Chicken Holding up leg?

[henny1129]

Thank you!!!!!   I'm doing my best, she's a real princess    What I still don't understand is why one leg is thinner than the other.

Yeah, when I read that, I was wondering too. I'm jot really sure why the hurt leg would be thinner. I did do some reading on broken legs/feet, and many people said that chickens are amazing healers and the best thing to do is let nature take its course. Everyone said it might take a few weeks, and your hen might always have a limp, but if you are patient and just wait, she will eventually heal. One other thing I thought of is that she might have a torn ligament in her leg, which is why it's hard for her to put her foot down. In this case it's best to just let it heal naturally as well though.

 

[Chicken gurl]

Well during an intense weekly check, I discovered mites on the poor thing. I washed and dusted her, and am keeping the mites at bay. Other than that, there has not been a big improve with that leg. I noticed the size of the thigh is not the same as the good leg, smaller and almost no muscling. And while others of the same age have started laying, she has not. She's a fighter and is trying to make the best of things (like using her wing as a crutch), and I can;t cull such a determined creature. Anyone have ANY ideas, I'm willing to try just about anything

 

[henny1129]

Hello! I'm so sorry I haven't responded sooner! We've had a crazy couple of weeks and I just haven't had the time to get on BYC. How is she doing as of late? I have never dealt with a broken leg before, but everything that I've read online just says to let it heal naturally and be patient. Someone else may have another idea on how to heal her though!

 

[Chicken gurl]

Well I wrapped her leg and have been doing "chicken physical therapy". She is using it a lot more but I noticed she will hold it up but a stern look from me and she puts it back down. I don't think she'll ever be 100% better but at least she's using it!!

 

[henny1129]

So glad to hear she's using her leg some more! We got a Buff Orp hen a couple years ago, and all her toes were curled underneath each other. Unfortunately she was to old to have a splint to try to fix the toes, but with some "therapy" she got better and now she runs all over! It's amazing what chickens can do!