fracture, pretty sure just broken at the hock.
I didn't have any popsicle sticks so I used cotton swabs (Q-tips) wrapped in gauze. There was only me to set it and it is difficult as you really need four hands. So I am not too sure how straight her leg will be when it mends.
She is in the house, in a box with food and water. So far no sign of pain and she can't move too much in the box. Her food and water are within reach.
I change her bedding everyday, don't want her to sit in a poo box.
So far she is doing good. I think she likes TV
lol.png

My Blue Heeler is so worried about her. She checks the hen at least a dozen times aday.
 
Last edited:
Hi BlackBart,

When Bunny was in her cage with the broken leg, I laid paper towels down on top of the bedding so that it made it easier to clean. Worked great. I also have a heeler that is always checking on the chickens!
 
Paper towels is a good idea. She laid a egg yesturday
lol.png

Heelers get such a bad rap but most of them are big softies. All mine have been anyway.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom