Possible broken wing

[MandS]

Yesterday I got 4 rescue battery hens. All was well and the first girl to have a dust bath and seemed very comfortable, suddenly got freaked out by a cat and flew like a berserker, smashing into an upright in the run. She carried on giving the warning cries etc.

This morning, after her first night with us, she didn't get up. I thought she was laying but she just sat back down quietly. I did bring her down during the day and made sure that she got food but she was no longer the confident bird she was and was submissive to any that came near, walking away from food if they do much as looked at her.

This evening, I noticed that she was not even when she stood. Her right wing seemed down. I've taken a photo.

I have put a bandage to support the dropped wing. I've opened out both wings and they expand. I cannot feel any joint out (and I've had to do that in the past). I did hear a kind of funny noise, not so much a click but a sound almost like feathers going over each other when they're preening. She didn't squeal or cry, but she did start panting after.

I've never been here before. What's the prognosis and the treatment please? How can I be sure it's a break versus a strain? Is the treatment different?

I cannot believe it. I tried to give this little girl a new happy life rather than slaughter and so far, I've failed.

Here's the photo. Not great but you can see her shoulder on the left is down and the wing is hanging lower (not dragging by any means)

Thank you

 

[corgimomleylifaller]

yes that is a broken wing I would call the vet and see if they can take a look at it just to be sure

 

[alinas2010]

Aw, don’t be discouraged. These things happen. I think it’s wonderful you’re giving this girl a second chance at life. This is just a bump in the road. I am faithful that with a little tlc she will bounce back. Here is a similar thread I found that should help you. There is a link on it about splinting avian fractures:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broken-wing.1635754/

I’m honestly not sure treatment would be much different for a break versus a strain. Not a lot you could probably do about either, outside of vet care and splinting.

 

[MandS]

Thank you very much. I needed some encouragement.

This morning, she has had a quiet night but has also laid me an egg and has certainly got an appetite.

I've put her in a dog cage and put her with the others so I don't have to go through the nightmare of reintroducing her at the end of her convalescence. I will take her back into my nursing cage in the garage at night so she's not jostled or further damaged when they get to roosting.

Here's a picture of the patient! She's bandaged and tucking into some mash.

Thank you again. I'll update it come back for more help as soon as anything changes.

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you very much. I needed some encouragement.

This morning, she has had a quiet night but has also laid me an egg and has certainly got an appetite.

I've put her in a dog cage and put her with the others so I don't have to go through the nightmare of reintroducing her at the end of her convalescence. I will take her back into my nursing cage in the garage at night so she's not jostled or further damaged when they get to roosting.

Here's a picture of the patient! She's bandaged and tucking into some mash.
View attachment 3940513

Thank you again. I'll update it come back for more help as soon as anything changes.

She’s such a sweetie! Even with an injury she has a million times better life right now than she would’ve. And I bet she isn’t complaining one bit about that mash! It sounds like you have a good handle on her, smart to keep her with the flock in the kennel. Yes, please keep updated! I noticed no one ever updated their wing injury posts when I was looking. It’d be so good to know how quickly something like this heals and what treatment looks like.

 

[MandS]

Thanks. Yes, I noticed that too.

Although I've got a standard bandage round her with a big and difficult (for humans let alone chickens) safety pin, I've ordered some sports binding tape. Her wing had dropped again so I've rebandaged it. For anyone reading this, what I did glean was to not make it too tight and not to compress the crop. I have it go around her body but under the good wing so she can still regulate her temperature to a degree. It's only 17'C (62' F) at the moment, plus wind, so she's not exactly baking.

Although she's eating, I am wondering about pain relief. I could use aspirin or metacam (the version for cats) which I've had prescribed before for pain in hens. It's just I've read some bad things about metacam and chickens and how it can impact liver function. Dunno. Mind not made up yet.

She's not a drinker however. She has water but has very little to no interest in it, hence why I'm giving wet mash. At least that way, she will get liquid.

