Greetings
FeatheredFriends2018,
Injuries from canines can be hidden under the hen's feathers. You will have to examine her every day to make sure there are no puncture wounds. If you miss a puncture wound, infection can go unnoticed and can be fatal. Look under her wings, lift up the neck feathers, examine her vent area and around the tail. Feel for lumps, swellings, smell for foul odors/infection. If you find a puncture wound, trim the feathers around it, then, flush it with a saline solution, or clorhexidine. Spray it with some Vetericyn 2-3 times a day till it heals.
I would also address the leg/foot injury. She may have an injury higher up on the thigh, if the dog grabbed her from the side and she tried to escape. There could be some damage to a tendon or a sprain from twisting. Without an x-ray, it's hard to know. I don't think it's broken, the bird would be unable to even limp.
She may have a bad sprain. This has happened to a couple of my birds. Here are some treatment options.
The Chicken sling:
Placing the hen in a chicken sling for a few days, may allow the leg to heal faster by preventing the chicken from using the leg.
Quick Sling
Compression wrap:
- First apply some 'Arnica cream' to the leg, massage gently. (Optional)
- Apply a compression wrap.
1. First, wrap the leg in a soft fabric (you can cut a piece of old soft sock or use
gauze)
2. Wrap with self stick vet wrap (take care not to wrap tightly,
you don't want
to restrict blood flow). The wrap should be snug, but not tight. The chicken
should be able to bend the leg and sit.
3. Wrap her foot to the toes, if you can. Cut the vet wrap into thinner strips. This will also stabilize her foot.
3. Administer a vitamin supplement
with iron, for three to five days.
The Arnica cream will reduce pain, and speed healing of the injured tissue. The compression wrap will support and protect the leg tendons, and muscle, during healing. A vitamin supplement, like Pet-Tinic, will boost the immune system. You can also giver her some Nutri Drench, if you can't get a supplement with iron.
Check the leg daily, is she walking on the injured leg? Look at the color, is it blue? If it is blue, the vet wrap is constricting blood flow, the wrap is too tight! Remove the wrap.
Change the wrap every other day. Once the chicken is not limping, the wrap is no longer needed.
Administer an anti-inflammatory: like
aspirin. Dosage is 40 mg. 2-3 times a day. Use a low dose aspirin of 81 mg., then cut it in half. (Never give aspirin if there is a bleeding wound.)
Carprofen is another pain reliever, dosage is 12 mg. tablet form. I give, half of a 25 mg. tablet, which is 12.5 mg, just twice a day.
My chickens, usually stop limping after 3 days, but your hen may need more time.
A severe sprain can take about two weeks to heal, longer without treatment. Without treatment, the chicken can but not always, become permanently lame in that leg.
She cannot jump, up or down, from perches,so she should sleep in a dog crate in the coop. Or, she will make the injury worse.
Taking the hen to see a vet is the best thing to do. But, if that isn't an option the members here on BYC, will do their best to guide you.
These are my thoughts on your chicken's issue. I hope I have been helpful.
God Bless
