Does a broken femur mean I should euthanize? What method?

[AmbitiousSlug]

I have a 5 week old chick that somehow hurt herself in the night on Friday night. It took a while to figure out where along the leg she was hurting, but I seem to feel a broken spot about mid femur. She's definitely hurting now that I've messed with it. She obviously wasn't well prior, but she was still eager to eat and drink. Most of today she hasn't wanted any, and she has been gaping most of the day.
If she needs to be euthanized, what methods are viable options? I just got started and don't have a cone setup yet, nor do I feel comfortable hanging her by a broken leg for that one. Yanking her head directly in my hand is out of my comfort zone...

 

[Anon112]

Can you splint the leg and treat for shock?

Is a vet (for pain medication) at all an option for you?

 

[AmbitiousSlug]

Can you splint the leg and treat for shock?

Is a vet (for pain medication) at all an option for you?

I did try to wrap the leg against her body like she's roosting/lying down (based on some other forums I found online.) That was actually when the gaping started, which was this morning around 9:30. She otherwise keeps the leg sticking out more in front of her, and it just dangles limp when I pick her up. She got out of the wrap pretty quick though.
I don't think I will be able to get her to a vet, no

 

[Slothinc]

Depending on how big she is, someone on here uses this method (I wish I could remember who it is so I could give credit!) To me, it is the best option for chicks.

Wrap the chick in a paper towel and hold it over a paper bag. Use (very sharp) scissors to cut off the head through the paper towel. The paper bag will catch the head and the body. I have only had to do it once, but it was far less traumatic than when I culled a chick using a ziplock bag and ether (starter fluid.)

 

[BigBlueHen53]

That would work for a very young chick. Not sure for a 5-week old one.

 

[MountainWoman73]

It's such a bummer when you have to dispatch young birds. But it sounds like she might be on the way out anyway. You could wait 24 hours and maybe the problem solves itself. Or if she starts eating and drinking then maybe she wants to live.

If you decide to dispatch, I prefer beheading because it is so quick. Drive two nails into a stump a half inch apart so they make a narrow V shape. Hold her upside down until she is calm/limp. Then place the neck between the nails and pull gently so you can hold it taught. One chop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@Debbie292d, suggestions?

 

[Debbie292d]

A 5-week old chick with a broken leg I would think could be splinted using something similar to a piece of a popsicle stick. It should heal as it's so young yet.

To make a chick chair, you'd need to cut a piece of fabric, like part of an old bed sheet, and pull it tight around something like an ice cream bucket, but more rigid than that. Then cut two holes for its legs. We cut about 8" off the top of a Tidy Cat cat litter bucket, those square ones, and used that.

I'd give 1/4 of a B-complex pill per day, or if you go buy some, Walmart, I know, has the cherry-flavored liquid, and then it'd be 1/4 of a dropper full per day.

I'd keep it in the chick chair most of the day, but be sure to help it walk around a couple of times a day to keep the rest of its muscles in shape.