Injured leg

[jimerjam]

My hen took a tumble down some stairs, she wasn't walking right after that. Her legs are now sticking out beside her and she is not mobile. I can feel no breaks or dislocations. What worries me now is that she is eating less and less. Some other people say that If it's a sprain or a pulled muscle it will heal in 5-7 days. She has not gotten better at all her condition has only worsened. I currently have her in a small dog kennel away from the other chickens. What do I do? Do I start force-feeding her? Do I wrap her in towels and keep her immobile? For now she has not given up and is clearly alert and conscious, but I don't know if this will last. I need help yesterday please.

 

[coach723]

How old is your hen, and how long have you had her? Pictures would be helpful.
Whatever is going on may be why she fell down the stairs. Do you know if she was vaccinated for Marek's disease?
You can use a chicken sling to try to make her more comfortable and keep her upright if she will tolerated it, examples below. If she won't tolerate it then you can roll up some bath towels and put them around her to try to prop her upright.
What do her droppings look like? Is her crop empty, full, soft & squishy, etc?
Will she eat some scrambled egg? Is she drinking?

 

[jimerjam]

My chicken is old, 10 years old, and I have had her all her life, her craw is almost always deflated and empty and the droppings I saw where runny. As for a sling I might be able to rig some things up

 

[jimerjam]

Thank you very much

 

[jimerjam]

As for drinking, I only hear her eat when I am not watching her , making it difficult to figure out if she is eating

 

[jimerjam]

I mean drinking

 

[coach723]

At 10 years old it may be age catching up to her, that is a very good age for a chicken. Try the scrambled egg, you can also mix her pellets with some water to make a mash, they often like that. Try giving her some sugar water or gatorade in a spoon, or put a drop or two in her beak, see if she'll take that.

 

[jimerjam]

You are a lifesaver, I had no idea what to do. These chickens taught me responsibility in my youth, and I really do care.

 

[jimerjam]

Ok, update, we built a sling and began her on a diet of eggs, She has started drinking on her own and pecking at seeds. Her legs have most certainly gotten stronger, and seem to be able to hold her weight, However every time she tries to stand up she ends up with her face planted straight into the ground. is there anything else I can do to help her?

 

[coach723]

You can add some Super B Complex vitamins, a human capsule or tablet daily. Sometimes deficiencies in the b's can cause neuromuscular symptoms, balance issues, etc. If she wasn't eating well, then that could be contributing. The B's are very safe, no risk of overdosing. Since she seems to be getting better, that may help, and if she starts eating better, that will help too.