Cockerel with injured wing.

[zookeepersgirl]

I have one Light Brahma Cockerel with what seems to be a broken wing. It is dragging on the ground, I have tried to tie it to his body but nothing I try stays on for long. I can't go to the vet.

He is my only boy right now and he is the sweetest thing ever. PLEASE HELP!

TIA.

 

[QueenMisha]

Have you done a physical exam yet? How old is he? Was he vaccinated for Marek's?

Your first step will be to separate him from the flock and placed into a cage, somewhere quiet and preferably warm.

If you haven't yet, you should do a physical exam to confirm a break or dislocation. These are generally quite treatable, although he may never regain full use of the wing - many times it will freeze up during the healing process. Thankfully, this doesn't generally affect the bird's daily life. There's also the potential for paralysis caused by Marek's Disease, though this is usually accompanied by leg paralysis so I would call that a somewhat less likely possibility.

If you do find a break or dislocation, you would do best to fold the wing against the body and wrap it in place (this is really a two person job - it should be secured around the whole body, over the back, beneath the good wing, and around the breast). If the injury includes a wound to the skin or muscle, you should first clean that using hydrogen peroxide and apply non-pain-medicated antibiotic ointment to the injury. You might also offer him ibuprofen to help with pain and inflammation - the dosage is (1) 200mg tablet, crushed, per two cups drinking water.

 

[zookeepersgirl]

How would I check for a break? He was hatched this year in April. Yes he was vaccinated.

 

[QueenMisha]

How would I check for a break? He was hatched this year in April. Yes he was vaccinated.

In that case, Marek's is definitely quite unlikely and it is probably a break or similar issue.

A physical examination. Start by thoroughly checking the uninjured wing, to get a feel for what it should feel like. Then examine the injured wing and the uninjured wing at the same time, looking for symmetry. The majority of the time, you will be able to find any breaks or dislocations using this method.