Injured chicken leg

[Eggcessive]

Massachusetts is very cold now, and any swimming would need to be done inside wiphere it was warm. If the leg is injured or possibly fractured, swimming would be more harmful. I actually thought that a chicken would not swim, but one of my dingaling girls jumped into my pond one January day escaping being caught, and she did swim across without drowning.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

i had a hen who was my best friend who had a dislocated leg. i let her rest and got her back to health, and she still limped a teeny bit her whole life, but she was still a happy hen. im sure if you let her leg rest and give her lots of love, she'll be OK.

I've dislocated a joint.. it's excruciating pain!

Limping equals pain. Chickens are prey animals and as such will do EVERYTHING in their power to hide any pain or difference from others in order to not be singled out and pecked on or become an easy target.

Chickens don't swim, but the chair suggested by another poster, otherwise sometimes called a sling can be very good choice to accomplish what you are suggesting.. get some weight off and give a chance to stretch/paddle/push.. if they can be contained inside one.

Thank you for attempting to be encouraging! I hope you're enjoying BYC!

 

[ChicNmom]

I would do some muscle/tendon testing on her left leg. If you pick her up with your arm under her so her legs hang down, very gently put your palm under her left foot to see if she will try to press down as if to stand. If the leg quivers or she reacts badly it could be a muscle. If you put her leg through a gentle range of motion and she reacts badly it's likely a tendon. Also holding her the same way out your index finger under her toes to see if she will try to grip your finger with her toes. If not or you get a bad reaction then that may point to a foot injury.

That might help you narrow down the injury.