HELP - new to hens, first injury-possible broken leg

[joannarashid]

I was moving some things into my shed. I leaned a roll of hardware cloth on the shed which accidentally fell. The hens follow me everywhere when I'm in their fenced area since I am the "purveyor of all things delicious.". The roll fell on some hens and my 4 month old Russian Orloff is now limping and hidding in a corner of the covered run. This happened an hour ago. How should I proceed? Not really into the idea of taking a chicken to the vet, I am open to doing things at home for her. She's a great hen, I don't want her to suffer.

 

[Hellinahelmet]

Does she have any apparent deformity or obvious injury or is it just the limp? You may be able to get by just observing her but if she has a broken leg you'll need to splint her up.

 

[joannarashid]

Well, she limps but mostly she keep the leg pulled up close to her body. She has not be walking much since it happened.

 

[theoldchick]

If she's able to bear weight on the leg she might have soft tissue injury. So long as the other gals don't pick on her she should do fine. If her limp gets worse confine her to a small area for a week and see how she does. Even if the leg is fractured, confining her will allow her to heal. Now, if the leg is twisted, you can apply a bandage. Cardboard makes a great splint for chickens you can cut it to size, and is light weight. Support the splints with vet wrap you can make a nice light bandage (not too tight) to give her support. You'll have to 'set' her leg the best you can, but with support she should be able to get around until the leg heals. It may not be perfect, but chickens can adapt well to crooked legs.

 

[joannarashid]

Thanks for your response "theoldchick." great advice! She's still limping this evening, but she did leave er hidding spot in the run. Just now all the girls went into the coop. She made it up the ramp and up onto the roost. I really couldn't believe it! I'll watch her tomorrow and separate her if necessary. So to be clear, you should not splint a chicken unless you're sure it's a broken bone?

 

[theoldchick]

No reason to splint unless the leg is obviously fractured (swinging about). If she's getting around and doing her thing, you only need to keep an eye on her.

 

[PurpleCoop]

I am so happy to have stumbled upon this post! I have an Americana whose leg I think is fractured. Nothing of note happened while I was around, but she has been holding her left leg extended out in front of her and cannot bear much weight on it. I am new to chickens, and am not sure what to do about it... do you think it sounds like a break or a soft tissue injury? From what you have stated in this thread I am thinking it is a fracture, but am still not quite sure. I feel so bad for her, she looks miserable. Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[joannarashid]

Oops sorry not to post a follow up. The next day (day 2 after the injury) she was out of the coop with the other she was limping a little but still scratching. I watched her closely, she was pretty much behaving normally by that evening. She slept on the roost with the others, so she got up there somehow. I was amazed how quickly she sprung back from this.