Stepped On Chicken Injury

[UpNorthFlocker]

Hey Folks. I was cleaning out my coop this morning and as I backed up, I stepped on one of my hens, who had snuck in behind me. As I was falling backward, I couldn't get my foot off her back/left leg. She was able to flop away and now is "in hiding" behind some boards in the barn. It's very cold this week, dropping well below zero for the next few nights. I don't want to chase after her...or grab something I shouldn't in order to get her back to the coop.

Should I wait until evening to see if she makes it back to the coop herself? She is mobile, but only when disturbed.

I feel terrible...

 

[BayBay Peepers]

It's ok, accidents happen.

Give her a few minutes to relax, then try tossing her some feed or a treat. Put some food and water nearby if you can. I wouldn't wait too long. If she doesn't come out in say 30 minutes I'd get her and check that leg over thoroughly.

 

[UpNorthFlocker]

Injury update: I was able to carefully move the poor little hen from her hiding place into the safety and comfort of the coop. She struggled to get on a makeshift roost, which was basically sitting on the ground. She survived the night (-10 degrees outside, probably +10 inside the coop).

My new question is: Should I move her to a private enclosure, into the garage (+35 all the time) in order to heal for a few days?

 

[BayBay Peepers]

If she is being bothered by the others I would move her, but if they're alright with her and she's happy with them I'd leave her. Just keep an eye one her for a bit. Does anything look broken or swollen?

 

[UpNorthFlocker]

The other hens are not bothering her, so I decided to leave her in the main coop and not risk the social anxiety of moving her to "solitary confinement."

She was able to get up into a nesting box yesterday, but I'm not sure how. I don't want to handle her too much, and I can't really tell if her leg is broken. It probably is by the way she flops and struggles to move. I'm not sure how it will heal, or what her life will be like beyond this.

I sure will feel better for all of my chickens when it's not 20-below anymore!

I appreciate your comments.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I would pick her up and check the leg over. If it's broken you can try to splint it. If it's just soar give it a week or so. My male duck hurt a back leg somehow and I couldn't take him away from his mate. It took a while longer to heal because he kept trying to follow his lady everywhere, but eventually it did and he's been alright since.

I think it's good she has her friends, but I would pick her up and check that leg. If it's broken you don't want it to set all crooked for her sake.