Injured hen leg

[Marcellaandholly]

Upon getting a good look and feel...I don't think it's her toes at all. They all look okay and move okay too. There doesn't feel to be any brakes or fractures though, not on any part of her leg or toes, everything feels as it should. It doesn't feel warm or cold and I don't notice any other outward injuries. I've splinted her leg and she still can't put any weight on it. It feels lame almost.

 

[aart]

I've splinted her leg and she still can't put any weight on it. It feels lame almost.

Did you check her hip joint?

 

[Marcellaandholly]

Yes. It rotates normally. I can't find anything that seems to be causing the issue. Could it be a tendon or ligament issue?

 

[Eggcessive]

It kind of looks like a slipped or ruptured tendon in the picture. Some chickens can have leg bone deformities in one or both legs, and the tendon can eventually rupture with growth. But if her legs have always looked normal, it might be due to an injury. I am not sure that you could do much about that without vet care. I would limit her activity to a pen with food and water, and give her B complex vitamins.

 

[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.

Upon getting a good look and feel...I don't think it's her toes at all. They all look okay and move okay too. There doesn't feel to be any brakes or fractures though, not on any part of her leg or toes, everything feels as it should. It doesn't feel warm or cold and I don't notice any other outward injuries. I've splinted her leg and she still can't put any weight on it. It feels lame almost.

So her toe is not broken?
What about the leg joint?

 

[Marcellaandholly]

Thank you everyone for all your help. I had to put her down today, the vet said it was the best thing. Poor girl

 

[Marcellaandholly]

I have another question now....I only have one chicken now. She can't live by herself, can she?

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be good if you could try to get 1 or 2 others the same size to introduce to her. They really can get lonely by themselves. A mirror and a stuffed animal might be helpful, and spend more time with her. Do you know of any people around you with hens? Where are you located? People here on this forum may be able to help you.

 

[azygous]

She would feel more fulfilled as a chicken if she had others. I don't mean that your chicken needs a buddy, because that isn't how chickens roll. Chickens need to see there are others of their kind in close proximity which gives them a sense of well being.

It's sort of like when you go too long without being able to talk to another person. Humans need other humans, even those of us who love our solitude. From time to time, even the most confirmed loner needs another human to reflect back to them their own humanity. So it is with chickens, maybe even more so since they're flock animals.

I suggest getting a few baby chicks in spring and brooding them in proximity to your hen. She will be more apt to consider them her flock than she would an adult chicken who would be strange and would require some pecking order posturing and it would produce a certain amount of stress. Your hen wouldn't need to go through that with chicks growing up as she watches.

 

[Marcellaandholly]

I live in Las Cruces, NM. I don't know anyone, though now I'll start to ask around