Hi all, I am in the throes of a dilemma here, hoping you all will give me your opinion.
I have a 5 week old silkie chick with a badly broken leg. For a couple of days I splinted it myself, and gave injectable penicillin, and general care. The chick is perky and eats and drinks. (With help of course to hold the food and water)
Last night I ended up taking her to the vet (even though yes, I know it's "only a chicken") He ended up being very nice and understanding, and gave me the option of surgery on the leg to pin it and place a cast. If it looked un-save-able when he got in to surgery, he said he would amputate. Problem is......I am not AT ALL sure that silkies can hop around on one leg. He told me it would adjust and just hop, and be fine as a pet. But silkies don't fly like those little wild birds you see with one leg sometimes....so I don't really believe him.....
So here I am, about to go to the vet again and drop her off for surgery I can't really afford. I am thinking of telling him to try to repair the break and if he can't, to just put her to sleep. She's a sweet little thing if it matters, and would make a gorgeous adult.
1. Has anyone here ever owned a one - legged chicken?
2. Has anyone ever had a chick recover from a compound fracture of the leg?
3. Am I crazy?
I have a 5 week old silkie chick with a badly broken leg. For a couple of days I splinted it myself, and gave injectable penicillin, and general care. The chick is perky and eats and drinks. (With help of course to hold the food and water)
Last night I ended up taking her to the vet (even though yes, I know it's "only a chicken") He ended up being very nice and understanding, and gave me the option of surgery on the leg to pin it and place a cast. If it looked un-save-able when he got in to surgery, he said he would amputate. Problem is......I am not AT ALL sure that silkies can hop around on one leg. He told me it would adjust and just hop, and be fine as a pet. But silkies don't fly like those little wild birds you see with one leg sometimes....so I don't really believe him.....
So here I am, about to go to the vet again and drop her off for surgery I can't really afford. I am thinking of telling him to try to repair the break and if he can't, to just put her to sleep. She's a sweet little thing if it matters, and would make a gorgeous adult.
1. Has anyone here ever owned a one - legged chicken?
2. Has anyone ever had a chick recover from a compound fracture of the leg?
3. Am I crazy?
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