Broken wing?

[CourtneyBowman]

So I came out to check on my chickens, like I do a million times a day. And my Jersey giant hen (21 weeks old) was pecking and scratching at the belly of my overturned on her back, 15 week orpington. I thought jerseys were supposed to be well tempered?; Is it likely she beat her up and broke a wing? Or is it more likely something else happened and she was just picking on an already hurt hen? Does her wing look broken? It's just kind of hanging there. She is in the coup alone right now resting in a neat box, so no one can hurt her any further.

 

[CourtneyBowman]

A little more info. I pulled her out because I was going to try and bandage her wing. She doesn't seem to be in any pain whatsoever. But she can't stand up. She just falls over. I have hey sitting next to me on the back porch. She has eaten and drank for me just fine. Her eyes are bright and clear. This is really weird

 

[CourtneyBowman]

 

[CourtneyBowman]

Bumping for any help, please

 

[GingersHuman]

Sorry I can't help, here's a reply to help bump up though.

 

[Weehopper]

Does she have a broken leg? Also, if you hold her and gently examine both the wing and leg, you should be able to tell if either of them is broken. If not broken, perhaps you can find a carry case or carrier, put some straw or shavings in it, and gently put her in it. You don't have to put in food or water for now. Then, cover it or put her someplace dark and quiet. Enforced rest. If it's dark she won't be tempted to try to get up and move around. Let her rest overnight. Take her out in the morning, and set her gently on the floor and see how she's doing. Offer food and water. See if she tries to stand or walk even, so she can poop. She will probably be stiff and sore. If she still is unable to stand, then you might want to think about a visit to a vet, or perhaps someone here has some ideas. If she does walk a bit, and poop, and eat a bit, when she's done, put her back in her box. Clean it first if needed. Cover it again, and put her back in her quiet place. If she has come around and is perky, she can go back out. Just keep a close eye on the other hen to get a handle on what these two ladies were in a tiff about, and if it's over. Let us know how it goes.

 

[CourtneyBowman]

Does she have a broken leg? Also, if you hold her and gently examine both the wing and leg, you should be able to tell if either of them is broken. If not broken, perhaps you can find a carry case or carrier, put some straw or shavings in it, and gently put her in it. You don't have to put in food or water for now. Then, cover it or put her someplace dark and quiet. Enforced rest. If it's dark she won't be tempted to try to get up and move around. Let her rest overnight. Take her out in the morning, and set her gently on the floor and see how she's doing. Offer food and water. See if she tries to stand or walk even, so she can poop. She will probably be stiff and sore. If she still is unable to stand, then you might want to think about a visit to a vet, or perhaps someone here has some ideas. If she does walk a bit, and poop, and eat a bit, when she's done, put her back in her box. Clean it first if needed. Cover it again, and put her back in her quiet place. If she has come around and is perky, she can go back out. Just keep a close eye on the other hen to get a handle on what these two ladies were in a tiff about, and if it's over. Let us know how it goes.

I've had her sequestered since yesterday. She can stand long enough to poop, but she tips over to the right, a lot. She is eating and drinking if I'm with her. She doesn't seem to be in any pain. I've examined her legs and wing, and nothing seems broken or dislocated. She just keeps falling to the right and dragging her right wing, and stepping on it. I'm keeping her separate until she either heals, or passes Not sure what else I should do for her. I can't justify spending money on a vet for a chicken. I know a lot of you do, and that's fine. But for us, it's not worth it. We live in a small town with limited options, so vets here are expensive and won't work with most people without an office fee and such.

 

[Teila]

Hi there CourtneyBowman

I am sorry that you and your girl are going through this

First up I would like to say that I am definitely not an expert on what ails chickens.

However, I am starting to sway towards something neurological, possible paralysis rather than a break or sprain etc.

My line of thought is that if it is neurological your Jersey Giant did not cause the injury but may be took advantage of a weakened Orpington who had flipped on her back in a mini seizure or toppled etc?

I do not want to scare you but an alternative diagnosis could be Marek’s disease. Birds can become paralysed in one or both legs or the wings and lie down. They will eat normally but there may be considerable weight loss.

 

[CourtneyBowman]

Hi there CourtneyBowman

I am sorry that you and your girl are going through this 

First up I would like to say that I am definitely not an expert on what ails chickens.  

However, I am starting to sway towards something neurological, possible paralysis rather than a break or sprain etc.

My line of thought is that if it is neurological your Jersey Giant did not cause the injury but may be took advantage of a weakened Orpington who had flipped on her back in a mini seizure or toppled etc?

I do not want to scare you but an alternative diagnosis could be Marek’s disease.   Birds can become paralysed in one or both legs or the wings and lie down. They will eat normally but there may be considerable weight loss.

I was kind of starting to think along those similar lines. Everyone else gets along fine, and the jersey isn't picking on anyone. I think she was taking advantage of the situation. Just not exactly sure what the situation is yet. I'll do some reading on Marek's to see if it sounds like a possibility. Thank you!

 

[Weehopper]

I hear you. I've never taken one to a vet either. Are you sure the wing just hangs, or is she using it to try to compensate for the leg?
There is a thing that happens when a chicken gets hit in the back by another chicken. I don't know the medical term for it. My husband just used to call it getting "coupled". And when it happened, the chicken who got hit would get almost paralyzed in one or both legs. Sometimes they would pull out of it with enforced rest and a bit of physical therapy, and sometimes they would not pull out of it.
Never occurred to me that it might be Merik's. Good point, and if that is the case, I don't have a clue as to what to do other than put her down, and sanitize the place as best as I could.