Injured hen leg

[Marcellaandholly]

Hello.... I'm new to having chickens and have two 4 year old girls. She was okay yesterday then when I opened their coop today she didn't come out. So I checked on her and this is what her leg looks like. What is wrong with it?? I'm not sure what to do?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Welcome To BYC!

How long have you had her?
Can you examine the leg and joint to see if there's a break or any swelling?
What are you feeding your hens?

 

[Marcellaandholly]

I have had them for two months. I have two hens who are 4 years old. They were in a slightly bigger flock at a friend's, however one of the hens that I have was being bullied very badly and had to be separated. So I decided to take two and they've been doing awesome
here, until this. They were not handled much, so they are not really comfortable with being held. They don't mind me feeding them and changing their coop etc. But they do not like being picked up. I feed them layer food, and give them treats such as cucumbers, spinach and scratch.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have had them for two months. I have two hens who are 4 years old. They were in a slightly bigger flock at a friend's, however one of the hens that I have was being bullied very badly and had to be separated. So I decided to take two and they've been doing awesome
here, until this. They were not handled much, so they are not really comfortable with being held. They don't mind me feeding them and changing their coop etc. But they do not like being picked up. I feed them layer food, and give them treats such as cucumbers, spinach and scratch.

I would try to gather her up and examine the leg and joint really well. See if there's swelling or if you can feel any break.
If you need to, have a helper and gently swaddle her in light towel or cloth so her wings are kept to her sides, it makes it easier to control and examine flighty birds.

 

[Marcellaandholly]

I checked her leg. It's not her leg, her one toe is broken. It seems like maybe she got it caught or something like that. That toe just hangs there. She didn't protest much at all. She can't put weight on that foot though.

 

[azygous]

Looks like she may have broken her leg. Have you looked at the leg? Swelling? Any bone fragment protruding? You may need to take her to a vet, but if it's a simple fracture, you might try splinting it using a couple of tongue depressors over padding and Vetrap the splints and leg. Then you may want to make her a chicken chair to keep her off the leg for a while. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/hurt-hen-leg-please-help.1346507/

 

[analyticalblonde]

I thought the same thing...it looks like her leg is broken. @aart and @jolenesdad do you think the same?

 

[jolenesdad]

How high are the roosts at night? How many other chickens do you have? It may be hard to see a bruise on her legs.... but I would try and get as close a look as possible.

it also looks broken to me. Is her foot warm or cold? If she is hobbling around it may not be catastrophic....

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I checked her leg. It's not her leg, her one toe is broken. It seems like maybe she got it caught or something like that. That toe just hangs there. She didn't protest much at all. She can't put weight on that foot though.

You can try splinting the foot/toe to stabilize it. Sometimes that helps. I've had broken toes before, they mended crooked, but the hen was able to walk and move about just fine.
I would make sure she can reach food/water very easily. Once the toes/foot is taped/splinted she may move around a bit more, you'll have to just monitor her.

Here's a splinting manual that you may find helpful. https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[Trishamn]

Toothpicks make excellent toe splints.