Chicken Leg injuries, not severe

[alarkie]

I went down to check on my month and a half old chickens this morning and one of them wasn't using its leg properly. Last night before bed I didn't notice anything, but it doesn't appear to be too bad. The chicken is still eating and drinking, this morning is was resting near the food and water dishes. It still moves around but hobbles. We thought it was a knee joint issues but turns out to be more of an upper leg/hip problem. My mom thinks it could have possible fallen off the perch or slipped on an extra board we have been using as a ramp since its been raining alot.

Would wrapping be the best strategy? Do you think this is severe enough to consult a vet? My mom is a nurse to she should be able to wrap the leg if that is the best course of action.

I read some other posts and noticed that describing the injury is asked for a bit, I don't have a pic, but the birds right leg is just in a resting position. It look like half of the bird wants to lay down and the other half wants to stand. It also didn't have any reaction to being touched on the lower leg but did get chirpy when the upper portion was touched and straightened out. Could it just be a sprain or strain maybe?

 

[LynneP]

Your mom should be able to tell if it's broken. I'd get her to wrap the leg, and separate this bird for a while to assess. If broken, bird will need electrolytes in water. Could use baby vitamins (no added iron). Watch closely for sign of fever. Offer a piece of 4x4 in the bedding as a substitute roost, it comforts 'hospitalized' birds.

 

[chickensioux]

I would definately seperate it from the others and try to keep it calm and quiet. If it seems to be upset about being by itself, put one other with it. It may have just sprained it. Vet wrap is a good wrap to use if you decide it needs to be imobilized. Good luck.

 

[alarkie]

Thanks guys. Luckily I have some old guinea pig cages left over, so I put her by herself and then put the cage inside their little fenced in area, mainly so the cats don't bother it. She was chirping a bit crazy from being alone but once the other gals came out to see what all the fuss was about she laid down and rested.

While I was moving her I felt the area in question and it didn't seem swollen and since I'm assuming it was a recent injury (within the past 10 hours) I'm hoping it's just pulled or sprained. Not to mention if it were broken I think she would be taking it a lot worse.

We're going to check in with a vet, but hopefully it will be something we can handle ourselves.

Thanks again.

 

[LynneP]

Please let us know how it goes. Hopefully it's a simple bruise and the pain stunned her. Sometimes it takes nerves a while to respond again and it scares the bird- hence the expression 'chicken'. She'll enjoy the attention and it's a great opportunity to develop a hen that can be handled easily all her life.

 

[alarkie]

*Update* w/ pictures.

Okay, we had her in a cage, but my mom thought maybe it would be good to take her out of the cage for the night and put her in the coop. Big mistake cause she was walking even less the next day. So I put her back in the cage yesterday and my mom once again put her back in the coop last night with the other girls, although this time she was splinted and wrapped and in a nest by herself.

But her condition got worse. The first day she would bend her left leg and keep her right straight, and yesterday she started sitting with her legs splayed in front of her, which is honestly a curious sight. So I decided to take the precaution and sling her up.

We really don't know whats wrong with her. Her eyes look good, she's alert, her poop looks good from what we've seen. Now that she's slinged up she seems to be bending her left leg more, and it looked like she's more comfortable. I really don't think it vitamin deficiency or any disease, but not as serious as a break. Is there such thing as chicken paralysis?

Anyway here are some pictures I just took of her.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/ind...viewPicture&friendID=16139418&albumId=2562269

 

[LynneP]

Chickens can certainly suffer from paralysis, and I wish I had the knowledge to assist, except to say I think you should research Marek's Disease, and keep her separated.

Here are some BYC threads to assist you.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/se...ORID:10&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Marek's&sa=Search#977

 

[farmshinder]

I am having the same problem with my year old Black Langshan. I got her 2 weeks ago (along with two other Blacks) and within 2 days she got pecked on from a couple of my other birds (3 production reds) and they messed up her right leg-maybe a sprain; the exact same symptoms as yours. I caged her off in a puppy kennel immediately and within a week saw her getting better, but just a few days ago, she has been getting worse, even though she eats and drinks like all the other birds. It's as though she is becoming lame, and she hasn't laid an egg in over a week. In fact the other two Langshans I bought her with now want to peck her. They all smell her weakness and I think it may be time to ask someone to take her or butcher her. It is getting tedious in having to deal with her. I figure I will give her another week and move on. She is such a beautiful bird I hope she pulls through. Good luck to you. Lets keep each other posted.
-matt