Help please!

[Joseph Chicken]

I'm a first time chicken owner since the end of march. I built a brooder for them until I got the coop built n everything was fine but at the top where the incline on my roof is, it just angles to the rear. I had a gap 4" wide that tapered to nothing by the time it reached the back. It's an 8X8X6 coop 42" off the ground. I've since covered these gaps on both sides. I put them up Thursday night and they all were in. The next morning I let them out and one of my reds wouldn't move and I seen she was hurt. I thought my rooster had done it because he just started getting pretty rough with the hens. Looking closer, she had a gash in her thigh and her leg cannot move. It feels like it's her hip. I've had her in the house for the past couple days and she seems cheerful talking to her but she does not move. Is there anything I can do?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Joseph Chicken Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of your pullet and her injuries?
Coop photos?
Do you know how it was injured - caught in something, a fall, etc.?
Do you think the hip/leg is dislocated?
What have you done so far treating the gash/wound - any odors, pus, red/inflamed tissue at or around the wound?

It's hard to know about injury - if she is unable to use the leg for this period of time, then she may have a dislocation, broken bone or nerve damage. Without an xray or vet care, there is no way to know for sure.

General wound care on cuts/gash would be to flush with saline or diluted betadine, remove any debris and apply triple antibiotic ointment or Vetericyn. Watch for signs of infection.

She may benefit from some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week. Depending on location of the injury, you may be able to put her in a sling to help rehabilitate her. Vet care would be best.

 

[Joseph Chicken]

Hi @Joseph Chicken Welcome To BYC

Can you post some photos of your pullet and her injuries?
Coop photos?
Do you know how it was injured - caught in something, a fall, etc.?
Do you think the hip/leg is dislocated?
What have you done so far treating the gash/wound - any odors, pus, red/inflamed tissue at or around the wound?

It's hard to know about injury - if she is unable to use the leg for this period of time, then she may have a dislocation, broken bone or nerve damage. Without an xray or vet care, there is no way to know for sure.

General wound care on cuts/gash would be to flush with saline or diluted betadine, remove any debris and apply triple antibiotic ointment or Vetericyn. Watch for signs of infection.

She may benefit from some poultry vitamins a couple of times a week. Depending on location of the injury, you may be able to put her in a sling to help rehabilitate her. Vet care would be best.

She is feeling better today. I can see she is trying to move her leg now. It looks as if her thigh is broken because she's moving it now. I originally put some neosporin on her gash n it looks as if its healing. I'm not going to try and picture the wound right now. That is a wonderful idea to make her a bow sling to immobilize her and stabilize her leg!!!! I will make one n see to her wound again then as I do not want to irritate her wounds unnecessarily. Thank you so much for this help!!!

This is how I've been taking care of her here in the house so far.
My coop is a work in progress but as u can see above the windows on each side there is more than 5" gap above the window that is now fixed. I was waiting for the $ to insulate & finish the outside. The inside is complete. I still have a lil time before eggs come to finish my hen box in back.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor thing. Sometimes a sling will help with rehabilitation. Let's hope that it's just badly bruised on not broken. If you make a sling, post some photos, I love to see how creative everyone is.

Looks like your coop is coming together nicely I don't think any of us are ever really "done" with our coops and runs we add, adjust and tweak over time.

 

[smudge]

<3 Poor baby.

On the up side, she looks like a pleasant gal.

I came across your thread because my Fayoumi injured her leg today (different kind of injury). I love the idea of a sling - and your girl looks like she might tolerate it. This Fayoumi of mine is far too feisty - she managed to get hurt when I was trying to catch to treat her back toe (bumblefoot ) after a series of crazy stunts, including jumping on the Brahma cockerel's back while he was roosting. I was sure that she would sit nicely light yours when I set her down for the night, but no, she went hopping/flying like a demon and is determined to try roosting.

Be thankful that you have a better patient!

 

[Joseph Chicken]

Poor thing. Sometimes a sling will help with rehabilitation. Let's hope that it's just badly bruised on not broken. If you make a sling, post some photos, I love to see how creative everyone is.

Looks like your coop is coming together nicely I don't think any of us are ever really "done" with our coops and runs we add, adjust and tweak over time.

I made this out of a fabric bag, my tote n some duct tape.
I had to raise it a hair since this morning because she's feeling a lot better today n was able to use her other leg to raise up n get her hurt thigh hung n her bottom not hanging out the poop hole. Up 2" n she's fully suspended now. Hopefully her leg will mend now

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Good idea

I'm glad to hear she is feeling a bit better. Hopefully she will recover soon.