Just short of a disaster- what to do???

[belletree]

Hello, I'm new to posting, but have been reading here for some time. Thanks in advance for any advice! My 9 week old Golden laced Wyandotte just escaped from the pen into the welcoming mouth of my dog. I screamed so loud that the dog dropped her, but I am pretty concerned about her now. No blood was drawn, or feathers lost, but she seems in pain and isn't walking. I have separated her from the other chickens and have her in a box with a heat lamp on. What should I do next? Do these injuries heal themselves with time? Should I take her to a vet- and what could a vet do anyhow? Thanks a lot!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

If you can't find any wounds, she's probably just in shock. Keep her isolated and make sure she has plenty of fluids available. She should snap out of it later on today.

You'd be hard pressed to find a vet to look at her. Most don't consider chickens in the same group as cats and dogs.

 

[threehorses]

Any updates?

 

[cw]

maybe feel around her body for broken bones

 

[robin416]

When something like this its traumatic and they will go in to a form of shock. Generally its recommended that the be put on electrolytes for a couple of days after the even to help them get over it quicker.

She probably doesn't need the heat lamp so if she's staying away from it I'd take it away to not add a problem of over heating.

 

[belletree]

Thanks for your concern. She did eat and drink some yesterday, but never got up and moving. We more carefully examined her this morning and think that her leg is broken. Is there anything we can do for her? Is there any chance of it healing properly? And thanks for the tip on electrolytes- does that just mean gatorade? Or is there something else I can buy?

 

[threehorses]

Well yes, but it's been a day now so it's going to be trickier and we really need to know what kind of break to give you better directions, but you don't have time for that at this point.

Of course, you really should take the bird to a vet and have them set it and have them administer a course of penicillin or baytril or another amoxi or pen drug.

Get:
airy gauze (wrapping gauze)
duct tape - cut into pieces about 1/2" x 4" long. Put the strips on the edge of the table to you can pull them off easily with one hand.
VetWrap or CoBan or another self-adhesive wrap.
popsicle sticks or paint sticks cut into 'splints' the length of the bone you're setting, just short of the width of the bone.
Alternately to duct tape (which does stick better) regular medical tape.

If there are no breaks to the outside of the body, you can fully wrap the leg. YOu will want to put it in the position where the bone ends are back together (This will take two people). Wrap the leg in some airy wrapping gauze - not too tight, just against the skin. This will pad because the leg is concave on the sides and a straight splint won't sit against it.

Tape the end of the gauze all around the leg so the tape sticks to itself. Not too tight please. Just to hold it.

Then put the splints on each side of the bone. Make good and sure the bone ends are together. Tape the splints in place all the way around the leg. Stick the part of the tape inbetween the splints to the gauze. Make sure the ends of the tape go back around to stick to itself to hold position. Again not too tight.

Use more gauze tape to wrap the leg vertically (not around, but up and down) to hold the bone ends together. Do it firm but not tight. Hold the gauze with a strip of duct tape.

Wrap around the leg with vetwrap in only one layer for breathing purposes for the skin. One layer to mimick the vertical wrap that holds the bones together. You can use a bigger piece of duct tape on the bottom of the foot's wrap (not on the skin) to help keep that part of the bandage more dry and poop free. Duct tape wipes off - vetWrap doesn't.

Monitor the leg daily. Do not allow the bird to walk on it, as you're not a vet and this is not a vet's wrap. Keep her up in a small cage with access to food and water which you yourself must assure she will eat and drink. The water should contain a vitamin/electrolyte package diven as labeled. Her feed should be crumbles (easily dissolved ) or her pellets made into crumbles, and then whatever you can get to tempt her to eat. Is she eating and drinking?

I also highly recommend that if you don't get the vet to set the leg that you at least ask for an antibiotic from the vet - not the Feed Store Guy who will send you home most assuredly with Terramycin which has nothing to do with broken bones in the least. If you will not use a vet, then you can buy Penicillin (usually Penicillin G Procaine these days) at the feedstore, 6 - 3cc syringes with 18 gauge needles (buy the needles seperately if the 3cc syringes come with a smaller 25 gauge needle) and the vitamins electrolytes.

You can give an average sized hen Penicillin G Procaine every other day. Ask here if you need dosages. Pen G Procaine alone can be given every other day because it's concentrated - others must and should be given daily.

And yes - electrolytes means the package like you get at the farm store labeled for poultry.

 

[smartlittleroo]

This must be the week for disasters... something got 2 of my ducks yesterday and injured a third. He is dragging one leg. I felt around and nothing seems broken. Today he is attempting to stand on the injured leg at times, but he seems lethargic. I don't know if it's the heat (we are up in the high 90s today) or if he has an infection. There is a small wound on the bad leg.

How much Penicillin should I give this drake and where do you inject it? This is all new to me so I have no idea. I don't want to lose this drake because I lost his mother from a similar injury a few weeks ago. Please let me know the dosage and method to use.

Thanks!