My chicken is a bit grown now, but she has a severe leg disability. What do I do?

[BigBlueHen53]

Ultimately the decision is yours. Caring for her is a commitment that only you can decide if you're up for. No judgment here.

 

[bravecoconut]

Just because you can put pressure in various places doesn't mean she's not in pain. All animals (but especially birds) hide their pain and sickness to prevent predators and their flock/pack mates from killing them. Also, everyone has days that are better than others.

Judging by your replies/reactions to what others have said, you already have made a choice. You clearly want validation for trying to keep her alive and as happy and healthy as possible. You don't need anyone to tell you it's okay to try and help her. If that's how you feel then do it. Try a wheelchair if you want to. I hope it goes well. I have seen many others in them. People have made material slings with leg holes hung in a PVC frame with wheels. It wouldn't surprise me if there weren't ones for sale on Etsy or Ebay.

Ultimately, what you do is your choice. Just remember to not be selfish and keep her or any animal/pet alive because you can't let them go. Quality of life is important. There is a difference between living and surviving.

 

[Roslyn the Gosling]

Oh my! It really depends on the cause &, even though you don;t know the cause, you absolutely KNOW she's not in any pain. If she was born this way - it's all she knows so her condition is what's NORMAL.
I had a cripple chicken & had a harness diaper for her when she came inside to be with me or to go bye bye. She had a special secure area outdoors with deep litter where she could go, hobble around & enjoy life, sunshine & have other flock members around & a nice dry area to be if it rained.

She'd lost her leg at about 6 weeks & I'd tried the 3D printer artificial leg but she didn't like it or having me put it on her. She had enough of a stump where she could walk like Chester on Gunsmoke so I let her be.

The deep litter method was cushy for her leg plus gave her the extra height she needed to walk better & she'd walk to/from her food bowl & water bowl, "scratch" in a pan made specially for her to scratch in, walk to her favorite sunning place or her covered space when it begins to rain.
With the deep litter method, her 'bed'was wherever she parked her toushy. Giving the litter a good stirring daily kept her litter reasonbly clean at least a week or more.

Sure, there were things she could not do but she coukd still love & be loved, have favorite things to enjoy & still be surrounded with her flock mates. She actually lived a pampered life.

It would be a shame to end her life when there's still so much she IS able to enjoy. There are plenty of livestock animals that wear diapers or use a litter box or even a toilet, bathe in the bath tub, go bye-bye & even are subjected to having a wardrobe simply because their 'person' wants to be with them & pamper them yet a handicapped livestock animal will be put to death without even being given a chance. If you ran an ad in a pet magazine, I bet there'd e lots of loving prospective owners even some school classroom or animal advocate that goes to schools to teach children in the community about wildlife compassion that would jump at the chance to give the little fellow a chance to enjoy life - especially a young animal that can adapt given the chest. Look at the animals that are amputees or lost their eyesight or hearing or their teeth or have a benign seizure disorder or whatever. I've seen a dog born with no front legs be a potty-trained to go outside & began walking on its hind legs ON THEIR OWN with ZERO training from its human!

I adopted a blind kitten - sparing it from being euthanized. People told me I would never be able to rearrange the furniture in my home because she'd have trouble remembering her way around. I put her in her litter box & she began using it first time EVERY time, she didn't like any of the other cats in the house & would hide from them, stalk them, chase them around the house & TERRORIZE them. She loved to go out on the screened patio at night & CATCH insects in mid flight when they'd fly around the light. I was horrified when someone left a door open & she got out. We were on 5 acres of land but she came back later that afternoon. She began going out every day after that & always came backwhen she was ready. We enjoyed 18 WONDERful years together. Don't cheat yourself or your chicken or duck or whatever out of the experience of sharing LIFE.

 

[Sueg4332]

Everyone will have their own opinion on what is best for that bird.

My opinion is that she's not going to have very good quality of life as far as a chicken is concerned. She's merely surviving and just existing with no real quality of life. My personal opinion is to euthanize her.

Others may suggest you put a diaper on her and keep her as a house pet.

It is entirely up to you. Good luck with whatever you choose.

I have a year old black hen that something happen to her leg. looked broke very high up on the leg. I put her in a small cage to restrict movement. She walked with very one leg movement for about 2 months. But she got turned loose with the rest of the flock yesterday. She has a funny gait but getting around the barnyard quite well.
One other time I had a hen (buff orfangon chicken) 1 year old, get her foot completely get her foot cut off by a horse she got under. We taped a popsicles stick to her leg to keep it off the ground. She lived to 9 years old. We nickname her Pegleg. She was a very good layer most her life.
Of some injured hens weren't so lucky all you can do is try.
I refuse to get outrageous vet bills on a $20. chicken.
If necessary, I make chicken soup for my chihuahuas either way the bird had a meaningful propose.

 

[Altairsky]

Just because you can put pressure in various places doesn't mean she's not in pain.

My avian vet put pressure to determine if a limb is painful or not, and I guarantee it is clear as the sun if the bird feels pain or not.
This chicken is born that way. She is not in pain. Let's stop pretending to do diagnosis and prescribe culling as only cure without even touching the bird.

 

[bravecoconut]

My avian vet put pressure to determine if a limb is painful or not, and I guarantee it is clear as the sun if the bird feels pain or not.
This chicken is born that way. She is not in pain. Let's stop pretending to do diagnosis and prescribe culling as only cure without even touching the bird.

I never said you are wrong and the chicken is in pain nor did I said to cull your bird. I said quite the opposite actually and do not appreciate the snotty attitude. Sorry you're having a rough time but taking it out on me isn't solving your problems. Have a wonderful evening.

 

[Love Donkeys]

You stated she doesn't seem to be in pain. She's eating and drinking. No one is bullying her. I would let Nature take its course, animals are very resilient.

 

[RominaGoldie]

Thanks for the suggestion! I will definitely try. I’ve also had the idea to give her a wheelchair. It will basically let her leg sit straight, and then she can use her other leg to walk. What do you think?

I think that that's a great idea! I would do exactly that.

 

[Jo Jos Flock]

Could this be Marek's?

I'd like to say that I am currently dealing with a lame chicken as well. Turns out it's nerve damage from the rooster. Vet said she'd never walk. So far that's been true but she can now stand and walks with help. Both of which she couldn't do previously. I started vitamin therapy and physical therapy for her. It's extremely slow progress but she is improving so there is hope. She's a very opinionated hen. She eats well and has her favorite foods. She makes chicken noises and will peck others to defend her food etc. My husband built her a walker which really helps. It's strengthening her legs. Again if she had no improvement or got worse I would put her down. But she's improving and doesn't seem to be in pain. She's happy and healthy. It's very time consuming. I have to give her lots of hands on care multiple times daily. She isn't alone. She's in the hospital coop and run with two of her flock mates. I take her for daily walks with the other chickens. I would say that you know your chicken better than anyone. You can tell if she's sick or suffering. You can tell if she has a chance or not. You will know in your heart what to do. I pray this helps you. Lots of people have had success with vitamin and physical therapy.