Pullet Attacked by Dog - not using right foot

[mchickies]

Hey, that's great! If she's got a good appetite, then that's half the battle won. I really don't know about splinting her foot . The only experience I've had was splinting crooked toes on one of my young pullets, years ago. Are you thinking of making a sort of boot for her to support herself with: like this?

Ignore the wrap around the legs; I'm just talking about the "sandal." This is the method we used on our pullet, only she was waaayyy more active so we had to vet-wrap her whole foot to the cardboard cutout. Is this what you're going for?

 

[PREPPYGURL46]

Yes, based on what a local mom described to me but she specified to wrap the toes with vet wrap. She was unclear if I wrap each one individually?

Cannot believe my run of bad luck. My husband went out at lunch to give treats to the two uninjured birds, a hawk killed one. He was moments too late. Now I have one hiding in the woods, one injured in the garage and one buried in the yard...

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not splint, since you have not gotten an xray. It might just be sprained. I would leave her separated inside a wire dog crate with food and water, but try to leave with her flock. She should rest the foot for a few weeks. She will probably protect it as long as it feels painful. The problem with splinting is that if it is not necessary or done improperly, it can cause damage if it slips and cuts off circulation. Let us know how she gets along.

 

[mchickies]

Yes, based on what a local mom described to me but she specified to wrap the toes with vet wrap. She was unclear if I wrap each one individually?

Cannot believe my run of bad luck. My husband went out at lunch to give treats to the two uninjured birds, a hawk killed one. He was moments too late. Now I have one hiding in the woods, one injured in the garage and one buried in the yard...

Oh my gosh! This is terrible... I'm so sorry . This happened to me just last month (had a hen in the house for slow crop, bobcat came and killed one outside), and it just about broke me. They are my pets. I'm so, so sorry!

If I were you, I would bring the extra hen in with her injured sister. Provided she's not beating up on Lilac, they should be together. It might encourage Lilac to want to move around, and you CANNOT leave the other one alone.

 

[PREPPYGURL46]

Update: last night, I put injured Lilac in her confined box INTO the coop. Petunia the healthy chicken was very pleased to see her but does keep trying to get in the box to sit with her. She eventually settled right in front of the box.

This morning I moved the box into the run and Petunia is being a pest, kicking the cup of food and water. Lilac is still eating and drinking.

HOWEVER. I had been feeling pleased thinking Lilac is staying still, happy, and the foot must be healing. But she tipped forward to eat, I saw the foot is totally limp, toes curled, whole foot sorta slanted to the side. So no, obviously, this foot is not setting. She's just getting used to a life is luxury being carried away and food served to her

Now what do I do? Set it cardboard method? Set it and put her in a sling off of it? Ugh. Feeling a bit lost now.

 

[Eggcessive]

It may just take time to heal, but there is a possibility that it won’t. Have you checked for any green bruising along the leg and hip to possibly see what part of the leg was injured? Upper leg injuries are difficult, almost impossible to splint. Foot and lower legs may be splinted. Splints can get too tight sometimes and cause more damage. Padding, a popsicle stick or other stiff object, and cohesive or vet wrap strips are good to use.

Is she standing and moving around in her crate? A chicken sling is easy enough to make, and you can see if she will tolerate it. Slings should be used for periods throughout the day, may help with eating and drinking, but they also need some time to sleep and stretch out side of the sling. Here is a splinting manual to read over, and decide if that is worthwhile:
https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

 

[mchickies]

Update: last night, I put injured Lilac in her confined box INTO the coop. Petunia the healthy chicken was very pleased to see her but does keep trying to get in the box to sit with her. She eventually settled right in front of the box.

This morning I moved the box into the run and Petunia is being a pest, kicking the cup of food and water. Lilac is still eating and drinking.

HOWEVER. I had been feeling pleased thinking Lilac is staying still, happy, and the foot must be healing. But she tipped forward to eat, I saw the foot is totally limp, toes curled, whole foot sorta slanted to the side. So no, obviously, this foot is not setting. She's just getting used to a life is luxury being carried away and food served to her

Now what do I do? Set it cardboard method? Set it and put her in a sling off of it? Ugh. Feeling a bit lost now.

I really don't know. I haven't had any experience with splints for injuries. My hen with the bad foot could still walk fumblingly, and she was better after a long week of sitting down in her favorite bush. You said she turned herself around the night before; couldn't she have used the foot then? I'd be curious to see if you gave her some kind of pain med, and see if she would try to use her foot.

Ok, on the note of the hawk attack, I just wanted to say: if you want to let out the other pullet, you have to be with her the whole time! The hawk will keep coming back until he gets what he wants! We've had horrible experience with hawks, and, believe me, she's not safe alone. It might almost be better to have them both in the coop or garage (or screened-in porch, if you have one ).

 

[PREPPYGURL46]

She turned herself using the one good foot and her wings, I think. Although comfortable, she is not moving or making any attempts to stand since the first day. I cannot see any bruising or marks on her. We are going to change boxes later and I'm going to give her another examination. I did originally think hip but on further examination, I think she was just sitting oddly as she was able to keep the hip in (as opposed to flopping) later when we were picking her up.

I am really in debate if it was a hawk. The ladies stay under the tree line and I just doubt a hawk could have gotten under it. My husband checked his trail cam and saw a fox and a cat hanging around at night (when my dogs are inside sleeping, rabbits and chickens locked in hitches/coops so no danger during the night). The head was gone and one oval wound on the opposite side. We live in the countryside surrounded by protected woods so we know things are out there but a bit concerned it was in broad daylight, especially as my kids are always around over there too. I am anticipating it, whatever IT is, returning, so the free-range days are currently on hold.

 

[Eggcessive]

Trail cams are good to figure out what is out there. Foxes I think usually drag away the prey. We had a bobcat kill and drag away 3 hens a couple of years ago in mid-afternoon. Raccoons will behead them and wound them, and may be around at night and sometimes during the day. Weasels will behead them, and are usually nocturnal. Dogs can be dangerous as well.

Since she is not standing, I would go ahead and make her a chicken sling. It makes it easier for them to dit upright, eat and drink, take the weight off the injured leg, and it keeps them cleaner. There are very simple ones, and the link is interesting how to make them. Here is the link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[PREPPYGURL46]

We've got movement! In the beginning I think it was mainly to move away from her pain in the backside sister. But she has gotten out of her box, moved from one end of the run to the other, not well, but did do it. She is sitting in the same position, eating well still. She does not seem to be able to put weight on it though.

I suppose just observe at the moment?

Allow her to move about or try to keep her still?