Possible Broken Foot - What to do

[Zaphod]

Hi All:

Sadly, my five week old chick got it's foot smashed yesterday by a shovel while my children were digging worms for her. I wasn't present, but it appears to be the only injury (no internal injuries, I think). I'm trying to assess how bad the damage is and am not sure how accurate, but this is what I can divine.

• It
  
  will place no weight at all on the injured foot.
• It has no cuts, I washed the feet carefully.
• Swelling is present on the ankle.
• It eats and drinks.
• The injured foot does not curl the toes like the healthy foot.

I've given it a diluted aspirin solution for the past night...but it's challenging getting it to drink. I'm not sure what else I can do for the chick other than wait. Should I splint it? Is it typical for the injured foot not to respond or is it fully broken? Any other ways I can help the chick?

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I am sorry about your baby. I have never dealt with a break before, but here is a thread that someone started on how to treat a bird with a break that might help you....https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/659231/how-to-treat-a-broken-leg

I do know that you will need to separate this one and allow them to heal by themselves. You will need to set up her area so that she does not need to get up to eat or drink...so low food and waterers like jelly jar lids and such. I saw somewhere here on BYC of how someone cut a hole in a box and slinged the bird up in it, cut a couple more holes for food and water dishes and the bird lived in this sling type box until the break healed.

Good luck and I hope you can save her!!!

 

[Zaphod]

Thanks for the reply, there is some useful information there.

We only have this one and two 2 week old chicks. I actually had them separated but put them together today since the older one isn't interested in pecking their heads and is more interested in healing. The little chicks are now allowed to cuddle with the older one, I am hoping it's a better bonding experience.

 

[TwoCrows]

Good luck and I hope she heals up quick!!

 

[Zaphod]

Just a quick update.

We were able to get the chick to drink aspirin water by putting it on it's back and letting drops go onto it's beak. It seemed to drink a lot that way. No idea what the prescribed method is, but it worked for us.

This morning, I tested again and we saw movement in the toes! We are very happy; from yesterday's tests, we thought it had lost all function in the foot. I suspect the swelling compressed the nerves at the time and the aspirin (and time) helped.

 

[TwoCrows]

Just a quick update.

We were able to get the chick to drink aspirin water by putting it on it's back and letting drops go onto it's beak. It seemed to drink a lot that way. No idea what the prescribed method is, but it worked for us.

This morning, I tested again and we saw movement in the toes! We are very happy; from yesterday's tests, we thought it had lost all function in the foot. I suspect the swelling compressed the nerves at the time and the aspirin (and time) helped.

Hey, that is great news about the toes! Maybe just a heavy smash or sprain. Looks like a lot of bruising, but sounds like she may heal!! Use baby aspirin on chickens only. Adult aspirin is way too potent for birds. The dosage for an adult bird is 1/2 to 1 full baby aspirin. So I would guestimate about a 1/8 to a 1/4 for a chick. You can crush the aspirin and put it in chopped up hard boiled eggs or something. Some sort of food you know she will eat. But if not, the way you are doing it is fine!

Keep up all the good work and keep us posted!

 

[Zaphod]

So the chick did not seem to improve over a few days and we took it to the vet since it was suffering so much. Seems both bones were broken in the leg. I asked for a digital copy of the xrays and put them below.

He set the leg and wrapped it and it has been a week. The chick is *much* improved and using the foot some to walk. Coloration is back to normal, swelling is down, and the chick is able to curl its toes.