My beautiful Bertha had an accident about 4 weeks ago. She hurt her leg really badly. We think she fell off the roost bar. She was unable to weight bare but we couldn't see an injury. It was not obviously broken. So we seperated her out she lay for a good few days and we didn't encourage her to stand at all. About a week after the accident she would stand and then go back down again. She really didn't look too well at all. The foot seemed swollen but still no sign of anything injured in a broken kind of way. It looked more soft tissue injury. We hoped the rest would help. Bertha seemed a bit depressed so we put her baby from last year in with her. Little Betty. She was good company and Bertha started to stand up more and was starting to preen herself. But every time we went to feed her she threw it to the ground for her chick ( Who is now over a year old and is no longer a chick!) So we moved the "hospital pen" back into the big girl run so Bertha could see the other girls and still feel part of goings on. Now she stands up a good while but she can't walk without hobbling. This is a big worry for us. Will it ever get any better? She has been eating fine and is able to move herself in and out of the coop. She is eating and drinking ok and is preening her feathers. She stands and wanders about a bit but always hobbles and never stands for any good length of time. We figure rest is probably good for her. The foot still looks swollen though she does not have anything sticking in it or cuts or other injury. If she tries to walk on it she sometimes stand on her own foot and trips over it. I wonder if the injury was further up like the hip as the foot seems to be a bit turned inward when she walks or it may just be sore so she walks funny to compensate? I thought maybe a ligament injury? How long do you think it will take for this to heal? Do you think she is in pain???? It is significantly better than when she first hurt it. She has not laid an egg since the injury occured and I am reluctant to put her with the others until she has done that.
Is there anything I can do to help her????? I often think should I put her to sleep but then she got up on the roost bar in the big girl coop the other day when they were out in the yard. I was so scared of her hurting her leg when she tried to get off it I lifted her down and shut the door to stop her getting in.
Anyhow bit of advice would be good. Am I being cruel - or is this a tempory thing and she will improve over time. She is my best Hen and a wonderful broody and mother.
I really don;t want to lose her like this.
Oesdog
Is there anything I can do to help her????? I often think should I put her to sleep but then she got up on the roost bar in the big girl coop the other day when they were out in the yard. I was so scared of her hurting her leg when she tried to get off it I lifted her down and shut the door to stop her getting in.
Anyhow bit of advice would be good. Am I being cruel - or is this a tempory thing and she will improve over time. She is my best Hen and a wonderful broody and mother.
I really don;t want to lose her like this.
Oesdog
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