chicken can't keep her butt down

[ticketism]

That's me =) I'm in Aus. My Orpington would be acting normally until something triggered him and his neck went down. So, I figured a neck brace would be a great help in stopping all the somersaults. Someone suggested bubble wrap, but as he doesn't like wearing it and keeps pecking at it trying to remove it, cardboard was the safer option. I put little slits around the top and bottom of the roll so that it could splay out under his head and on his shoulders.

It does look like some kind of sling is needed here to help her use her legs a bit. Can she walk at all? I'm thinking she's either nursing a sore area with that position, or actually can't physically change the position even though she may want to.

 

[getreal]

That's me =) I'm in Aus. My Orpington would be acting normally until something triggered him and his neck went down. So, I figured a neck brace would be a great help in stopping all the somersaults. Someone suggested bubble wrap, but as he doesn't like wearing it and keeps pecking at it trying to remove it, cardboard was the safer option. I put little slits around the top and bottom of the roll so that it could splay out under his head and on his shoulders.

It does look like some kind of sling is needed here to help her use her legs a bit. Can she walk at all? I'm thinking she's either nursing a sore area with that position, or actually can't physically change the position even though she may want to.

she can't walk or even stand alone for that matter. If i stand her up alone she falls on her left side and will stay that way. watching her in the sling I notice she moves her right leg normally but if she moves her left leg, it will either slide behind her and then she can't put it back in place. or it will slide to the right and push her right leg to the side and that's the way she stays until I put her foot back. I can't see any deformities with the leg. She doesn't act like it hurts if I move it around. she has finally gotten the strength back in her wings. she is getting some meat on her bones and her feathers are becoming beautiful. I am still adding a vit E capsule a sliver of selinium and a bit of Vit B12 complex to her regular pellets. her appetite is great and she loves some mashed sweet potatoes. I thought of using a strip of gauze and tying the left leg to the pole of her sling, just loosely to keep it where it should be. do you think this might help?

 

[ticketism]

It very well might, it sounds like the problem is with the left leg. You'd need to think of a way to create a splint that wouldn't cause injury to her at the top, where it might poke or rub if she gets herself into a strange position. Depending on her size, it could be Paddlepop stick, or a piece of dowel cut to length, or a chopstick, a small piece of bamboo from a garden staking... Whatever is around. Then maybe wrap it in bubble wrap, extra padded at the top, and use vet wrap to fix it in place? You're thinking of a splint for her while she's in her sling, right?

 

[getreal]

I splinted the bottom portion I guess u would say from the knee to the ankle. But I did notice that the left leg(the sore one) is larger than the right. Possible swelling? Should I forgo the splint and just wrap the whole leg? I felt for bumps or something that would indicate a break but didn't find anything. I do have prednisone from my cat and have used it spareingly when I first started treating her. Do u think it might help? I only gave her a sliver of a tab once a week.

 

[Eggcessive]

Splinting can cut off circulation sometimes, so if you are using a splint, it may be wise to take it off and examine the leg. Be sure to pad it well, and don't wrap too tight. Prednisone can prevent cause other problems, so I wouldn't use it. Aspirin would be okay to use.

 

[getreal]

Splinting can cut off circulation sometimes, so if you are using a splint, it may be wise to take it off and examine the leg. Be sure to pad it well, and don't wrap too tight. Prednisone can prevent cause other problems, so I wouldn't use it. Aspirin would be okay to use.

today is the first time I put a splint on it. I examined it before splinting it, that's when I noticed it was swollen. what kind of aspirin and how much. she is a little thing. i cut off popsicle sticks and smooth the end. then wrapped gauze around the tips then wrapped the leg loosely then put the sticks on then more gauze. so the sticks aren't touching the leg at all.

 

[Eggcessive]

I wouldn't give more than a baby or low dose aspirin twice a day. Here are a couple of good splinting links that I like:
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf
http://www.starlingtalk.com/fractures.htm

 

[getreal]

I wouldn't give more than a baby or low dose aspirin twice a day. Here are a couple of good splinting links that I like:
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf
http://www.starlingtalk.com/fractures.htm

okay I might have hit on something. the splint I had on didn't seem to make any difference. I took it off when she was resting. I bought a vet wrap today and decided to wrap the leg from top to bottom. when I got down to the ankle? her other foot just started quivering, so I wrapped that spot a little more. she is now sitting in the sling eating up a storm. I also gave her half a baby aspirin. keeping my fingers crossed that this will help her. should I leave it wrapped all the time or only when she's in the sling?

 

[getreal]

okay I might have hit on something. the splint I had on didn't seem to make any difference. I took it off when she was resting. I bought a vet wrap today and decided to wrap the leg from top to bottom. when I got down to the ankle? her other foot just started quivering, so I wrapped that spot a little more. she is now sitting in the sling eating up a storm. I also gave her half a baby aspirin. keeping my fingers crossed that this will help her. should I leave it wrapped all the time or only when she's in the sling?

update: I have been putting my lil girl in her chair every day with her leg wrapped. she has shown no improvement at all. I made her a sling so she could move herself around by herself. she just hangs there. if I push her near the food she will eat otherwise she doesn't try. I took the wrap off. she just lays on her side. I feel like I'm failing here. her leg is stiffening out. if I touch between her legs near the joint on that side she shakes really hard. any ideas? I'm still giving her vit E, B 12 complex. baby aspirin sparingly. a don't know what else to do. I'll never be able to put her back out if she can't walk or even stand up.

 

[Hholly]

Aw, sorry.