I'm still not sure if this is a break or a sprain, so as soon as I can see her wing picking up height when I remove the bandage, I'll give it a couple of days extra and then see if she is able to go about her business without any issue.

Here's two photos. One that clearly shows the bandaging and the other, her so preening. Her balance is a little off but I guess that's too be expected when you can't use your wing.

 

[MandS]

Today I learned another lesson...

Last night, after replacing her bandage, I thought she seemed uncomfortable when I put her to bed. Not wanting it to be too tight, I made the decision to remove it whilst she would be sleeping rather than taking her out of the nursing cage again and redoing it. Mistake!!!

Her wing hung down during the night which was probably uncomfortable for her and she was a bit subdued this morning. I also saw her flap but only her left wing moved, so I think it likely it's a break rather than a strain.

Anyhow, I bandaged her up after she had laid her egg and took her down to be with the others in the dog cage. She was a lot perkier by the end of the day.

So at bedtime tonight, I used the new sports bandage/strapping stuff that arrived from Amazon. Wow - what a difference. Here's my advice to anyone reading this in the future - get this stuff because it is easy to use, has good stretchiness in it and it sticks to itself but not her feathers. I still used the safety pin and you will need to do that otherwise she can just peck it off itself in time. The stuff is great and because it sticks to itself well, I wrapped it around the broken wing and then strapped it to her body. Generally this is miles better than the standard bandage and it probably won't need to be changed/redone each day. Plus she looks quite snazzy!

Here you can see it wrapped around the wing and then around the body.

Here you can see the safety pin but I've tried to conceal most of it under the bandage. It's really stretchy so it's not going to get too tight, you don't need to keep wrapping it around her, so it's also a lot less intrusive to her too.

 

[alinas2010]

Today I learned another lesson...

Last night, after replacing her bandage, I thought she seemed uncomfortable when I put her to bed. Not wanting it to be too tight, I made the decision to remove it whilst she would be sleeping rather than taking her out of the nursing cage again and redoing it. Mistake!!!

Her wing hung down during the night which was probably uncomfortable for her and she was a bit subdued this morning. I also saw her flap but only her left wing moved, so I think it likely it's a break rather than a strain.

Anyhow, I bandaged her up after she had laid her egg and took her down to be with the others in the dog cage. She was a lot perkier by the end of the day.

So at bedtime tonight, I used the new sports bandage/strapping stuff that arrived from Amazon. Wow - what a difference. Here's my advice to anyone reading this in the future - get this stuff because it is easy to use, has good stretchiness in it and it sticks to itself but not her feathers. I still used the safety pin and you will need to do that otherwise she can just peck it off itself in time. The stuff is great and because it sticks to itself well, I wrapped it around the broken wing and then strapped it to her body. Generally this is miles better than the standard bandage and it probably won't need to be changed/redone each day. Plus she looks quite snazzy!

Here you can see it wrapped around the wing and then around the body.
View attachment 3941687

Here you can see the safety pin but I've tried to conceal most of it under the bandage. It's really stretchy so it's not going to get too tight, you don't need to keep wrapping it around her, so it's also a lot less intrusive to her too.
View attachment 3941688

She is such a darling. Sorry to hear about that luck last night. It’s so hard to judge these things sometimes and know what’s best, but it sounds like you’re really doing so good with her.

Seems like she does better with it wrapped up close and supported, then? Hopefully within a few weeks she’ll start to heal even if it is a break. I’m confident she’ll be able to get back to normal chicken things in no time with your care

 

[MandS]

Thank you. I think the only thing I've not done or even attempted is to splint it. There seem to be two schools of thought on this; some say just support and others support and splint. As I can't actually tell where the break is, that's not really possible and, at least in my mind, it might do more harm than this if I get the wrong place.

She's happier this morning. She's eaten with gusto and is now selling down to lay her egg.

Bandage seems to have held up well so far.

 

[Altairsky]

I fixed broken pigeon wings, and the birds could fly again after a few weeks. It's not a big deal for a chicken, as long as the bone is not sticking out of the skin. What you're doing is just perfect so have patience and she'll be like new.