Ruby’s Toe is Broken & Possible Ascites

[micstrachan]

Poor Ruby. She was hanging out alone in the coop during freerange time. I went to see her, and she squatted for me and talked to me. Just in case, I went inside and got her an egg yolk with crushed calcium plus D3. When I presented it, she was happy to accept. However, I noticed she’s probably sitting around from pain. I’ll find on the forums the dosing for ibuprofen, but am I supposed to do anything else for a broken toe or let it heal crooked? I don’t want to stress her out, as there’s (what seems to be a mild) respiratory illness in my flock right now. And OF COURSE, I’m spending the night at my parents’ tonight and then heading out of town(college tour for son!) for a couple nights starting Monday morning.
I’m not sure when this happened, but she’s been staying a little closer to home than everyone else and she’s usually Adventure Girl. The talking girls in the first video are Bridge and Cashew. Ruby’s been pretty quiet today for someone who talks a lot.

 

[azygous]

That's a good point. It may have been that way for some time. She appears to be walking too well for it to be freshly broken. One way to find out would be to very gently manipulate the toe. If it's well on the way to healing in that position, you won't be able to change the angle. It will insist on being bent and refuse to straighten.

I think if you treat it in the same way you do a chick with crooked toes, that could work. Chicken shoe time! But it would work only if it has been freshly broke.

 

[micstrachan]

Thanks @azygous. Hmmm... she was pretty chill about me touching it, though it seems a little swollen. Maybe I shouldn’t dose with ibuprofen? She recently weighed in at 6.8 pounds (though that seems heavier than I think she is, so was going to dose 0.65mL of this:

I thought I used a much smaller volume last time, so I’m questioning my math. @casportpony, if I give the Rubester ibuprofen, I don’t want to overdose her. Will you check my math? Max of 4.54mg per pound, right?

 

[micstrachan]

Wait, maybe 0.5mL is better, but is that still too much? She’s not complaining too much, but laying low-ish.

 

[Shadrach]

Wait, maybe 0.5mL is better, but is that still too much? She’s not complaining too much, but laying low-ish.

Hello micstrachan. Your flock in the wars again (?).
I would see if you can get Metacam rather then use Ibuprofen.
If you are thinking of setting your hens toe in a splint talk to @Bamabexchicks , she's does the neatest splint job I've seen.

 

[casportpony]

I would see if you can get Metacam rather then use Ibuprofen.

It's prescription only here in the US, and very expensive.

 

[azygous]

From the video, it seems to me Ruby isn't feeling much pain. While it's well known that chickens are great at hiding pain, I've learned that a chicken feeling significant pain in a foot will draw it up to their belly when standing still, and peck at it when they put the foot down.

I've had two hens over the past few months that bruised her foot and the other her leg. They babied their injured limbs like any of us would baby a finger we just hammered or a foot we just banged into a table leg.

 

[Bamabexchicks]

Hello micstrachan. Your flock in the wars again (?).
I would see if you can get Metacam rather then use Ibuprofen.
If you are thinking of setting your hens toe in a splint talk to @Bamabexchicks , she's does the neatest splint job I've seen.

Thanks @Shadrach I would be happy to share any information that would help.

 

[Shadrach]

It's prescription only here in the US, and very expensive.

I can't remember how much the last lot I got was. I can buy it at the chemist here.

 

[casportpony]

The only ibuprofen dose I have seen listed is 5-10 mg/kg

Your solution is 40 mg/ml

5 mg/kg dose is 6.8 / 2.2 x 5 / 40 = 0.386 ml
10 mg/kg dose is 6.8 / 2.2 x 10 /40 = 0.75 ml

disclaimer I have not used ibuprofen and I only know of the one reference.