CHICK W/ SEVERELY BROKEN LEG! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! (PICS & VIDEO!!)

[dlhunicorn]

well...lol, it is a bit more complicated than just getting a "foot"...
I have always had very nice reactions from professional ppl when I have had cause to write them with a seemingly silly question (seeing as I am not a vet) ...always a kind and helpful answer so I am thinking perhaps if you contacted a veterinary college (one that does have an AVIAN section) and send your video to them ...perhaps they might take kindly and help develop such a prosthetic for your chickie or offer a name of a sympathetic (READ>cheap) vet to consult with you on it.

 

[chickgirl]

Alright. I'll try doing that. Since I live in Alabama I will try Auburn University. I'm sure they would be willing to help. Thanks for the great suggestions and keep them coming!!

 

[spencereb]

Chick girl...
Humm, good luck with that auburn idea

. I will say that in days gone by I've heard that they used to be the premier "cow college"

of Alabama..ha, lol! These days, I bet they probably know a thing or two about chickens

. So, if it means helping out that cute little peep of yours, then go for it

But I wouldn't go and tell everybody, if you know what I mean

.
Oh by the way...Rammer Jammer, Yeller Hammer, give 'em h#%l, Alabama

!!! (I'm from Birmingham).

ROLL TIDE, ROLL!

-Spence

 

[janjan1]

I just found this group. Wonderful information. But I had to reply because your posting sounds exactly like mine. Except my chick is about two weeks old and last week one of my horses stepped on it too. It broke the right leg at the knee joint, compound fracture, bone sticking thru the skin at the joint, And it broke the left foot. He was hobbling around on his belly, in pain, and unable to walk. The vets in this community don't know chickens, I don't either but I am a nurse. So I got a box, heating lamp and some vet wrap. You know the type that doen't stick to the skin, only to it'self. I use it mainly on the horses to wrap tails or bandages. If you have horses too, then you prob have it in your barn. I cut it into a 1/2 inch width, about two inchs or more long. I wrapped it around the joint to keep it stable. The thigh was stable, the lower leg was stable, just non functional, flopped around. The toes started to curl. So I wrapped it to stabilize the leg. It is holding and he is hobbling along ok, not fine, but at least some mobility. As far as the left foot, well I couldn't do much. It swelled and has sorta healed crooked, towards the inside.
Hope this helps. I also put some pain medication in it's water. It is eating, drinking and pooping fine. So far this week, he seems to be making progress. I wasn't ready to just kill it.

Jan

 

[Cheryl]

My husband designs and builds prosthetics, I'll ask him if he thinks it would "theoritcally" be possible to do this...he builds them for people...not animals! At the speed a chicken grows, I imagine it would not be practical until Oreo is larger because it would need constant modification!

 

[janjan1]

here is a pic of by chick with the vet wrap around the broken hock. It is stabalizing the break and enabling him to ambulate

 

[Cheryl]

DH says the limb could be built but brought up the growth rate of a chicken and the need for modifications...I showed him the referenced article from Georgia

 

[lacyloo]

I have a chicken"hen" with a broken leg that just hops around all the time, but here recently I have been worryiung about her feeding with my others hens because im not sure shhe is eating enough though, but I dont want her fat.

 

[chickgirl]

Thanks for all the replies!! Cheryl if your husband would be able to figure out how to rig a prosthetic that would be wonderful! Tell him I appreciate his efforts. JanJan1 your chick's broken leg sounds a lot like Oreo. Oreo seems to be doing well and I think he will be able to live with only 1 leg. I hope your chick is the same. Keep an eye out for infection though. Oreo hasn't had any signs of infection yet (thankfully) But all blood flow was lost and the led atrophied. Yesterday Oreo was successful in pecking his leg all the way off. So now we are down to one leg. Hopefully this won't happen to your chick. Thanks again for the replies and hopefully I will have more pictures soon.


-chickGirl

 

[janjan1]

What are your plans for your chick? Are you gonna keep him away from the flock or try to reintroduce him back in? And are you afraid what will happen if reintroduction fails.
I hope to get this chick back into the flock. I am hoping that they will accept it dispite the handicap. If not, then looks like I have a pet chicken who will live away from the flock
Jan