Injured leg on Rhode Island Red

[ColoradoSLV]

Hi!

I've got a limping RIR that's currently confined (per others' entries) to limit her movement.

She'd flown into a 'sticky-tape fly-trap', and I may have inadvertently been part of the injury scenario when I pushed the door over the bird's leg. :-(

She's eating, pooping, and laying (in season) normally, but hops on one foot/leg to get around. She stands mostly on her left leg and uses the right leg only occasionally to stabilize herself. I've carefully examined her and - outside of her being in an unusual position - found nothing (she didn't show any discomfort or pain).

I do have her confined and will use aspirin (half an 81mg in her water daily) starting today.

Anything more I should be doing?

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Don't dilute the aspirin. It won't have any benefit doing it that way. Just pop one whole 81 grain tablet right into her beak. She can have two per day.

Look for a faint greenish bruising on her leg. That will confirm her injury. The aspirin will help reduce inflammation, and that will help the leg to heal faster.

 

[nchls school]

If the leg isn't broken it will, most likely, heal quickly. I'd continue to confine her movements until the leg is better. It would be best if she is confined where the she and the flock can see each other so there won't be a problem when the hen is returned to the flock.

 

[ColoradoSLV]

(Up to) two 81mg aspirin per day? Got it!

The examination showed no sign of bruising (green-ish or otherwise, and she does have visibility of the other chicken - big flock, huh?

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[ColoradoSLV]

Welp...(it's been a while, huh?)...

I found a plastic ring embedded(!) in the 'knee' - and hidden by the feathers! - of the aforementioned RIR. With a little bit of bleeding (hers - not mine!), I've removed the ring and am keeping an eye on her.

The 81mg of aspirin and isolating her seemed to have helped; I'll check on her in a few minutes.

Thanks, everybody!

 

[Eggcessive]

It is good that you discovered the plastic ring on her leg. This happens a lot in chickens, and is one reason I don’t use leg bands anymore. I hope she gets along okay.