HELP - I don’t want her to lose her leg!

[korpse]

Oops, that sent twice

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I feel certain the 3d printer you got Trash's foot from has their heart in the right place. They are doing the best they can with what they have to work with, and they don't charge much for their service. But my intuition has told me all along there is much more to fitting an animal of Any species with a functioning prosthetic than merely sending in base measurements, and receiving a prosthetic in the mail.

The article below provides a basic understanding as to how a prosthetic works and who might benefit from one. You may find an article that is even better. While a chicken prosthetic doesn't need to be as good as a human one to be considered a success, there is no harm in aiming high.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ho...o-know-before-getting-prosthetic-leg?amp=true

This is the best video I have seen on YouTube, re a chicken regaining their mobility. One thing I noticed is the rooster did appear to stand/bear weight on the end of his stumps before receiving his artificial feet. No clue if that made a difference in how well he recovered.

This little hen's mobility was definitely improved, but still a work in progress.

In this video, once again the printer's heart was in the right place. But the fit still needed a lot of work; work that was near impossible since the printer resided oceans away from the chicken.

There is also an online article about Creamy the buff Polish chicken and her 3d feet, which of course reminded me of Trashbird. But I didn't find a video of her actually walking.

You may in fact be able to make the current 3d feet work. If you continue to try, read and watch videos to learn all you can about lower limb prosthetics, their form and function. If you decide to go in another direction and are near a major college, that might be your best source to get a great fit for Trash. High school students would likely do a great job too. Combining youthful enthusiasm and ingenuity, compassion for animals, and good grades on the line could be a mighty win for little Trash.

Ps. If she becomes a movie star, don't be surprised if the news crew asks to change her name to "Trish" when she is in front of the cameras.

 

[korpse]

Update! So the last few days I’ve been giving Trash a break from prosthetics.
Last time I put them on her, she was pretty stressed.
She was having watery poops that day, so I should’ve known she was already a bit stressed.
She was struggling and I heard a joint pop, and let me tell you - I was TERRIFIED that I hurt her. I put her down and she started panting, so I was even more terrified. I pushed some treats towards her and she immediately stopped panting and started snacking and happily purring and chirping like normal. She’s being fine ever since, so I think she was just having a stressful day and treats make everything better.

Yesterday, I was CONVINCED she had a muffled, crackly voice, like a respiratory infection. I was ready to call the vet, but first I had my sister (chicken-savvy) and best friend (not chicken-savvy, but good with animals) listen to her. Neither of them heard a thing my best friend said “Kyra, I am trying SO hard to hear the crackle you are talking about, but she just sounds like a normal chicken.”

I’m a slighty neurotic mother at times, what can I say

So what my sister suggested was to make “magic water”! If you haven’t heard of it, it’s water with raw honey, garlic, and apple cider vinegar.

Magic Water Recipe link

It’s certainly proven to be helpful for us and it’s actually what I used when Trash and the rest of my sisters flock arrived as chicks in the mail last spring! All the chicks survived their first 5 weeks! (Until a few passed of other circumstances such as dogs and raccoons)
So today after I get some garlic, I’ll be making that.

My big concern - is Trash lonely?

Perhaps that’s part of her stress? Granted, I imagine all of this is stressful for her.
I don’t want another inside chicken, but with it getting warmer, I was thinking I could make an outdoor enclosure for her and 1 or 2 other chickens?
But that comes with concerns of its own. Would Trash be okay to be outside with the avian influenza that’s coming through Wisconsin? Plenty of people here are keeping their chickens locked up right now.
Other concern: Trash is very prone to being bullied, and that was BEFORE she lost a leg. I asked a chicken group in in on Facebook what the least-likely to bully breeds are, and the top breeds suggested were silkies, Cochins, and orpingtons, so that’s something to look into.
My other thought: maybe I could borrow a chicken or two from my sister? (Trash is from my sisters flock) One of her roosters is losing the tips of pretty much all his toes from frostbite and seems to be in pain, so I considered taking him and nursing him back to health and he could be Trash’s companion. He’s a very sweet and docile boy, but would that still be too dangerous for Trash? A rooster with 1 disabled hen?
I have no idea what to do. Any advice would be amazing!

 

[korpse]

I feel certain the 3d printer you got Trash's foot from has their heart in the right place. They are doing the best they can with what they have to work with, and they don't charge much for their service. But my intuition has told me all along there is much more to fitting an animal of Any species with a functioning prosthetic than merely sending in base measurements, and receiving a prosthetic in the mail.

The article below provides a basic understanding as to how a prosthetic works and who might benefit from one. You may find an article that is even better. While a chicken prosthetic doesn't need to be as good as a human one to be considered a success, there is no harm in aiming high.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-to-know-before-getting-prosthetic-leg?amp=true

This is the best video I have seen on YouTube, re a chicken regaining their mobility. One thing I noticed is the rooster did appear to stand/bear weight on the end of his stumps before receiving his artificial feet. No clue if that made a difference in how well he recovered.

This little hen's mobility was definitely improved, but still a work in progress.

In this video, once again the printer's heart was in the right place. But the fit still needed a lot of work; work that was near impossible since the printer resided oceans away from the chicken.

