Hen got trampled

[Farm life101]

Hello,
We had some people come and regrade our yard and they were working close to the coop and scared our girls. They were on top each other and pacing at the wire. I felt so bad for them but there was nothing I could do. My 9 month old laced Wyandotte had gotten trampled (I’m assuming) because the next day (yesterday) she was sitting up at the top area of the coop near the boxes but was not laying. She also let me touch her witch she usually runs when I come near here (no idea why). I looked at her today and has a bad limp and her one leg I swollen closes to the foot. And I checked for bumble foot or cuts and saw nothing. I’m assuming she either sprained or fractured her ankle. Is there anything I can do for her?

 

[staceyj]

I’m assuming you felt it carefully and attempted gentle manipulation of all the “moving parts”?

If you don’t feel or see anything obvious besides the swelling that would make you suspect a break in her leg/foot /ankle , then it would be safe to assume it’s a minor sprain.

A soak in warm water with Epsom salts might feel good to her.
You could gently wrap her leg in gauze then support it with some vet wrap for a couple of days too- but be mindful of the swelling so it doesn’t become too tight.

Or put her in a hospital crate for a day or two to enforce rest and relaxation.
Then re-evaluate in 24-48 hrs.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you separate her in a dog crate or pen on soft bedding to force her to rest the leg? Does the bone appear displaced or do you see swelling in the joint, or bruising. Is she lying down and unable to stand or is she scooting around using her wings? If the bone is broken, splinting may help, but for a sprain, it would be best to let her rest it until there is no swelling.

 

[Farm life101]

she is always laying down and when she dose walk its only a few steps and she hardly uses the leg. i never felt it bc i was afraid it would hurt her but i will check tomorrow morning as it is dark here. Will definitely isolate her then. she also dosent go and get food and water as far as i know bc every time i have fed them (treats or normal food) she just stays put.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you able to enter the coop with a flashlight and get her separated, and maybe offer her some fluids to drink tonight? Chickens feed with a lot of water in a small bowl would be good. Scrambled egg with a little water is good too. I just worry that she may get dehydrated by morning, and possibly injured by the others before morning. If not, then let us know how she is doing in morning.

 

[Farm life101]

I got her first thing this morning. Heard howls last night and did not want to encounter them. Looks like they checked out our chickens but realized they couldn’t get them lol. I have her in a dog crate and when I gave her food she ate it like she was starving but I haven’t seen her drink the water but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t. Can’t feel anything out of the ordinary in her foot besides the temperature. She seems a little more active rn but I think that’s bc she is scarred as she has no clue where she is.

 

[staceyj]

I got her first thing this morning. Heard howls last night and did not want to encounter them. Looks like they checked out our chickens but realized they couldn’t get them lol. I have her in a dog crate and when I gave her food she ate it like she was starving but I haven’t seen her drink the water but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t. Can’t feel anything out of the ordinary in her foot besides the temperature. She seems a little more active rn but I think that’s bc she is scarred as she has no clue where she is.

Please mix her food with water so she gets hydrated.
They love it usually.
Could you post some pictures today of her foot and leg?

 

[Farm life101]

Swelling went down a lot this morning and she is walking a little better. Just caught her drinking yay. The water I gave her has vitimans and electrolytes in it.

 

[Farm life101]

She won’t eat or drink anymore and she is still limping when I make her walk. She just lays down in a corner and sleeps all day. She doesn’t lay anymore. I made the mixture of food and water and she ate like half of it and then just lied back down.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry that she seems worse. Can you take her in with the other chickens for a supervised vitsit to see if she will perk up and eat? It sounds like she is either much worse or is depressed. Is there any way to separate her inside the coop with the others? I would raise your food and water bowls up on bricks or blocks of wood to keep the bedding out.

You may want to try her in a chicken sling. It is a piece of material with 2 legs holes and a poop hole, clamped to a box, such as a Rubbermaid container to suspend her off the floor to rest ber leg. Then put food and water near her. Here are some good examples of homemade ones:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/