Hen with a broken leg!!

[ChanLillie]

I got a new rooster (The owner swore he was friendly ) and he attacked my crested cream legbar hen. He broke her leg and I have no idea what to do. I have brought her inside and she's in a tub by herself but this can't be a permanent solution. I really don't want to put her down.. She is my favorite hen, not to mention an expensive hen.. Any ideas?!

 

[Then I Will]

Hey ChanLillie,
I'm so sorry to hear this happened to your favorite hen!!
Even if the seller was honest, I hope you didn't just throw your rooster into the flock. They're supposed to acclimated to each other over the course of a week or three to reduce the chance of injuries like this.
I've never had a hen with a broken leg before. Is it a compound fracture? Where her leg is obviously distorted? Or a minor fracture where it doesn't appear broken but she isn't putting weight on it?
There are some pain and swelling medication options that work for chickens as well as people. This would at least keep her comfortable while you decide what to do. Would it be too much to post a picture of the break? This may help others help you decide whether she is past saving or savable!

Also, if it's a minor break and she is savable, you can make a sling with leg holes in it to help her support her weight on her good leg. Please give us a little more info and I'm sure someone else will chime in with some helpful advice real soon.

 

[Kiki]

I am sorry your are having to deal with this right now.
Can you post a few pictures of her leg?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Depending how bad the break is, you may be better off taking her to a Vet.
Then I Will is right, hope you took the time to "introduce" the Roo to your flock. If you did not, that's why he probably "attacked". Separate him in a wire cage with food & water, put the cage either next to the run where they can all see each other for couple of weeks.

 

[ChanLillie]

No, I didn't just throw him into my flock. I have had very good look acclimating new birds into my flock, I have never had an issue before..

I am not at home right now but once I am home I can get a picture of it. I had to goto work today.

She is able to move it but she can't put any weight on it. She just lets it sit out in front of her when she is laying down and occasionally pulls it back up.

 

[ChanLillie]

Yeah, I have separated the Roo and have considered taking him back honestly. I have a 30 by 16 run and a 10 by 16 house for them and all of my birds get along nicely in it, I just can't have a roo that is aggressive like this. Especially after taking all of the steps to make their meeting a positive one. It may sound funny but all of my birds I have raised from babies and they are all friendly. I've handled them all and I just don't want unfriendly birds.. lol

 

[Kiki]

If you have time while your at work you may want to look up making a chicken sling.

 

[ChickNanny13]

If she can move it, that's a plus. Maybe it's sprained, he was trying to mount her? Just guessing. Anyway pictures would help, maybe "just" a sling would help, maybe vet wrapped & sling.....

 

[ChanLillie]

Maybe?! He had her pinned and held down both of her legs. It was awful. My boyfriend ran over and separated them as quickly as he could.

 

[Then I Will]

Hmmm. Well that is unusual if you had tried acclimating them first.
Whenever I introduced a new roo, there usually was the occasional attack as some of the more dominant hens withstood his taking over the flock. There would be kicking and thrashing fights until the hen submitted, and sometimes the rooster would go right about mounting her.

However, on other occasions the rooster got henpecked and chased around for a few hours until he assured all of the hens he was in fact in charge now.
If he was on top of her standing on her legs he was probably trying to mount her and his feet slipped down her sides. Unless he is a very large breed and she a very small lightweight breed, I don't see this breaking her leg.

It sounds more like a bad sprain or something. Will stay tuned for pictures.