chicken broken leg

[sharebear29]

A couple weeks ago I noticed one of my chickens was limping. It progressively got worse and about a week ago I realized it was probably broken. i did some research and read about how to splint....and then read that in some cases its better not to splint - it could cause more harm then good. So for the last week I've had her in a cage part time inside with me and sometime outside w/ the other chickens - but she couldn't move around much. I've also been giving her baby aspirin to help with pain. However, I'm not sure she's eating much....so I'm not sure she's eating the aspirin. Now she seems to be getting worse most of the time when i find her she's laying on her side....i think she falls over and can't get back up. Right now I have her inside on a towel and she's eating meal worms.

I'm not sure what the best think to do for her is. Should I try to set it? I'd hate to put her down.....but I want to do what's best. Please help!! Thank you.

 

[Judy]

Sorry you haven't gotten an answer, but I'm afraid there is not a good one for you. It's too late to try to set it now, surely.

I think the main problem with splinting is the danger of cutting off the circulation below the splint -- particularly because vet wrap is a good way to do it but shrinks up or tightens up over time.

She may still recover enough to have a good chicken life if you keep her inside and off it til it heals, in whatever position it is going to heal, particularly if she will eat and drink. Some would have ended her life when the injury occurred. It's a personal choice.

Sometimes they will eat the aspirin, especially chewable, just plain, or you could put it in a small bread scrap or mealworm or other favorite food.

For the future, this is a good reference to have for leg and foot problems:

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry