Is this a broken foot? Picture included. Can a chicken actually live a normal life with just one foo

[Charlie241]

This is my Barred Rock. I ran a thread a couple of days ago stating she has had a limp after escaping. It has become progressively worse and now the foot is just hanging there. She puts a minimum of weight on it and only when she has to. It is complicated by the the fact that she appears to have broken her wing as well (I think) after an escape attempt. Both the same side.
Do you think it looks like the foot is actually broken? Can a chicken actually live a reasonably normal life with one leg and one wing? I want to do what is best for her. She is still eating and chatting. Am I just being really stupid in thinking she has a quality of life like this or should I be cruel to be kind?
I would be very grateful for any advice/suggestions/thoughts. I am so upset this has happened to her. She is my favourite.

 

[theoldchick]

I can't see a physical fracture of her foot. The problem might be what is going on further up her leg. Either she is suffering from a viral infection affecting her motor control, or she has some how dislocated her hip/fractured her leg.

If she is suffering from a viral infection she will continue to get worse and eventually lose control of her other leg/neck/wings and will no longer have a good quality of life.

A dislocated hip is difficult for some chickens to recover from. If the joint does not 'fuse' she will never be able to use the leg. If the joint does 'fuse' she will learn how to 'peg' the leg and live her life out as a physically challenged fowl. Many chickens do will in this situation as long as they are not picked on by other members of the flock.

If she is dealing with a fracture you can either place a supporting bandage on her leg or allow her to heal on her own. In this situation keeping her movements restricted will help her heal. Again, monitor her closely and make sure she is not being picked on by the other members of the flock.

Just in case she is suffering from vitamin deficiency, you can fortify her diet with supplements found at your local feed store/pet store. A dose of Safeguard dewormer won't do any harm, either. Make sure is is on a good quality diet.

Get your hands on her and look her over. This will help you determine how she should be treated.


Good luck with her!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would isolate her in a cage to decrease her activity for a week or two. If her wing is broken you canwrap her wing against her body in a normal position. If you suspect a break in the leg it can also be splinted, but it may just be a sprain that may heal wih rest. Here is a link to read: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-a-chickens-broken-leg-or-wing.html

 

[BettyBlueSilkie]

a chicken can live with one leg with good care

 

[Wyandottes7]

I would isolate her in a cage to decrease her activity for a week or two. If her wing is broken you canwrap her wing against her body in a normal position. If you suspect a break in the leg it can also be splinted, but it may just be a sprain that may heal wih rest. Here is a link to read: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-treat-a-chickens-broken-leg-or-wing.html

X2

 

[Charlie241]

Thank you all so very much for your replies.

I am looking into somewhere for her to go for a couple of weeks rest.

I cannot accomodate that here at this home.

Do you think she will get lonely and miss being with the other chickens? Or is this something she will get used to?

 

[Eggcessive]

Would it be possible to just put her in a cage or dog kennel inside the coop so that she would have company? I usually leave a chicken being treated in the coop or run to help keep the pecking order the same, and to avoid having to re-introduce.

 

[Charlie241]

Thank you.

It is cold here ( 3c) during day. She is not going to tolerate being in a run on her own. There would be no shelter. At least now she goes into the bushes or the shelter I have made for them ( I call it the chicken busstop)
Do you think she would pine for the others if I seperated her? I don't want her to get sad!

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes they get lonely if they are by themselves, but sometimes they have to be separated to recover. Caging with the others, and some plastic over the cage would probably work, but you have to do what you can.