Hen broken leg ? How to tell

[Mariakoltsa]

Hi!
My hen was in the sick bay because she seemed to have symptoms of mycoplasma which has happened before and it had started affecting egg laying, she had poo that indicated an infection. Have been having her on antibiotics now for 4 days. On the second day her poos already improved and she seemed completely healthy so it was just a matter of finishing the antibiotic course.
But today, i went in there and she was laying down with wings out. She saw food and attempted to hop with difficulty on one leg, the other leg just dragging on the ground totally limp without ANY movement. She is panting a lot, im assuming pain..
i picked her up and she just laid there with one leg hanging limp and flopping around when i walked.
I gently felt the leg up closer to the body and there was this bubbling popping feeling as if there are tens of bubbles in her leg . It wasnt specifically in one place but along the top part of her leg.
I have never dealt with this. I don’t know how to tell if its broken or a disease..
The leg otherwise looks normal… i think it MAY be broken.. but im too scared to touch too much as the part is under lots of feathers and it seems like the legs moves abnormally above the hock. She seems very stressed. Not sure what to do, poor girl

 

[User690263]

@Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock can probably help you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

seemed to have symptoms of mycoplasma which has happened before and it had started affecting egg laying, she had poo that indicated an infection.

i picked her up and she just laid there with one leg hanging limp and flopping around when i walked.
I gently felt the leg up closer to the body and there was this bubbling popping feeling as if there are tens of bubbles in her leg . It wasnt specifically in one place but along the top part of her leg.

i think it MAY be broken.. but im too scared to touch too much as the part is under lots of feathers and it seems like the legs moves abnormally above the hock.

Poor girl!

The leg is hanging limp and flopping around?
I'm not sure what a bubbling pooping feeling is, does the leg feel like it has fluid in it?

Is she having trouble breathing?

When was her last egg?

Is vet care an option?

Here's a manual that may help you i.d. the issue.
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

On the diagram below, where is the bubble? At the top of the femur along the pelvic bone or?

 

[Susan Skylark]

You’ll want to differentiate between a broken leg, a nerve issue and a dislocated femur. If she can’t seem to move it or feel it or know where it is at (but you can move it freely, have her stand if possible and flip the foot so the top is on the floor, she should fight it or flip it back to normal, if not then nerve inflammation or damage is your issue) it is likely nerve issues. If she refuses to put weight on the leg, fights you when you try to stand her up, then a break is more likely (just limp think nerve damage). If she can move the leg but it is a little short or hard to flex then a dislocation of the femur is a possibility. Treatment for all three (assuming no blood or exposed bone!) is keep her in a well bedded, small area with easy access to feed and water, put some aspirin in the water and let her chill for 3-6 weeks. Bones can heal, she can form a false joint on a dislocation and nerve issues can eventually resolve. If there is exposed bone, she will need antibiotics and you’ll want to keep the wound clean, open, and draining. If there is no improvement in 3 weeks on a nerve issue, prognosis is poor.

 

[Mariakoltsa]

@Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock can probably help you

After i finished writing i became pretty sure its broken.. but its in a spot where j have no idea how to splint or anything.. thanks for replying

Poor girl!

The leg is hanging limp and flopping around?
I'm not sure what a bubbling pooping feeling is, does the leg feel like it has fluid in it?

Is she having trouble breathing?

When was her last egg?

Is vet care an option?

Here's a manual that may help you i.d. the issue.
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

On the diagram below, where is the bubble? At the top of the femur along the pelvic bone or?

View attachment 4154413

seems like tibia top part. I feel like its broken there. Theres a lot of movement and the leg is totally not moving and she seems to be in a lot of pain. I gave her some aspirin properly dosed. I did some form of splinting but im afraid its not good. Just finished a sling where she can sit in and the legs hang down. Put a rolled towel under the bad leg so that its not pulling anything. I don’t know what else to do. I don’t feel confident in the wrapping that i did vut i don’t know what else to do. Im very worried because i can’t keep touching it. She finally stopped panting in that sling when i put her in there. When she was laying on her side she was panting a lot.. seemed like from pain. Now she finally closed her eyes and stopped. No vet option. Even an x ray costs over 400$, and all vets are pretty much closed. A mobile vet said “surgery” or put her down. But that was basedon very minimal information on the phone. She doesn’t bother much with chooks. Id like to give this chicken a chance before i sentence her t0 death. She eats and drinks well despite the pain.

 

[Mariakoltsa]

Poor girl!

The leg is hanging limp and flopping around?
I'm not sure what a bubbling pooping feeling is, does the leg feel like it has fluid in it?

Is she having trouble breathing?

When was her last egg?

Is vet care an option?

Here's a manual that may help you i.d. the issue.
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

On the diagram below, where is the bubble? At the top of the femur along the pelvic bone or?

View attachment 4154413

Im not even sure i answered your questions. Her leg is floppy. She started laying again yesterday and dint today. Breathing is fine, just panting when in pain. I the sling the panting has calmed down further supporting that it was from pain. When i was wrapping her leg she panted a lot as well. Seems entirely healthy besides that. Im certain it is a broken leg now after having to feel it multiple times. Lots of movement and the bubbling popping feeling is certainly from the bones moving. Its pretty bad in this case. Its not just a mild break or fracture. Scariest part is that i have no way of knowing if i did any justice to her how i wrapped her leg. Prior to wrapping it to limit mivement, when she moved it made cracking noises.. like moving in and out of place