hen got stuck

[Akane]

A small bantam pullet wiggled between the nest boxes, shoved her head under one after some spilled feed, and then got stuck sideways for an unknown amount of time. One side of her feels flat. I'm not sure how else to describe it besides she just feels like if you squashed a chicken sideways but still alive and she can't use the leg on that side properly. I think it was tucked up underneath her side the whole time. She jerks and lunges about falling to that side. I put her in with some chicks because first she stumbled right back in to the gap she got stuck in and then when I pointed her toward the middle of the coop she got whacked by a bigger bantam hen. Anything that can be done for her or just wait and see? One of the nest box rows was moved to the other end of the coop to prevent this hazard.

 

[Kittymomma]

I'd go with good suportive care and time. She could probably use some quality treats like scrambled eggs, grapes, etc. and maybe some electrolytes/vitamins in her water. I'd probably put her in the hospital (dog) crate and bring her in for a day or two until she starts walking a bit better. Good luck with her, poor little thing.

 

[SaltLakeSpice]

i think u were right to get her away from the other, bigger kids. give her a few good days of rest and relaxation and keep an eye on her.

 

[unionwirewoman]

I wouldn't put her in with the chicks , she might accidently smoosh them . Put her in a dog crate if you have one , thensee how she's doing the next day . Not having food and water for 8 hours is not going to hurt her as most hens are sleeping during the night anyway . That's my advice ...take it or leave it . If it were me I'd do the same , and if in 2 days she still wasn't right , she'd be chicken noodle soup . Sad but true . Good luck .

 

[Akane]

She's a half serama not fully grown pullet and the chicks are 5-6 week old standards. They are nearly her size.

She's still alive and eating the gamebird feed the chicks have so extra fat and protein already. One leg sticks out sideways. Sort of like extreme spraddle leg and only on one side. I'm debating tying her legs together but she might just flop around worse. The last hen I had with a leg injury that only turned out to be harmful. Putting her on good footing helped the most but I don't have anything better than the dog crate with shavings and she's still shoved all the shavings to the front sliding and thrashing around.

 

[Kittymomma]

Do you have any shelving mat... That's probably not what it's really called, but the stuff you line--that's it, shelving liner? I snatched some out of the camper and used it to line the bator for hatching and it's working really well. It keeps the plates and stuff from sliding all over and breaking in the camper so it should work well for your pullet. I think the dollar store carries it and you can hose it off and air dry it when she soils it.

 

[Kittymomma]

How is she doing?