Leg injury?

[Faithjo]

Is is safe for them? I currently can’t let my hens free range and they are miserable. Is it ok to do that for my hens? Just to allow them to eat some grass and bugs? They would be inside a fenced in area so they would be safe from loose dogs. (I can just keep them in that area because they fit through the fence panels)

They would probably pull on the tether but as long as the cuff you had around their leg was wide enough to not bite into them I would say it might be safe. I’m really not a good person to ask about it as I’ve never dealt with it myself though. I only know what I see around, sorry. Wish I could be of more help, I imagine if they pulled and flopped they could hurt themselves. I guess it would depend more on the chicken(maybe). Someone else might could give you a better answer!! I don’t know if I’ve ever saw a hen tied out that I can think of, it’s mostly game roosters around here

 

[Faithjo]

Is is safe for them? I currently can’t let my hens free range and they are miserable. Is it ok to do that for my hens? Just to allow them to eat some grass and bugs? They would be inside a fenced in area so they would be safe from loose dogs. (I can just keep them in that area because they fit through the fence panels)

Maybe you could make them a small moveable cage and let a couple of them out at a time. I have a wire cage with no bottom in it that I keep chickens in from time to time when I need to. You could move them from place to place and they’d have fresh ground to scratch and peck in. They have plastic garden fencing on Amazon that I have used. Keeps the chickens in mostly but it’s not very strong

 

[Squawkers]

Maybe you could make them a small moveable cage and let a couple of them out at a time. I have a wire cage with no bottom in it that I keep chickens in from time to time when I need to. You could move them from place to place and they’d have fresh ground to scratch and peck in. They have plastic garden fencing on Amazon that I have used. Keeps the chickens in mostly but it’s not very strong

I already have something like that and I have used it before, but it isn’t big enough for all of them and the ones in the run throw and absolute fit when they see the others out. And when they need to lay an egg they throw a fit because they want to the nests. I just can’t please anyone I would still have the egg problem, but I thought they would be happier if they were all out. But the thought of tying them up by their legs is weird.

 

[Faithjo]

I already have something like that and I have used it before, but it isn’t big enough for all of them and the ones in the run throw and absolute fit when they see the others out. And when they need to lay an egg they throw a fit because they want to the nests. I just can’t please anyone I would still have the egg problem, but I thought they would be happier if they were all out. But the thought of tying them up by their legs is weird.

mine aren’t allowed to free range for part of the year because of the garden and they are NOT happy for a little bit after being locked in the run. I understand being “yelled” at by chickens haha. I can see why it would seem weird, I’ve just been around it for prolly my whole life so I’m accustomed to seeing it. I’m not sure what you’d do about your egg problem, the chickens I’ve saw tied out have some kind of house to go in. I honestly wouldn’t tether my hens by their legs, I’d be afraid something would scare it and cause it to hurt itself pulling on the restraint.

 

[Squawkers]

mine aren’t allowed to free range for part of the year because of the garden and they are NOT happy for a little bit after being locked in the run. I understand being “yelled” at by chickens haha. I can see why it would seem weird, I’ve just been around it for prolly my whole life so I’m accustomed to seeing it. I’m not sure what you’d do about your egg problem, the chickens I’ve saw tied out have some kind of house to go in. I honestly wouldn’t tether my hens by their legs, I’d be afraid something would scare it and cause it to hurt itself pulling on the restraint.

Yeah, I’m worried about it too. I don’t think I will

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Not trying to change the subject, but that’s a thing?? I’ve never heard of that.

Is is safe for them? I currently can’t let my hens free range and they are miserable. Is it ok to do that for my hens? Just to allow them to eat some grass and bugs? They would be inside a fenced in area so they would be safe from loose dogs. (I can just keep them in that area because they fit through the fence panels)

I already have something like that and I have used it before, but it isn’t big enough for all of them and the ones in the run throw and absolute fit when they see the others out. And when they need to lay an egg they throw a fit because they want to the nests. I just can’t please anyone I would still have the egg problem, but I thought they would be happier if they were all out. But the thought of tying them up by their legs is weird.

No. Don't tether/tie out laying hens.


Tethering a laying hen would be very stressful, they need to be able to move about freely and go to their coop/nesting boxes as they please.

Extending your run, providing a secured fenced area or similar would be best for laying hens.

Tethers are for roosters only, mainly Gamefowl roosters. These roosters cost a lot of $$$ and are heavily monitored throughout the day if tethered, someone is always around to ensure they are o.k.

 

[Squawkers]

No. Don't tether/tie out laying hens.


Tethering a laying hen would be very stressful, they need to be able to move about freely and go to their coop/nesting boxes as they please.

Extending your run, providing a secured fenced area or similar would be best for laying hens.

Tethers are for roosters only, mainly Gamefowl roosters. These roosters cost a lot of $$$ and are heavily monitored throughout the day if tethered, someone is always around to ensure they are o.k.

I had decided not to because the idea made me nervous. Thanks for the reassurance!!!

 

[Faithjo]

Sometimes it can be just a short piece of string from a feed bad, even a feather - seen that one time in a thread, a feather footed bird somehow had a feather that wrapped around the leg and became embedded. Seen human hair get wrapped around a little chick's leg. All these things of course are accidental and can be very hard to see, so I don't mean to imply that if something is wrapped around her leg it was intentional.

Let us know how she's doing. If nothing else, hopefully the soaks and daily care will promote healing, and she'll recover quickly. I'd allow the scabs to fall off naturally, if possible, while it's tempting to pry or pick them off, I've found that it's usually best for them to come loose on their own.

So actually it appears to have gotten worse instead of any better. I am considering giving her antibiotics, the weather here has been something else lately and it’s suppose to be frigid coming up, she’ll need to be separated from the others for antibiotics. I have to figure that out if she needs antibiotics. I’ll attach a photo, I’m not sure what else to do, but I’m pretty certain it’s infected now
Edit-I should’ve had the picture taken before I put Vaseline on her leg, that’s what is all over it

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So actually it appears to have gotten worse instead of any better. I am considering giving her antibiotics, the weather here has been something else lately and it’s suppose to be frigid coming up, she’ll need to be separated from the others for antibiotics. I have to figure that out if she needs antibiotics. I’ll attach a photo, I’m not sure what else to do, but I’m pretty certain it’s infected now
Edit-I should’ve had the picture taken before I put Vaseline on her leg, that’s what is all over it

I'm sorry to see that it's getting worse.

What antibiotics do you have on hand?

I'd try a strong broad spectrum antibiotic like Baytril. This is given orally twice a day, so you wouldn't necessarily have to separate her out, just pull her aside and dose her.
https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10?_pos=1&_sid=595d3a7b7&_ss=r

 

[Faithjo]

I'm sorry to see that it's getting worse.

What antibiotics do you have on hand?

I'd try a strong broad spectrum antibiotic like Baytril. This is given orally twice a day, so you wouldn't necessarily have to separate her out, just pull her aside and dose her.
https://jedds.com/products/enrofloxacin-10?_pos=1&_sid=595d3a7b7&_ss=r

All I have on hand for birds are Di-methox and tylosin. Thanks so much for the recommendation, I might be able to get her on the mend with some antibiotics. I assume that maybe the infection has been there all along but has worsened maybe. If it would drain she would probably feel a lot better though she isn’t acting very bad at all.