Chicken not walking on one leg, but acting fine overall.

[MamaBawk95]

We had 4 game chickens that were bullying and attacked my 14ish week old lavender Wyandottes. We actually got rid of them because they have been aggressive, but one of my poor baby greys got beat up pretty good and can’t walk and her face is starting to bruise. She has 0 signs of mites or bumble foot, leg doesn’t seem broken or dislocated. Maybe a sprain? I’m assuming she may have fallen when trying to get away from the game chickens or maybe got it stuck in something, but she is eating and drinking still and seems much better today vs the other day.
This is day 2 now of her being in a cage in our laundry room. I’ve given her egg yolks with oregano and cayenne pepper, her feed with salmon mixed in, and she’s drinking a good bit of water. Poop looks okay to me as well. Her left eye is closed most of the time, but when she opens it, it looks fine, so maybe it’s just sore. That side of her face seems the worst as her wattle has a cut and you can see peck marks on her and bruising now.
My question is, what should I do about the walking? Just keep her inside with us until she’s walking again? Will her siblings forget her when I put her back in the coop? Should I put the cage in the coop? First time chicken owner and first injury. She tired to stand up a few times today, but couldn’t, doesn’t act in pain and moves her toes still if I touch it to inspect it. I thought maybe also a vitamin deficiency, but confused which I should get. It’s either certain Bs or B12 but I haven’t found one with everything in it that doesn’t cost 30$+. I’m a little strapped for money. I was looking at rooster booster or maybe some electrolytes in the mean time.
This was the night I found her on the floor of the coop, acting lethargic, but acting much better today and alert.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

Sorry about your pullet! Poor thing. Hopefully, it's just a sprain or torn muscles.

Do you have any B-complex? Poultry Cell I know is pricey, but I think you can get cheaper Dumor brand vitamins at TSC. Just be sure it's got B1 and B2 (thiamine and riboflavin) in it. The B-complex is better, but those will do. If you have your own B-complex, she'd get about 1/4 of one once a day for a few days or until she's better.

I'd also rinse that eye out with a saline solution, which you can make yourself if you don't have any, and just see if there's an injury you can spot. If you have any triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) you could put a dab on her wattle and even in her eye to prevent infection.

I think it would be a good idea to put her in her cage in the coop as long as she is alert, eating, and drinking okay.

 

[MamaBawk95]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

Sorry about your pullet! Poor thing.

Do you have any B-complex? Poultry Cell I know is pricey, but I think you can get cheaper Dumor brand vitamins at TSC. Just be sure it's got B1 and B2 (thiamine and riboflavin) in it. The B-complex is better, but those will do.

I'd also rinse that eye out with a saline solution, which you can make yourself if you don't have any, and just see if there's an injury you can spot. If you have any triple antibiotic ointment (without painkiller) you could put a dab on her wattle and even in her eye to prevent infection.

I think it would be a good idea to put her in her cage in the coop as long as she is alert, eating, and drinking okay.

Thank you, I felt terrible.

It was their first night in the coop all together, after building them a nice big one, and they seemed fine free ranging, but I was unaware how territorial and aggressive games can be with other chickens. Reason I got rid of them, I got them when they were older, so I don’t have the same relationship as my greys. Quality over quantity for our coop. My poor little grey-bies were terrified.

I don’t have anything right now, but was going to go to tractor supply tomorrow in the morning. I do have saline here so I will definitely do that in the morning and see what ointment I have here. I know I have a triple antibiotic ointment here, but I’m not sure if it has painkiller in it or not. Would something like A+D work? I have a vitamin E ointment that may help in the meantime?

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you, I felt terrible.

It was their first night in the coop all together, after building them a nice big one, and they seemed fine free ranging, but I was unaware how territorial and aggressive games can be with other chickens. Reason I got rid of them, I got them when they were older, so I don’t have the same relationship as my greys. Quality over quantity for our coop. My poor little grey-bies were terrified.

I don’t have anything right now, but was going to go to tractor supply tomorrow in the morning. I do have saline here so I will definitely do that in the morning and see what ointment I have here. I know I have a triple antibiotic ointment here, but I’m not sure if it has painkiller in it or not. Would something like A+D work? I have a vitamin E ointment that may help in the meantime?

The tubes of Neosporin or triple antibiotic usually say right on them if they have painkiller. To be sure, look in the ingredients for polymyxin B sulfate or lidocaine, as that's what some use for numbing pain. The E ointment or A+D won't prevent infection, but would perhaps aid in healing her wattle. I wouldn't put either of those in her eye though as I don't know if that's safe or not. I know that Terramycin or triple-antibiotic ointment is safe.

Don't be so hard on yourself as you didn't know. This is how we learn. Your pullet isn't mad at you, so you shouldn't be either. She should be fine under your care.

 

[MamaBawk95]

The tubes of Neosporin or triple antibiotic usually say right on them if they have painkiller. To be sure, look in the ingredients for polymyxin B sulfate or lidocaine, as that's what some use for numbing pain. The E ointment or A+D won't prevent infection, but would perhaps aid in healing her wattle. I wouldn't put either of those in her eye though as I don't know if that's safe or not. I know that Terramycin or triple-antibiotic ointment is safe.

Don't be so hard on yourself as you didn't know. This is how we learn. Your pullet isn't mad at you, so you shouldn't be either. She should be fine under your care.

I did have enough money and got this so I’m hoping it helps! Thank you for your advice. She seems even better today with her mood and eye is opening more. Hopefully the vitamins help with her legs. I had some chick grit with probiotics still from when they were chicks, so been mixing that in since she can’t graze outside like she normally would. I’m going to try and put her in the coop later in the evening with her sisters. I’m sure they’re wondering where she is and be happy to see her.