Have a leghorn with broken leg, I think what to do

[buff]

I just noticed it yesterday that one of my leghorn hens is hopping on one foot, not sure if its broken leg or what may be. It is not swollen, she can get up on the roost okay, but I am not sure how to or if it can be fixed if it is a broken leg. Want to know if it is a broken leg can a vet fix it or not. Not sure what to do. She gets around okay but just doesn't move very fast. This is new to me didn't know what I need to do. any suggestions if this has happen to anyone else.

 

[dawg53]

Check for bumblefoot. Look on the bottom of her foot and see if there's a round dark scab on her footpad. If there is....type in 'bumblefoot' in the search box and you'll find a wealth of info about it and how to treat it. If you dont see a scab, she couldve sprained her leg somehow....jumping down from the roost maybe. In that case, I recommend you seperate her and put her in a hospital cage for rest and relaxation (I know, tough to do for a leghorn), but the less she moves around, the better chances it will heal. You can buy vitamin B complex tablets at a pharmacy, crush several of them into powder, then sprinkle it in her feed for a week. Make sure you provide her with fresh water as well while she's in the cage. These things take time to heal, sometimes months. I have a Black Star hen that has been hobbling around on one leg for over a year due to an accident. I have to keep her seperated from the others or they'll pick/peck on her relentlessly. She lays an egg daily and is a real sweetheart. I let her out in a fenced pen to eat grass, take a dirt bath etc...she does just fine on one leg.

 

[buff]

Thank you for the info I didn't even think about that it just might be sprained or having bumblefoot and what to look for I will have to do that.

 

[DDRanch]

I have occasionally had a hen limp and hop around favoring one leg. I think they can be injured jumping up and down from roosts. I have been able to help the healing by isolating the bird and not allowing her to roost or jump on anything. Usually a couple of days of reduced activity will work and back to normal. Checking for bumblefoot is also a good idea to eliminate soreness or scabs. Good luck. Let us know how she is doing.

 

[buff]

Thanks so much for your help she is doing much better. I do believe it was just a sprain. thanks again.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

How high are your roosts in the coop? Do they need a step mid-way?