/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Chicken with bad leg :( help!

Discussion in 'New Member Introductions' started by baileyschicks, Dec 20, 2013.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 2
  1. Dec 20, 2013 #1
    baileyschicks

    baileyschicks New Egg

    6
    0
    9
    Dec 20, 2013
    Louisiana
    We recently had an accident with one of my chicks and I was so devastated. It happened thanksgiving day we were moving the chicken coop and one chicken was out and got caught and now she has a hurt leg. It was my fault and I still feel terrible about it but she's never been able to use the leg again. She's healed up just fine and only has a couple of weeks till you won't even be able to tell if the wound was even there. She's now in ICU in a large kennel in our shop. We let her out everyday to try and get the good leg stronger and use her wings for balance but she struggles. The bad leg kind of rest in front of the good leg so that makes it hard on her too. She can move the leg up and down kind of. This really depresses me, she probably won't ever be able to go with the rest of the flock bc they pick on her. I've thought about amputating it but if it's really pricey at a vet I can't afford that. Does anyone have any experience with bringing a chicken to the vet and having it's leg amputated? Prices? Do y'all think I should just put her down? I don't want her to be a sad chicken and just taken care of by humans her whole life.. Any advice is welcomed. She's a hen by the way. I included pictures from when it first happened to just recently and the way she stands with it. [​IMG][/IMG][/IMG]
     
  3. Dec 20, 2013 #2
    foreverlearning

    foreverlearning Chillin' With My Peeps

    2,419
    319
    198
    Aug 4, 2013
    Only you can determine how much care you want to give and if her quality of life will be worth it. Some people have house chickens with diapers and you may have to consider this if you can't get her better and still want to keep her. If it were me... With the placement of the leg I would start looking up splayed leg treatment, mostly the chicken sling they use (not the bandaid method). This will teach the legs the correct placement and allow her to "stand" assisted. Also, I would spread her foot out in a normal standing position and tape a thick piece of cardboard to the bottom to keep it that way and assist in the ability to stand. These two together are a 50/50 chance of helping her but it won't hurt her at all. At the very least this would tell you within a week if the leg and foot are still viable.
     
    1 person likes this.
  5. Dec 20, 2013 #3
    baileyschicks

    baileyschicks New Egg

    6
    0
    9
    Dec 20, 2013
    Louisiana
    Thank you so much I will definitely try! I appreciate that greatly
     
  7. Dec 20, 2013 #4
    foreverlearning

    foreverlearning Chillin' With My Peeps

    2,419
    319
    198
    Aug 4, 2013
  9. Dec 20, 2013 #5
    liz9910

    liz9910 Overrun With Chickens

    12,406
    490
    338
    Apr 8, 2012
    Northern California
  11. Dec 20, 2013 #6
    BantamFan4Life

    BantamFan4Life Out of the Woods Premium Member

    84,499
    3,781
    646
    Jun 15, 2012
    Washington
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Dec 20, 2013 #7
    sourland

    sourland Broody Magician Premium Member

    63,113
    7,275
    726
    May 3, 2009
    New Jersey
    Welcome to BYC. Don't give up - depending upon the nature and location of the break the leg may heal.
     
  15. Dec 20, 2013 #8
    Mr MKK FARMS

    Mr MKK FARMS Chicken Obsessed Premium Member

    33,753
    694
    428
    Sep 27, 2012
    Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us! [​IMG]
     
  17. Dec 20, 2013 #9
    Kelsie2290

    Kelsie2290 True BYC Addict Premium Member

    36,684
    4,692
    566
    Feb 18, 2011
    Ohio
    Hello :frow Welcome to BYC and Happy Holidays! She is your chick, and special needs chickens can be a lot of work, so it is understandable if you don't have the time or money to try and treat her and if it is best for all involved to go ahead and euthanize her. But as long as she is eating and drinking and generally acting like a chicken, chickens are amazingly tough and can deal with some pretty bad injuries and handicaps. If a chicken has been separated from the flock for any length of time, it is pretty normal for there to be a lot of pecking and picking on when you try to reintegrate it, it needs to be done slowly and carefully. So I wouldn't give up on her ever joining the flock again, even with her injury.
     
  19. Dec 21, 2013 #10
    drumstick diva

    drumstick diva Still crazy after all these years. Premium Member

    80,918
    8,010
    766
    Aug 26, 2009
    Out to pasture
    I agree with Kelsie , animals are pretty good about accepting their fate in life - if she is eating and drinking and doing chicken things, I see no reason to put her down. You may even have another special needs chicken that would end up being buddies with her.
     
Page 1 of 2

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by