Hen with Dislocated Hip

[Gardenerd1]

Hi all, I'm at my wits end because we've got a poor 7-year-old hen with a dislocated hip. She's still eating, drinking, and even laid an egg or two since this started. She can't put weight on it and it's turned inward. She's using it to scratch, but limps when she tries to step on it.

Here's my problem: we've consulted with a vet tech friend who has helped us diagnose it clearly as a dislocation. I can't find a vet in town who will treat her without charging for the office visit AND X-Rays (upwards of $700) even though we know it isn't broken. They won't just pop the leg back into place. We've tried ourselves (with instructions from our vet tech friend) and couldn't get it to work.

So we have to euthanize her, but the vets won't do that without charging for an exam and diagnosis either. They said we could take her to a shelter to be euthanized, but the shelter said we have to take it to a vet. We're too squeamish to accomplish the task on our own. I NEED HELP in Westside Los Angeles! Does anyone out there have experience popping a full-grown chicken hip back into place, or putting them down? We have a killing cone, just no guts.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry to hear about your hen. Since her hip has been out of joint for awhile, it would probably require surgery to fix it. Chickens do not always tolerate anesthesia very well either.

Do you have any friends or neighbors who hunt or fish, and could put your chicken down? There are several methods to humanely kill a chicken such as cervical dislocation and cutting the jugular vein, which I use. Here is a good video if you wish to view it:

 

[Gardenerd1]

Thanks for the video. He makes it look much easier than I thought it would be.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have done this method a few times on hens who were suffering.

 

[GossChicks]

Hi all, I'm at my wits end because we've got a poor 7-year-old hen with a dislocated hip. She's still eating, drinking, and even laid an egg or two since this started. She can't put weight on it and it's turned inward. She's using it to scratch, but limps when she tries to step on it.

Here's my problem: we've consulted with a vet tech friend who has helped us diagnose it clearly as a dislocation. I can't find a vet in town who will treat her without charging for the office visit AND X-Rays (upwards of $700) even though we know it isn't broken. They won't just pop the leg back into place. We've tried ourselves (with instructions from our vet tech friend) and couldn't get it to work.

So we have to euthanize her, but the vets won't do that without charging for an exam and diagnosis either. They said we could take her to a shelter to be euthanized, but the shelter said we have to take it to a vet. We're too squeamish to accomplish the task on our own. I NEED HELP in Westside Los Angeles! Does anyone out there have experience popping a full-grown chicken hip back into place, or putting them down? We have a killing cone, just no guts.

How long have you been treating her? One of mine had this happen Friday, Aug 30, beginning of Labor Day weekend. We got her to vet who diagnosed dislocated hip. He seemed to think it could heal on its own, and she’d be able to walk with a limp in a few weeks. Are you saying that there’s probably no hope for her? We made a hammock type sling for her, where she hangs for a good part of day. Crate indoors because of heat. I’m pampering her to pieces; she’s so sweet, only 18 months old. I’ll attach a picture.

 

[gramsdaleducks]

Hi all, I'm at my wits end because we've got a poor 7-year-old hen with a dislocated hip. She's still eating, drinking, and even laid an egg or two since this started. She can't put weight on it and it's turned inward. She's using it to scratch, but limps when she tries to step on it.

Here's my problem: we've consulted with a vet tech friend who has helped us diagnose it clearly as a dislocation. I can't find a vet in town who will treat her without charging for the office visit AND X-Rays (upwards of $700) even though we know it isn't broken. They won't just pop the leg back into place. We've tried ourselves (with instructions from our vet tech friend) and couldn't get it to work.

So we have to euthanize her, but the vets won't do that without charging for an exam and diagnosis either. They said we could take her to a shelter to be euthanized, but the shelter said we have to take it to a vet. We're too squeamish to accomplish the task on our own. I NEED HELP in Westside Los Angeles! Does anyone out there have experience popping a full-grown chicken hip back into place, or putting them down? We have a killing cone, just no guts.

Could you please share the instructions you got from your vet friend?? I'm in urgent need of instructions on how to do this as the only vet I can physically get to in time is unable to see my duck with dislocated hip in time to pop it back in to place.

 

[MisfitDucks]

Could you please share the instructions you got from your vet friend?? I'm in urgent need of instructions on how to do this as the only vet I can physically get to in time is unable to see my duck with dislocated hip in time to pop it back in to place.

Ducks are super easy to get back into place!! If you have another person who can help you have the other person put your duck on their back. Rub their hips and pelvis for a second and really feel around holding the hips so they aren’t falling and hurting your duck but really feel for how the correct one is in place. Then feel how the incorrect one is. Apply a small amount of pressure to the side of the bone where it is out and press the ball into the joint and it will instantly snap easily back into place! Then just turn your little guy over and set them down. They will be on their way and good to go! Just keep an eye out that there are no issues and that it doesn’t pop out or that he’s not limping. But he’s gonna be sore. So if you can keep him in a crate or smaller area that’s best.