laying hen unable to walk / standing on one foot. help needed!

[greenback]

Hey everyone!
I went out this morning (~ 6:45) before work to check on the ladies, they all looked healthy. I came back home (~9:00) and was told that she was injured. Apparently she got her foot stuck in a board? There’s a video -

https://imgur.com/a/MeYaSBI

Anyways, we rescued her, but she will only stand on her right leg, (favoring her left leg) and will hop. Found her lying down with her injured leg spread out. Also saw her hopping with it dragging behind her. Earlier she was more like a flamingo, with it pressed close to her body. Thought it was a slipped tendon at first but it seems like that only happens in young birds, and she’s maybe 1.5 yo.
Any help would be appreciated!!

Here’s some more photos

https://imgur.com/a/PgMlDI4

 

[greenback]

I do believe it’s an injury, not a disease like Marek’s. This is the first time she’s gotten injured or sick.

 

[LaFleche]

Did she hang by the caught leg?

If so, it might be dislocated or broken.


Is a vet visit for possible x-ray clarification an opition?

 

[greenback]

Did she hang by the caught leg?

If so, it might be dislocated or broken.


Is a vet visit for possible x-ray clarification an opition?

Not dislocated, I think, as she can move her toes. I’ll double check if it’s broken. Vet may not be an option as it’s quite expensive unfortunately

 

[LaFleche]

As vet care is not an option, I suggest that after palpating her injured leg and hip closely to determine the damage, you put her up separately with feed and water to restrict her movements and let her rest.

At this point I would not give her pain medication as it might entice her to move more than her injured leg can deal with.

Provide some vitamin B complex and E to help with possible nerve damage for a week to ten days and hopefully, she will get better with time.

Chickens are extremely resilient if given time.

 

[Eggcessive]

Look for swelling or green bruising, and any small cut on the skin of the entire leg. If an injury can be located, sometimes a padded splint for a couple of weeks can help if it is fractured. A xray would be helpful. Confine her to a wire dog crate or pen to restrict her from trying to jump on a roost or overusing her good leg. A chicken sling chair, if she would tolerate one, might be helpful. Being able to reach her food and water is a must while she heals.

 

[greenback]

@Eggcessive

https://imgur.com/a/s34Pves

Noticed a small cut, unsure if it’s even a cut. No green bruises or swelling. Could not detect any broken bones. The middle pad of her foot is bulbous and hard, compared to the other one that is squishy and soft. Any ideas? Is it nerve damage like @LaFleche pointed out? Should I try a sling chair + would that still be helpful

 

[greenback]

have her in a dark enclosed space with plenty of food and water

 

[Eggcessive]

The cut could be the local of an injury, and I would check it for an opening or drainage. Watch for the green bruising in the next day or two. Her foot pad looks to have bumble foot. That can be treated various ways, including warm soaks to the feet in Epsom salts daily. That can soften the scab, so it can be lifted and any pus inside can be squeezed out. Does the foot seem to be painful? Hard to know if that is reason she is not putting weight on it.

 

[greenback]

The cut could be the local of an injury, and I would check it for an opening or drainage. Watch for the green bruising in the next day or two. That can soften the scab, so it can be lifted and any pus inside can be squeezed out.

Thanks for the help! Did the epsom soak and was able to squeeze some pus out. I wrapped it with some medical tape n stuff, but is there a good antibiotic I can use? Specifically if there’s one that’s not exclusively to chickens/animals. Would bacitracin help?