Our little banty easteregger mix has injured her leg

[geckobass5]

Our little banty easteregger mix has injured her leg, I dont know how. She doesnt seem to want to walk, she did manage to limp about this morning when we first brought her in. She has stayed on the box we gave her since. We brought her inside and set her on a small box so she can see the flock outside and not get too depressed. She has feed, oats, dried worms and water. I dont know what to do. Let her be and see how things go? You really cant see much because she has featherd feet lika a cochin but is definitly an EE. Should I just go to a vet? moneys tight so its not my first option. Shes about 6-7 months old and was raised inside till 9 weeks.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CMV]

Check her feet first. Any wounds, lodged foreign objects or unusual marks (black spots)? No? Then, feel along the leg bones to determine if there is any swelling, hot spots or obvious displacements. No? Check the junction of the leg and hip. Is it moving freely without any grinding/clicks? Yes? Then she'll be fine with rest.

Leg and foot injuries are fairly easy to deal with. The main things you are looking for is bumble foot and fractures. If you have those they can be fixed, although unless a fracture is displaced it is best to just leave it be. A vet (if you can find one willing to work on a chicken) is going to charge a lot to tell you the same information you can get here for free.

I tried to find a vet last year to help save one of my hens and I was laughed off the phone several times before I searched the internet and found BYC. The folks here in this section helped me save my hen. I am paying it forward by helping anyone I can. I had a duck break a leg last year. The duck was the worst patient on the planet, but recovered with little intervention. He walked with a funky waddle after, but he did survive and recovered from the injury.

Post back if you find anything awry during your examination of her, but otherwise- Good luck.

 

[JOSEYWALES]

I had the same problem with one of my girls recently, after a few days of limping and not moving around much she started to get back to normal. Give it some time she will probably be ok. Best of luck.

 

[seminolewind]

I've had that happen twice, and did just what you are doing. If she limps on it, it's probably not broken.

I've also splinted a broken chicken leg for 6 weeks, and she is fine. But the 2 that limped were real bad limps but went away on their own with some rest and TLC

 

[geckobass5]

Update, I got pretty concerned ant took her to a vet, She said she was not an avian specialist. She went in the back and came back and said it was broken and it would need an avian specialist. I went to the Avian specialist and she said it looked like a tendon or ligament problem. She couild Xray for 130$ but felt it wasnt necessary. I got a splint and pain/inflamation meds for $130.
This EE is a family favorite probably no2 behind Penn (our grey japanese rooster) and when the first vet came out it sounded like she needed to be put down because she said the bone was broken low by the foot and had rotated, many wild birds dont do well with the 800$ surgery. That came out in front of my 11 year old and the ugly face came on her. I had to try something.

In any case Greybeard the Ee is resting in her box watching soul plane. We have a resident house chicken again for a while. Just a month ago we had a predator attack and lost one of our reds, Mr Chicken our banty cochin got pretty beat up and was our guest for a week, when he was able to repeatedly get on the couch and then on top of the back of the couch to watch tv we knew he was ready to resume his duties.

We are not good with dogs but the chickens seem to fit our family pretty well. My wife actually de stresses and has her zen moments haingin with the peeps.
Thanks

 

[geckobass5]

Sad tidings , last night our Greybeard slipped away. She had lost her appetite and had not tried to walk in 2 days, I had to hand/force feed her egg yolk.She was in pain, at least she has been released from that. The wife is very upset. Gotta tell my daughter this afternoon, ipicked a nice spot for her where the flock takes dirt baths. She will be missed.

 

[Miss Lydia]

so sorry for your loss. seems you tried everything you could for her. I will be thinking of your family today.

 

[Kharmel]

Sorry to hear about Greybeard. I also have one with a broken leg. I guess I was lucky though because my vet didn't hesitate to help and only charged me $5.00. We didn't do x-rays, she only splinted the leg.

 

[geckobass5]

her memory will live on with us and here in cyberspace. She was such a good girl, never complained. we were petting her last night and she was closing her eyes... very sad

 

[CMV]

So sorry for your family's loss.