Hen with broken fibula

[Auglelog]

I haven’t seen lots of posts about fractured fibulas and I was wondering what I should do one of our hens. 2 days ago she was attacked by a predator and we took her to the emergency room right away! sadly, the fibula is very hard to splint or cast and because we didn’t want our hen to have to go through the pain and trauma of surgery, my family and I have isolated her in a room with a towel/blanket food and water close to her and I’m wondering what we should do next. (the fracture is a closed fracture I just don’t want it to become an open fracture over night or something). Have you deal with something similar? Can you give advice on how we can help her heal properly? Thanks for any help we can get!

 

[Susan Skylark]

The fibula is a pretty minor bone! Keep her quiet and confined for 3-6 weeks and it has a good chance of healing. Dry bedding, easy access to feed and water, and minimal movement are key. If she’s in pain you can put aspirin in her drinking water, sorry don’t know the dose. This is how we treat hip fractures in dogs when surgery isn’t a option and that is a far worse fracture spot so prognosis should be pretty good!

 

[coach723]

I would try to splint it, to stabilize the leg. I will attach a splinting manual which will hopefully help. Make sure it's padded so that all splinting materials won't rub and cause irritation. And check it often for swelling, you don't want it too tight and cutting off circulation. Sometimes swelling occurs after the fact. Not knowing how the break is, or exactly where, it may take 8 weeks to heal.

 

[Auglelog]

The fibula is a pretty minor bone! Keep her quiet and confined for 3-6 weeks and it has a good chance of healing. Dry bedding, easy access to feed and water, and minimal movement are key. If she’s in pain you can put aspirin in her drinking water, sorry don’t know the dose. This is how we treat hip fractures in dogs when surgery isn’t an option and that is a far worse fracture spot so prognosis should be pretty good!

Alright!, I’ll be sure to add some hay or bedding to the place she is in and give her aspirin thanks so much for the help!

 

[Auglelog]

I would try to splint it, to stabilize the leg. I will attach a splinting manual which will hopefully help. Make sure it's padded so that all splinting materials won't rub and cause irritation. And check it often for swelling, you don't want it too tight and cutting off circulation. Sometimes swelling occurs after the fact. Not knowing how the break is, or exactly where, it may take 8 weeks to heal.

I sadly have no experience in splinting but I’ll try to splint her with my family praying that it will end out ok in the long run thank you for the manual and for the help!