Help Splinting a broken leg

[BriskRooster]

Hello, this is Spring our 3 and 1/2 year old white commercial one of our first chickens:



about 3 days ago we saw that she was sleeping on top of a laying box rather then the perch with the others that night, the following morning she hopped out of the pen on one leg and her other feels loose, but doesn't seem to be broken. we think it may be a broken tendon, so we put a rough splint on it temporarily until we find out how to splint the specific spot. the joint that seems that has a broken tendon seems to be the joint where the whole leg structure connects first visibly to the side of the chicken (where the skin first attaches), so because of the area it is therefore very hard to splint because there is no straight leg to splint.

It may be easier to understand it this way:



So is it possible to splint such a joint?
Will the splint we have on now help at all?

Answers appreciated.

Thanks.
Thomas

 

[Eggcessive]

I would use poultry vitamins from a feed store added to the water, but an all B complex tablet in the water would suffice. Look at pages 17-21 of this link: http://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[BriskRooster]

I was wondering if you would share what happened with your chicken. I have a 6 week old chick who seems to have the same problem and I have thought about splinting too.
Thank you,
Laura

Hello Laura, i haven't been on this form for ages, just got a email about your comment. Yes, as for our chicken she healed quite well, and we removed everything after about 2 weeks and she just and a funny wobble/hop in her moment but for all intensive purposes it worked. But she quite a while later died for unrelated reasons (sour crop AND water belly).

I'd be happy to help any way i can. I believe my hen may have just sprained her leg and we over reacted. Best thing to do is to just minimize or stop usage of the suspect damaged area, but make sure not to confine them too much, as in my experience it causes them to deteriorate.

Good luck!
Thomas.

 

[charnic44]

Sometimes you can't do anything to help since the injury is higher up. It might heal on its own if she doesn't walk on it too much. I don't know if the splint will help or not because it doesn't keep the 'floppy loose joint' straight. I would suggest jus letting her heal on her own and try not to let her walk on it too much. Hope this helps!

 

[Popo]

i got to take care of my parents now but i have lots of sites - as i used to answer lots of these online when i had the time-

http://goldcoastbirdvet.weebly.com/bird-injuries-broken-legs-and-wings.html
above is Dr Ross face book acct with 300 videos about injuries and how to fix them.


http://www.starlingtalk.com/fractures.htm good pictures
Fractured Bird Leg - Long Beach Animal Hospital
www.lbah.com/word/fractured-bird-leg/
http://www.justanswer.com/pet-bird/2kbxd-pigeons-toe-broken-looks-its-90-degree-angle.html

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/f6/broken-legs-53404.html
You just have to look at the condition and make a Spint which will answer.
I usually use the Handle from a plastic Spoon or Fork, especially the kind which has a sort of 'trough'. I cot the Handle free of the Spoon or Fork end of course, and, round the cut edge.
I bend this by warming the local area over a Cigarette Lighter, and, make it so it is a sort of lazy 'Z' shape, which wil correctly fit the Leg in question, and, once in place, will keep the Bone ends up together for them to mend. You do not want there to be a gap or a mis-align where the break is.
The lazy 'Z' shape with the Sling, allows the Leg to be in a relaxed and somewhat extended position, comfortabe for the Bird, and excellent for the Bones ot be correctly alinged and the Bone ends to be brought together properly.
I fold some paper Towel into a long folded strip of maybe four layers of the paper Towel, and, tape that along the side of the Splint then, where the Leg will be, then, gently tape the Leg around that in all three parts of the lazy 'Z' shape.
The Tape I use is called 'Micropore'; and is 1/2 inch wide...and this Tape can be had of any Home Medical Supply place for like 99 Cents a Roll.​

This type of Splint works very well, and, with the correct Tape kind, is easy to remove later, once the Leg has had time to heal.
The image you show does not appear to answer the needs of the Leg for alignment or for the ends of the Bone being brought together.

Pictured: Anna Sloan, from the Macaw and Cockatoo Rescue of New Mexico, builds alexandrine, Roo, a go cart to help correct splayed legs.

tumblr_m9zgewZfh11qbi0ero1_500.jpg
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500 × 245 - ... cart to help correct splayed legs. Source: Why Rescue Birds Aren't Free
Similar More sizes
Source: Why Rescue Birds Aren’t Free

https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry

generic chicken aid
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/poultry-podiatry
fantastic instructions for spayed legs and support and diagnosis of diseases


http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2003/november/Cousquer/Avian-Wound-Management-Part-2.html
http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/03/bumblefoot.html
http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/07/comb-to-toe-checkup.html
Here is an easy recipe for a DIY Antiseptic Ointment to apply to a wound or cut in a pinch. For use on people and chickens.
Antiseptic Ointment
2-1/2 ounces beeswax
3/4 cup olive or coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon liquid vitamin E (helps repair damaged skin)
10 drops lavender essential oil (relaxant, pain reliever, antibacterial, anti-fungal)
10 drops lemon essential oil (antibacterial, antiviral)
~Beeswax donated by beeyondbeeswax.com~
Grate beeswax and melt with olive or coconut oil over low heat in a double boiler. Remove from heat and stir in the Vitamin E and essential oils. Pour into a small covered container and cool. Store in a cool, dark place.

 

[pipAchick]

Hello. It was politely pointed out to me IF any chicken keeper is having leg issues there's a polish thread that has some information.(it does show a chicken with some sections of skin gently pulled back for VET type purposes) its not bloody&does not show chickens face but bones&wrap&muscles are outlined.
Sorry if I'm interrupting.
Enjoy your chickens&good luck helping them heal!

 

[BriskRooster]

Oh, i should mention the reason she looks so rough is she's also molting.

 

[BriskRooster]

Bump

 

[BriskRooster]

Any idea?

 

[WooingWyandotte]

I think your definitely on the right track. If I could offer advice, I would. But I've never had a chicken with a broken leg, so I haven't much of an idea; but like I said, I believe your on the right track. Just make sure she's eating and drinking. Maybe look up on the internet about birds with broken legs and how to splint that certain area so it can heal right.

Have a great day!