HELP!!! Hen with a broken leg!!!

[tail_feather]

I have a hen that was stepped on by a horse today and her leg is broken in the feathered part, btw the hip and the ankle. Totally broken into. Any ideas at all. Do i leave her alone? i have her in a pen by herself. she eats and drinks and everything. ANY help is greatly appreciated. She is actually an 18 week old pullet. VERY healthy. Thank u in advance!!!

 

[KellyHM]

Sounds like she probably needs to see a vet if it's that bad. Is the bone sticking through the skin?

 

[tiffanyh]

Really depends what you are comfortable with....

...some will respectfully say put her down.

..I have a hen that broke her leg a couple years back at her "knee" and she healed (after an abscess) and hops around the yard peeking through the grass with everyone. Although she does have to stay separate as she has always gotten picked on.

If it were me (just my opinion).... if she seems to be eating and drinking (and it isnt a compound fracture which would lead to infection) I would seclude her and watch how she heals.

If she does start to heal, you will want to put a companion with her, that way her transition back will be better later.

Good luck.

 

[tail_feather]

thank u all so much. it is still internal but i can feel the bones are completely broken...any ideas of homeade splints anyone??

 

[Gloria's mom]

You could try using vetrap. Use the wide width for extra support. It sticks to itself and is available at TSC. The stuff at the drugstore doesn't stick to itself as well. Good luck.

 

[tail_feather]

great idea! thank u so much!!!

 

[KellyHM]

Try wrapping tongue depressors in vet wrap to make it more sturdy.

 

[dlhunicorn]

you need soemthing to stabilize the leg so the bones which are now broken dont move around...
a "syringe splint" (or something similar) might be helpful (be sure to first wrap some foam or such around leg before applying
see illustration on page 295 > use the arrows at the top of the page to get the page you want)
http://books.google.com/books?id=JM...4#v=onepage&q=chlorhexidine waterfowl&f=false

...once all is in place I would use a couple strips of an adhesive tape wrapped around (the bird may peck off something like vet wrap.

 

[cutiepieacres]

I just posted to another thread about a broken leg....
I had a young hen who got her leg stepped on and crushed by a dairy goat. I wrapped it with gauze, medical tape and vet wrap(on the outside) with a stick(just an ordinary stick, I used it because I could find just the right size and shape to fit her leg) between the gauze and tape for stability. I cut her feathers back from the area so I could see and get the gauze on just right. The first week she just laid out and I fed and watered her by bringing it right to her. The next week she started to get up and walk some then with a limp and then after awhile no limp at all. I left the wrapping on for 6 weeks then removed it and its like nothing ever happened, I was shocked as when it happened I was sure id have to put her down. She is completely healed.