Injured leg

[chickkais67]

About a week ago my six chickens were attacked overnight, a neighborhood cat is my guess. Five of them are fine, no injuries. One was beat up though. I found her at the back of the pen soaking wet, all of her tail feathers missing and holding one leg up. She was wet because it rained too. I quickly brought her inside and made a hospital pen for her out of a dog kennel. After she warmed and dried up I looked at her leg and found a few puncture wounds on her lower leg. I cleaned off with warm soapy water and put antibiotic ointment on and gave her food and water. She eats and drinks fine and now gets many treats. After a days I brought her out in the yard for some fresh air and exercise, but all she did was lay there and ate a few blades of grass. The next day she moved a little by hopping on the good leg holding the other up. The next three days she seems to move a little more each day but still does not use the injured leg. I felt all parts of her leg and didn't feel a thing abnormal, and she didn't complain.

Is there anything else I should do for her to help the healing process?
Will she ever use the hurt leg again?
When can I introduce her back into the group?

 

[ten chicks]

About a week ago my six chickens were attacked overnight, a neighborhood cat is my guess. Five of them are fine, no injuries. One was beat up though. I found her at the back of the pen soaking wet, all of her tail feathers missing and holding one leg up. She was wet because it rained too. I quickly brought her inside and made a hospital pen for her out of a dog kennel. After she warmed and dried up I looked at her leg and found a few puncture wounds on her lower leg. I cleaned off with warm soapy water and put antibiotic ointment on and gave her food and water. She eats and drinks fine and now gets many treats. After a days I brought her out in the yard for some fresh air and exercise, but all she did was lay there and ate a few blades of grass. The next day she moved a little by hopping on the good leg holding the other up. The next three days she seems to move a little more each day but still does not use the injured leg. I felt all parts of her leg and didn't feel a thing abnormal, and she didn't complain.

Is there anything else I should do for her to help the healing process?
Will she ever use the hurt leg again?
When can I introduce her back into the group?

If leg isn't broken,she could have muscle damage,sprain. I am sure her leg is really sore,make sure wounds are cleaned couple times a day. Wait to introduce her until wounds are healed,you don't want other hens pecking at her. Have you tried epsom salt soak for her leg? Also if you hold her,can she put pressure on her leg? Try holding her,put her leg gently on ground and see if she can put pressure on it while you are still holding her.Other than that,sounds like you have done everything that you could.

 

[chickkais67]

She still does not put pressure on it. I picked her up and extended her good leg and it goes almost straight. When I extend the hurt leg it extends a little less and I can tell it hurts her.
Should I do this to try and get the mobility back and help healing or could I be causing more damage?

 

[ten chicks]

She still does not put pressure on it. I picked her up and extended her good leg and it goes almost straight. When I extend the hurt leg it extends a little less and I can tell it hurts her.
Should I do this to try and get the mobility back and help healing or could I be causing more damage?

Hard to tell did you try the epsom salt soak,if a sprain or muscle damage might help. Not a bone fracture,no broken bones felt. Any swelling of her leg? I wouldn't extend her leg,probably very painful. Make sure she is eating and drinking,if not so much,you could give her some electrolytes. No infection in the puncture wounds? Possible it might have been a fracture,but i don't think there would be any point in splinting it at this stage.

 

[chickkais67]

Did not try epsom salts yet. Will try to do that tomorrow. The punctures look clean and don't look infected. Food and water are available and I do hear her pecking at it, we also give her treats which she accepts eagerly. The joint is swollen though. I'll stop extending. If this is not going to have a good outcome I would rather end her suffering now than later. Problem is I can't forsee the future.