There is also an online article about Creamy the buff Polish chicken and her 3d feet, which of course reminded me of Trashbird. But I didn't find a video of her actually walking.

You may in fact be able to make the current 3d feet work. If you continue to try, read and watch videos to learn all you can about lower limb prosthetics, their form and function. If you decide to go in another direction and are near a major college, that might be your best source to get a great fit for Trash. High school students would likely do a great job too. Combining youthful enthusiasm and ingenuity, compassion for animals, and good grades on the line could be a mighty win for little Trash.

Ps. If she becomes a movie star, don't be surprised if the news crew asks to change her name to "Trish" when she is in front of the cameras.

Thank you for the links! I’ll look into them! Hopefully those help, I’m getting a little nervous that she won’t learn how to use a prosthetic.
And I bet they would need to change her name, huh?

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I can't answer whether Trash is bored or not, but I feel certain with your weather warming, she would enjoy the opportunity to soak up some sun and take a dust bath. I think putting a rooster with her to keep her company would Not work out well. One rooster with one hen almost never works in normal situations, and Trash's disability makes her even more vulnerable. Your question reminded me of something I had forgotten. Last summer I removed the roosters from Matilda's flock. Even though there were two roosters and over one hundred hens in her flock, the roosters couldn't resist mating with her nearly every time they saw her resting on the ground. And with last year's summer heat combined with her still-healing stumps, she rested on the ground quite a lot. She had enough to overcome without dealing with amorous roosters.

I do remember you saying Trash was bullied even before she lost her leg. I agree that silkies and cochins would be the breeds least likely to bully her. I think your highest chance for a successful integration would be to introduce a pullet that is younger/still growing. That is the best way to ensure Trash is at the top of the pecking order. Im not discouraging you from borrowing a hen or two from your sister and seeing if it will work out, but I would be concerned the new "company" might stress Trash more, not less. If you can give her a separate, safe and secure day pen where she can see your other chickens but not be bullied by them, that may be your best solution for now.

The current bird flu situation is a whole 'nother problem. I've been following a byc thread closely re that topic. The virus is killed by sun and warmer temps, and there are a lot of people on that thread looking forward to the return of summer heat.

I included the links i did only to to help get you started. There is a Lot to know in order for a prosthetic to function properly; I do know that. Re the first youtube link of the rooster, even that amazing video still left questions in my mind. For example, did he wear the prosthetics 24/7? Did the prosthetics truly allow him to return to full mobility as shown in the very short video clip?

To a large degree we are All still in uncharted territory re our feetless chickens. Everything we can figure out to help our own birds will also help others. So keep on updating!

Ps. I loved the magic water article. The recipe sounds very useful for people too.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hi @korpse how is your little hen doing?

 

[korpse]

Hey!! Sorry i haven’t updated in forever, life got crazy this summer, I started renting a spot at a salon doing hair and whatnot while still working 3rd shift at a store a couple days a week. So it’s been exhausting

But my little Trash is doing great!

My sisters flock definitely didn’t react to Trash the way your flock reacted to Matilda - Trash remembered all her bullies and wanted to FIGHT them who knew she had it in her.
So I got her a chick, and she ADORED it! She even began laying eggs again!
Buttttttt, the chick turned out to be a roo, so I found him a new (and very spoiled) home.

Then, something happened.
My sisters favorite millie fleur d’uccle bantam flew into the cows water trough and nearly drowned. I blow dried her and got her feeling better, but I realized I just love that breed! They’re really hardy and adorable and sweet.

So my sister bought 6 chicks, and I took the smallest, shyest female who seemed to have watery eyes(which is a bit of a mystery, I’ll get into that).
Trash took a bit to get used to her, but I named her Poppy and now they’re inseparable!

Trash is doing great, we haven’t worked with prosthetics all summer, but she gets around really well. I DO want to look into them more, because with the difference of length between her nub and remaining leg, I worry about arthritis as she ages.

As far as Poppy’s weepy eyes - well, I think it might be allergies.
My vet thought it was mycoplasma or chlamydia. But….. none of Poppy’s siblings got it. Poppy was with them for months. Some of those months, Poppy and her siblings lived with my sisters d’uccle flock, her turkeys, and her spring hatch flock. NONE of them contacted it. NOT A SINGLE ONE. Trash and Poppy live together and are inseparable. Trash has never contacted it. And now that summer and fall are winding down….. Poppy seems less weepy. I think this poor bird has seasonal allergies

So all in all, it’s been good c: I spend lots of time with them. On nice days, I carry them outside into their outdoor run. At night, I take them back into their little coop area in our climate controlled shop. They’re living the high life
Here’s some extra pictures of Trash and Poppy:

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

What a perfect pair Trash and Poppy make; They are both so cute and beautiful!
Warmed my heart to see them both and know that Trash is doing well. Thanks so much for the update!

 

[korpse]

Thank you for reminding me to update!! I kept meaning to!

 

[Kanekoded]

Cayenne pepper is known to improve blood circulation and it's safe for chickens to ingest. Mix 1/8 tsp into a cup of feed. (Chickens can't taste "hot" like we can.)

I pray your little one makes it through.