Caring for a disabled chicken (silkie)

[Telekinetichicken]

Hey guys, sorry in advanced if this isn’t the right place to ask, I wasn’t really sure.

My disabled chicken lives inside full time, she’s my pet so i don’t mind the extra care involved. She’s about to turn 1 year this month and is otherwise healthy, her issues are a fully disabled leg (slipped tendon from a hatch that went horribly wrong ) and crossbeak, and being a very small runt. She’s a silkie.
Because one of her legs is fully inoperable I’ve found the easiest way to get food and water in her is to mix her mash with water so it’s like a little wetter than oatmeal consistency.
Her balance is so bad on her good leg obviously, in order for her to drink plain water without the potential of choking/respirating i have to hold her in place, that’s why a wet mash works the best.

My issues I’m trying to find improvements for are making her a chair or sling maybe so she can stay stable and up right better while she eats, if anyone has first hand experience with that and what works/doesn’t work, and also i don’t know if this is bc of the food I get her or if it would be a universal issue with any wet mash, but she’s super messy when she eats and the mash like sticks to her face head and neck feathers (silkie fluff) and like plasters in place. Will all types of moistened feed do this?? She’s eating cluck & co layer blend mash in the green bag.
Also does anyone have any experience washing silkies? Like in a bath..? I’ve tried using wet paper towels and it just doesn’t get all the crusted food out of her feathers.. I usually end up just trimming them off as good as I can but that still leaves her with a crusty face.

Oh! Also I’ve seen instructions for chicken wheelchairs made of pipe I think, that have 4 wheels, have any of you ever made or used one? I’m wondering if chickens actually are able to like.. walk with them. I’ve watched every video I can find of chickens in them, and I never see them actually walking. Just sitting in place..

Thanks everyone for your time!

 

[Farmgirl283420]

I can’t answer most of your questions but I have given a silkie a bath. I just put my girl in a bucket (she had a dirty bottom) and she was fine although I had someone there to hold her wings down at first. She wasn’t disabled though so I’m not sure if that would change anything. Good luck with your hen, if you don’t mind posting a picture I would love to see her!

 

[Telekinetichicken]

I can’t answer most of your questions but I have given a silkie a bath. I just put my girl in a bucket (she had a dirty bottom) and she was fine although I had someone there to hold her wings down at first. She wasn’t disabled though so I’m not sure if that would change anything. Good luck with your hen, if you don’t mind posting a picture I would love to see her!

Hi thanks that is actually helpful
Do you use any soap or just water? I’ve got some of the original orange Johnson Johnson baby shampoo on hand but haven’t gotten around yet to googling if it’s chicken safe or not.

I think the only thing I’ll have to worry about is keeping her upright and stable the whole time so she doesn’t lose balance faceplant the water and inhale it I’ll have my sister come by and help so someone can keep their hands on her the whole time to prevent that.

I edited the post to include photos of her, her name is 8bit

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Hi thanks that is actually helpful
Do you use any soap or just water? I’ve got some of the original orange Johnson Johnson baby shampoo on hand but haven’t gotten around yet to googling if it’s chicken safe or not.

I think the only thing I’ll have to worry about is keeping her upright and stable the whole time so she doesn’t lose balance faceplant the water and inhale it I’ll have my sister come by and help so someone can keep their hands on her the whole time to prevent that.

I edited the post to include photos of her, her name is 8bit

I just use water I’m not sure if the shampoo is safe or not. She is SOOOOO CUTE!!!!! That little face!