Startled hen jumps and injured her leg. PLEASE HELP!

[Blommehonne]

Hi, everyone!

this is my first post on this site.

WELL... earlier this afternoon I had let my chickens roam free for the first time since spring. All was going well until my oldest hen was startled and jumped into the air, when she landed it was clear that she was unable to get up. Upon closer examination I found that she is unable to bear weight. It's definately not broken. In what I suspect to b the injured leg, when I passively flex the knee the mucsles do not contract (they do in the other leg).

The poor dear has just made it through a hard winter, and is a loved pet. She is a 3 year-old sex-link chicken and lays too many eggs for her own good.

I currently have her in a home-made sling in my bathroom, and she is happily eating potatoes and salmon...

PLEASE, what can I do to help my pet??

 

[eastbaychicks]

If she is eating and drinking and pooping normal, these are all good signs. I'm not an old pro here, but I know these are good signs.

 

[chookchick]

Yes, apparently chickens have weak legs. Keep her fairly immobile for a while, make sure she has a good diet, perhaps some added vitamins and access to calcium, and hopefully she will come around.