Broken vertebrae

[Poconopixi]

Hello, has anyone ever had a hen with a broken back? My girl couldn't walk when I found her in her coop and took her out. I went to my vet and she did x-rays. There is a broken vertebrae and her comb was pretty beat up also. My vet said 50/50 chance it might heal. It's been 3 weeks now. My girl is standing but still unable to walk. She uses her wings to maneuver around her run. I put her to bed every night and take her out in the morning. She's eating, drinking and going to the bathroom fine. I have her separated. I think my giant rooster was the cause of the injuries.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. Did your vet suggest making her rest and limiting her activity while she heals? In humans a fractured vertebrae can heal over time, as it has in a friend. I would be tempted to try making a chicken sling or chair, to get her upright and in front of her food and water for periods throughout the day. Then let her rest at night and between times in the sling. Some chickens will fight being in a sling, and try to escape. If she doesn’t improve with some weeks or months of rest, you may have to decide how to proceed. Keep her separated by if possible able to see the others inside a wire dog crate. Bring a friend close to her daily. Here is a good thread with examples of homemade chicken slings, a basic design, and especially read posts 5, 11-14 for pictures and a video:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Yes it can heal usually takes 3-4 months to heal and then there is a chance it will still cause pain to some degree for the rest of her life. I know I’m not a chicken, but mine happened 15 years ago and I still can’t sit on metal bleachers or hard surfaces for more than 10 minutes without my lower back going numb on me then when I move and the feeling comes back it’s pretty sore. So depending on what vertebrae it is, it may or may not be bothered by daily chicken activities after it fully heals.

 

[Poconopixi]

Yes it can heal usually takes 3-4 months to heal and then there is a chance it will still cause pain to some degree for the rest of her life. I know I’m not a chicken, but mine happened 15 years ago and I still can’t sit on metal bleachers or hard surfaces for more than 10 minutes without my lower back going numb on me then when I move and the feeling comes back it’s pretty sore. So depending on what vertebrae it is, it may or may not be bothered by daily chicken activities after it fully heals.

Thank you for the info. I was wondering about a time-line since it's only been about 3 weeks.

 

[Poconopixi]

Sorry about your hen. Did your vet suggest making her rest and limiting her activity while she heals? In humans a fractured vertebrae can heal over time, as it has in a friend. I would be tempted to try making a chicken sling or chair, to get her upright and in front of her food and water for periods throughout the day. Then let her rest at night and between times in the sling. Some chickens will fight being in a sling, and try to escape. If she doesn’t improve with some weeks or months of rest, you may have to decide how to proceed. Keep her separated by if possible able to see the others inside a wire dog crate. Bring a friend close to her daily. Here is a good thread with examples of homemade chicken slings, a basic design, and especially read posts 5, 11-14 for pictures and a video:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Thanks for the info. She has her own house and run separate from the flock but is able to see them. The vet gave me some liquid pain meds for her but didn't say how long it would take to heal.