pullet with bad leg-should I splint it?

[claraserena]

My 6 month old pullet, Lucy, hurt her leg (don't know how)... She was limping badly so we checked her and we couldn’t feel a difference between her legs. I took her to a vet who said it might be broken but the only way he would know is to X-Ray—at $140. I asked if he could splint it anyway and he said if it isn’t broken that could make it worse. So he sent us home with Metacam (for pain) twice a day and told us to keep her where she doesn’t have to move much. I also talked to another vet by phone and she suggested wrapping it with “vet wrap” which I did. That was 4 days ago and Lucy will still not put weight on that leg. She’s eating well and laying. I am wondering if I should try to splint the leg. The vet visit was VERY expensive—I can’t do that again. Is splinting it a good idea? Or should I wait? And if I do splint it how do I do it? I’d appreciate any advice or links to advice!

 

[dlhunicorn]

chickens legs are pretty weak in general...something might have spooked her and she strained something... keep her movements limited and give her a good vitamin/nutritional supplement... if it was an obvious break the vet would have felt it...might be a fracture...
at any rate these things can sometimes take a long time to heal...

 

[claraserena]

WE had her indoors at first in a plastic crate. I just put her out in a small seperate cage that abuts the chicken pen so she can see and hear the others. I just checked and She actually seems to try to stand on that joint instead of her foot. Her toes look funny too but they are probably contorted from the awkward way she has to stand.
The cage she's in actually a dog crate (2.5 ft X 3.25 Ft) that has a plastic tray on the bottom. I have pine shavings on the tray--just pulled the tray half way out so half of her floor is grass but she is stayong on the plastic part--I thought the grass might be easier on her.
What kind of special supplements should I get her? She is on a layer mix plus sunflower and safflower seeds, whole oats, cracked corn and canned corn. I also give them scrambled eggs.

 

[dlhunicorn]

well, seems she doesnt need any further treats...lol.
Avia Charge 2000 is a very good nutritional/vitamin supplement as all is in the correct ratio to each other (order online through McMURRY or St5rombergs) but the feedstore often carries a vitamin supplement (the one with electrolytes are only for when they are stressed or dehydrated) ... Rooster Booster is often mentioned I notice.