HELP injured hen (5mo) please give advice on symptoms

LilBeauPeep

In the Brooder
Aug 5, 2015
19
0
22
Hemet, CA. USA
The kids opened the gate to the flock run while a mildly trained wolf pup was in the yard. Unfortunately we lost our roo and have an injured hen. Her leg was broken and I can't see or feel any other injuries. I,initially thought her dead, but when I picked her up she was very much alive.

There were no puncture wounds (no blood, the dog shook both bird violently though). At first I put her back with the other hens while I removed the dogs and children from the area. I was fearful the other hens would bully her, so I've quarantined her in a bathroom.

She has white, mucous-like droppings (unusual?) and seemed extremely lethargic (I assumed dehydrated).. so I've been giving her water/acv/electrolyte-vitamins via a syringe. She's taking that well, but I have not noticed her eating.i gave her a chicken feeder and waterer... but they appear untouched. (Day 3)

I took her to a local vet supply and feed store, they said she struggles to much with a splint and she's better off with none since injuries are minimal. They gave me antibiotics for her water saying if the dog bit her it's best to give them.

Questions:

She is acting more normal, but droppings are still white and mucousy...why? Also I noticed what I thought was blood. .she's 5 months. ... hopefully just shed stomach lining? ?? It only happened once.

She ate a SMALL bit of scrambled egg this morning, but refuses all food or snacks otherwise :( how long can chickens go without eating?

Do you think putting her back with the others will be a problem? And do I just wait till she's able to walk again. ...or?

Her beak is making a clicking sound when she eats and drinks? Is it possible this is normal and I just never paid close enough attention before, or is her beak injured, too??

She's taken a few hobbly steps and she seems to be stepping on her own foot... I'm afraid it will heal wrong. .. but even when it was splinted it seemed to tuck in funny?

Sorry for the book, first time chick mommy and I'm scared and sad for my loss and injured *prettygirl* <\3
 
Sorry about your rooster and hen. If her leg is broken, she will need to be confined in a crate with food and water for at least 2 weeks to force her to rest it. You may also have luck placing her in a chicken sling or chair (see pics below) to get the weight off her leg. I would try to keep her with her flock if possible so that she doesn't have to be re-introduced. Putting some vitamins in her water may help. Keep trying chopped egg, canned tuna, or some buttermilk soaked into some bread crumbs. I also will mix egg into the buttermilk. Buttermilk contains probiotics. The white in her stools is urine, and she could have diarrhea from internal damage or stress. Good luck with her.

LL
LL


59765_pp.jpg
 
You're welcome. If you make a sling or chair, and it seems too upsetting, you may want to skip it, but it helps to keep them from lying in their droppings. You just don't want her to flail around too much and reinjure the leg. Fractures higher in the thigh bone or hip may not ever heal well, but I'm hopeful that she will do okay. After 2 weeks, you can feel her leg for a thickening or callus where the bone is mending. Please update us here on this thread on her condition.
 
She's doing MUCH better. She can't put any weight on the leg, but she can get around. For the most part she doesn't budge or even try to move. But occasionally she'll stand on her good leg, pass some droppings and hobble a few inches away and lay down. I've been so worried about her. She finally ate some meal worms yesterday with a gentle sister. Today tried to bring her out with the flock for some snacks. One hen is being very aggressive with her. I put the aggressive hen in the run and the rest of the flock payed her little to no attention. The aggressive hen continued to try to attack her even through the gate :( I let her be with her sisters for about 20 minutes, but she clearly needed rest and I returned her to the bathroom.
 

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