To splint or not to splint

[Sho]

My beautiful Jersey Giant, Betty, has sprained her knee. I'm very confident that it's a sprain. She won't quit getting up on the trampoline or the porch rails and jumping off. She is not a little Pullet anymore, but she doesn't realize she's a hefty girl! She is confined. I have food and water where she can reach it. I got some baby aspirin for her.

I splinted with little sticks for 2 days. It seemed like the splint was really irritating her and it's really hard to get good support around that top joint without poking her when she lays down (which is, of course, all she wants to do). I cannot do it without getting some of her feathers in the tape.
I've read conflicting advise here and on various articles / blogs. Should I force the splint or let her just ride it out? Should I ditch the sticks and wrap it with vet tape?

Super appreciate any and all advice.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would not splint a sprained joint. Splinting can be dangerous since the circulation can become cut off if vet wrap or tape slips. There is a danger of losing a limb if circulation is cut off. Splinting only helps if there is a fractured bone. I would keep her confined in a crate or pen with food and water to force her to rest the leg for a week or two, and then evaluate it weekly.

 

[Sho]

I would not splint a sprained joint. Splinting can be dangerous since the circulation can become cut off if vet wrap or tape slips. There is a danger of losing a limb if circulation is cut off. Splinting only helps if there is a fractured bone. I would keep her confined in a crate or pen with food and water to force her to rest the leg for a week or two, and then evaluate it weekly.

THANK YOU. That is what I needed to hear. I've got her in the little baby brooder inside of the run. My newborns are still in the house and my teens moved out, so it was vacant. This way I KNOW she can't jump or move around too much. I also typically have the food and water hanging in there to keep it out of the shavings. I took it off the hooks so that she doesn't have to stand to reach it.

 

[Sho]

She is NOT happy. But she is safe, so she will have to get over it.