MY CHICKEN'S LEG GOT ATE OFF HELP

[esme13]

Let’s be respectful and not guess anyone’s age.

 

[HenBags]

You are right on this, but assuming the 98 after the Name is her birth date, she is already 12 years old.

And I suppose she will pass on the given information to her mother.

You mean 22?

 

[LaFleche]

Let’s be respectful and not guess anyone’s age.

Sometimes it is important to guess if the person posting is a child, adolescent or adult.
Nothing disrespectful about it.

 

[LaFleche]

You mean 22?

Right!

EDIT: See, how much this has gotten me riled up already.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

This poor chicken needed an amputation on the day that it happened. If you don’t take her to a veterinarian, she is going to die a slow and painful death. She is already being eaten by maggots.
Do the humane thing and end this chickens pain. I know it sucks, but think of her.

 

[Chicalina]

There are a lot of comments recommending euthanasia, and I probably agree with them. As much as the OP wants to save the chicken it may not be possible or kind to do so, given her catastrophic injury.

OP, think about what sort of life a one legged chicken would have and how much extra care and attention it would need every day. If she survives, can you devote that much time to her on a daily basis, for perhaps 5 or 6 years? She will be disabled, picked on by other chickens, and stressed because of that. You may have to make her a little wheely contraption, and how will she bend down to peck food and drink? She won't havr any balance, and she will never be able to scratch around again with just one leg. Imagine all the poop cleaning of a wheely sling, and the dirty sore butt she will get with risk of flystrike. You may have to isolate her, so have you got the space for that? Lone chickens don't do well because they need company. All sorts of things to think of, if you can make her well again.

I'm so sorry for her and for you. Its a horrible situation to be in. One I was in myself recently with a poorly chick. I know how hard it is struggling with that big decision.

Have you at least given her some baby aspirin yet? That is important to reduce her suffering.

And she will try and act normally because she is a prey animal. They hide weakness in order to protect themselves. Don't take her appearing OK as evidence that she feels fine and not in awful agony. She will likely be harbouring an infection in that wound and will need antibiotics quickly or face a slow painful death from sepsis. If you treat her rather than euthanize, then get AB for her.

 

[frostic]

get the chicken to a VET NOW. maybe they can save her. if not then put her down.
its a bit harsh to hear but If you can't pay a vet bill then why have pets?
this is the responsibility we bare as pet owners. get her to the vet NOW

 

[Jeanw]

I’m sorry about your chicken Katie98, it’s so sad to go through and the chicken is having a really tough time.

For the experienced chicken keepers out there, many of us first time owners haven’t had to cull a bird yet, what is the “best” way to do it minimizing the pain and agony of the chicken? I understand that as livestock owners this is something we have a responsibility to do from time to time for the animals benefit.

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Put antidotic spray on it. The wound will heal up really fast with the spray. Give her electrolytes. I would recommend putting her down though. If she is not eating or drinking go ahead a put her down or cull her. You can use a cone or a nose.

 

[NatJ]

many of us first time owners haven’t had to cull a bird yet, what is the “best” way to do it minimizing the pain and agony of the chicken?

I'm a fan of cutting the head off. Axe, hatchet, machete, those giant scissors-things for cutting off tree branches...

You can hold the chicken upside down by the feet until it sticks its head out and holds still, you can wrap it in a towel, you can put it upside down in a giant funnel ("killing cone") with the head sticking out the end.

You need enough control that the chicken's neck is the only thing that gets cut. Not your hand, not the chicken's beak or shoulders, etc.

The body of the chicken will flap around wildly after the head is cut off (unless it's restrained somehow). It stops after a few minutes.

But for me, knowing that the head is OFF means it is DEAD and not suffering. So it's easy to see that I did it right: the head is right there, no longer attached to the body.

Edit to add: the head needs to come off with one chop or one cut. So a sharp tool, and remember as you cut that hard and fast is the kindest thing, in this particular case.