Help! My last barred rock is on one leg! Literally!!!!!

[Stajemahal]

I will give it a look. Thanks.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Thanks ever so much. I majored in photography - but in reality I figured the better the pictures, along with the amount, the easier it will be for me to receive assistance.
Browsing this site, it seems like everyone has a fabulous attitude towards the users and when posting their own problems.
As far as my BR goes - I tried not to get attached but then I named them and here we are. My heart hurts for her.

She is not receiving vitamins. I can only get her to slightly nibble on cucumbers and now (sadly) she doesn't seem so interested in the grapes. I think she is giving up. Other than putting water on my finger and then to her beak, or even dipping her beak in a very shallow dish of water, she still won't drink..

I did not plan on getting close to any of my chickens when I got them. I grew up with slaughter chickens. The complete opposite has happened and their more like my best pets...lol. It's disconcerting when they are not well.

I was going to mention that it's possible to tube feed, but I see it's been mentioned above while I was writing...lol. I am not familiar with tube feeding chickens at all, just calves and lambs. I tend to use a syringe without a needle on it and drop electrolytes on the side of the beak. She may need a boost because she hasn't been drinking etc...or she may be as you mentioned. There have been some badly wounded chickens that heal very well. Everything depends on her. It is ultimately your call and like mentioned above...your decision is supported either way.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

With regard to her leg, we had a girl this spring, whose leg was totally limp, couldn't put any weight on it, no reflex at all when when pushed on it. She did't have any other problems that we were aware of. Put her in our broody set up, where she could see the other girls, to see what to do. after about 6 weeks she was walking around and crying to be out with the rest of the flock. She ended up fine. So hang in there. and good luck

 

[Stajemahal]

With regard to her leg, we had a girl this spring, whose leg was totally limp, couldn't put any weight on it, no reflex at all when when pushed on it. She did't have any other problems that we were aware of. Put her in our broody set up, where she could see the other girls, to see what to do. after about 6 weeks she was walking around and crying to be out with the rest of the flock. She ended up fine. So hang in there. and good luck

How old was she?
Was there any wound?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

She was 6 or 7 and we noted no external injury, but it felt like the leg was broken she could not move it at all on her own, and it could not hold weight. It was bad enough that we were afraid the others would pick on her, as she could hardly get around.

 

[Stajemahal]

Months? I'm not sure how long chickens live...Lol
Well my BR's leg is wounded pretty good.

 

[Leighe]

Most of on here have found that vets don't treat chickens. As my vet said "chickens are hard - by the time they show that they're sick, they're often too far gone, and most chicken owners simply don't want to spend $200 on a chicken". It's cattle country here, so most of his patients are horses, cows & ranch dogs. I do love the fact that HE comes to ME. He was just here for my poor old German Shepherd that I found out Wednesday has congestive heart failure. We put him on furosemide and he's improving but we know he's on borrowed time.

Hey @sbhkma, I'm in Texas also, lot further North then you but I went to
http://aav.site-ym.com/search/newsearch.asp, typed in Texas and came up with tons of Avian vets. Was able to look at different ones around me and all my chickens go there if I can't handle the problem. Wayyyyyy cheaper then a dog, horse, cat vet. Have never spent even close to $100 on any chicken yet....I think between $35 and $50 (for the rooster that got beat up). I have to drive to Southlake, about 25 miles, but well worth it for a doc who has seen it all in birds and understands them.

 

[Leighe]

Wyorp - I have been soaking her in the sink.
Will try sprayer as suggested. Thanks so much. Glad I can get a laugh out of such a heartbreaking event.
If the maggots have set up camp in her vent, I have not noticed any lights on. In other words, I haven't seen any coming or going. Not soliciting around her vent.
Would you advise I try and open her vent a bit to take a peak inside?

Otto - I have been removing maggots and cleaning wounds on animals for basically twelve years, just never on a chicken or farm animal. I will call around and see if I have any vets in the area who would be willing to check her out. Of course I will have to get a quote on the price of said examination and/or procedure/medications they'd want to put her on. Chances are, I can't afford it. If I can no longer assist in trying to get her back to her chickeny self, I will have to put her down.

http://aav.site-ym.com/search/newsearch.asp, type in your state and it will show all the Avian vets in your state.....

 

[Wickedchicken6]

http://aav.site-ym.com/search/newsearch.asp, type in your state and it will show all the Avian vets in your state.....

Good info!

 

[Leighe]

Look up the Team Tube Feeding thread on here. It terrified me to try it, but it saved my speckled sussex. I know without feeding her, she would have died a month ago. After the first couple times, it gets easier. I took a long sleeved shirt and sewed the neck opening to just enough for the head and neck to poke through. Put the bird in it, making sure their whole body and feet are in, then wrap the sleeves criss cross around their body. They don't fight it and it's easy to open their beak, prop their head up high and watch for the tube down the right side of their throat (hence why I want their neck fully out of the hole in the shirt too).

That is a wonderful idea with the long sleeved shirt. Love it!