EE hen won't stand...possible leg injury...maybe egg bound? Need advice...

[DawnB]

Hi all,

I have a 6mo old EE hen who's having issues. Of course, I was out of town when she was found by our 'chicken sitter' about 11am yesterday. She was laying in the coop panting and wouldn't get up. I thought she may be egg bound. I had our friend separate her but I didn't get back home till almost 12hrs later.

When we got home, I got her I to a warm bath, massaged her tummy and gave her some electrolytes and extra oyster shells. She took the oyster shell & some water right away. She was very calm in the bath but very alert. I checked her over really well but couldn't find any obvious injury and no obvious "egg" lump.. Her crop was empty last night. I kept her isolated overnight and under a heat lamp most of the night.

This morning, I bathed her again...still no egg. When i put her back in the box, she seemed to be trying to stand and went right for the food. Still wasn't sure on the egg bound bit...but i had to go out for a couple hours. When I got back, she had laid her egg! It was whole and didn't look larger than ordinary. Her crop was full and she had been drinking.

I gave her another bath just to soothe her. She was trying to get her feet under her, but I noticed she seemed to now be favoring her right leg. I checked her out as I dried her off. Nothing seemed swollen, hot to touch or felt broken. She was moving both legs on her own and didn't seem to be in pain if I moved them.

So...thoughts? Recommendations? Protocols? Thanks!

Dawn

 

[Judy]

I would probably keep her separated for a few days to let her rest the leg, in case it's something like a pulled or strained muscle, twisted joint, etc. I don't know about the heat; I'd be sure she can get away from it if she wants. I hope she feels better.

 

[DawnB]

I only had her under heat because she was still wet from the bathing and I didn't want her to get chilled. It's off now and she seema fine with that.. She's still not standing, but is eating and pooping like a champ and is pretty alert. We'll keep a watch on her foe a few days longer. I'm going to move her out to a dog pen in my garage tomorrow. It'll gove her more of a chamce to stretch and move a bit more.

Will it be OK to put her on straw or would it be too slippery on her legs?

 

[Judy]

I don't know why straw would be slippery, but then I've never used it, only hay and pine shavings. Surely she would appreciate some sort of softness under her, and to make a nest in. I guess if you want to be very sure there is no slipperiness, you could put rags under her, at least for a few days.

If she has been on a slippery surface, that could explain a leg injury, right there. I hope time heals her up!