Handled an injury - how did I do?

[NaomiSarah]

Last night I saw one of my two - month old pullets limping in the run outside. This morning she was huddled under the roost covered in frost, so I don't think she was able to get up at all to keep warm with the other chickens (we're in Alberta, and yeah it's that cold already at night lol!). I brought her inside and she clearly couldn't bear weight on the leg. So I calmed her down and put her in a cat kennel with bedding and food and water, and she's okay with that I think, but she was hatched outdoors so I'm worried about stressing her...

But for the leg, I closely inspected it and I'm 99% sure it's not dislocated, (once I stablized it with vet wrap the leg stopped giving out on her but I didn't wrap all the way up to the hip) and there's no obvious break but some redness to the leg and some swelling, so I vet-wrapped it lightly to give it some support. But then it was dragging the leg, so I put one light layer of vet wrap on the other leg and stuck a splint (popsicle sticks and vet wrap) between the legs. She's getting around much better now, but this is a first for me so I have no idea if that was the right thing to do, or what I should do instead. The splint is short and her legs are in a good position but I just put it on this afternoon, and wanted to get on BYC to make sure I handled the situation ok! Can anyone advise as to whether I took the right actions or not?

I'm keeping her inside for now with food, hi-cal grit and vitamins in her water. I don't have to worry about infection because the skin isn't broken, right?

 

[PunkinPeep]

I have never tried what you did, but it sounds like things are going well. Sometimes, they just need a little rest, so i'm glad you're keeping her isolated. A couple of days rest and some vitamins will often have them back to normal. I hope she does really well!

 

[NaomiSarah]

Thanks, this is my first time treating such a thing so I'm trying to just use common sense lol but I still worry

 

[PunkinPeep]

Common sense is a priceless tool.

How's she doing today?

 

[NaomiSarah]

Shes sitting quietly and eating, she likes to bury her head in my hand which is really cute because she's an outdoor chicken and my outdoor chicks are raised by some MEAN mama bantams! Actually, they've been nicer lately, so maybe the whole flock is warming up to me.

But the little girl is being very quiet and eating fine, she's not standing much so I'm concerned her feet might be getting weak, how long should I leave the splint on? I don't know how quickly chicken bones heal. I might re-wrap the legs today just to make sure they're getting enough air and circulation, she cooperates and sits very still for it. What a sweet little pullet she is. She's the first pullet from my rooster.

 

[PunkinPeep]

You said you didn't find a break, right?

In that case, i think i would definitely take wrap off and see how she does. You don't want her to just give up. Give her a chance to use that leg and see how she does.

Or at least that's what i would do.