Solitary chicken - need advice

[Omletina Kyckling]

I'm in a bit of a state. My lovely little Sussex/Leghorn cross, Åsa had a mishap at the weekend - I don't know how it happened, but she injured her left leg..they free range all day....she seemed content, was eating, but couldn't put any weight on it at all and it didn't look good.

 

I took her to the vets this morning, for opening time, and she has a badly broken leg and it is also very swollen. She was so good whilst we were there considering she is so young (probably only 16-18 weeks) and so small - I've not handled her since they arrived, as they are very flighty but whilst she's been poorly, she's been happy to be handled.

 

Anyway, I've left her with the vet. They are going to do what they can for her and try to put a splint on. The vet thinks if they can manage to do that and get the inflammation down, she has a good chance, as she's very young so the leg should heal ok.

 

I'm very tearful at the moment, waiting for the call....I don't want to think about option 2...

[Egluntyne]

Fingers crossed for her.

[mostin]

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that, I remember the photos of you bringing her home. Sending you loads of positive thoughts that they'll get the splint on ok and her leg will mend.

 

Big hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[chelsea]

lots of postive thoughts and wishes coming from Devon.

[quinlan]

fingers crossed X

[Egluntyne]

Any news?

[Omletina Kyckling]

We're home!!

 

She is such a brave, little girl. The vets said she was marvellous. They didn't need to anaesthetise her, she just let them handle her....her leg was a mess, a clean break and the skin was cut too, they think she got caught in something and struggled to get away - the cleaned her up, gave her a painkiller/anti inflammatory, and dressed the wound, then they used a biro as a splint (they had to work with what they had as they don't get many chickens in, although the nurse there loves chickens as her mum keeps them and she was intrigued by what breed she was). She has a dressing nearly as big as her on there!

 

Anyway, they've advised me to keep her in overnight, to keep her warm, so she's in my giant pet carrier (dog size, although I have two for my superly big cats, in the hallway, and she's had water and food....

 

I'm not sure what to do tomorrow, whether to put her in with the others in the Eglu or not, I don't want them to attack her but then again, I don't want them to forget her which would make reintroducing her more difficult....

 

Here's my baby

 

 

and again

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Poor little thing . Thank goodness for your vet - s/he sounds lovely . I hope she recovers quickly .

[Egluntyne]

Poor girl. WHat spirit though.

 

I'd be inclined to let her rest up for a day or two, as she might try to keep up with the others.

 

Perhaps you could put her where they can see her during the day.

[mostin]

What a good and brave little girl, so glad they managed to splint it . I bet you are spoiling her rotten now she's home. She's so pretty with her icing sugar sprinkles, and at least they've given her a bandage in a colour that doesn't clash.

[Omletina Kyckling]

She's so pretty with her icing sugar sprinkles, and at least they've given her a bandage in a colour that doesn't clash.

 

Yes...but it's green....she'll probably think it's edible....

[mostin]

She's so pretty with her icing sugar sprinkles, and at least they've given her a bandage in a colour that doesn't clash.

 

Yes...but it's green....she'll probably think it's edible....

 

Ooops, I didn't think of that, I suppose you'll just have to keep her filled to bursting with treats so she doesn't peck at it . I bet that's her plan anyway.

[Groovychook]

Bless her, poor thing...

 

She sounds like a brave little chook- keeping my fingers crossed for her...

[Mrs Frugal]

Oh goodness, Diane, poor little thing . Thank goodness you have such a good vet. Fingers crossed for her.

 

PS - could we have the contact details for your vet to add to the forum list please as good vets who know one end of a chicken from the other are so hard to find and the info may help someone else at some point?

[Christian]

Oh Omletina! At least she is on the road to recovery

 

Poor little thing.

 

Is her name pronounced 'Orsa'?

[Omletina Kyckling]

I'm happy to give their details but they admitted they were actually clueless about chickens and she has been a test chicken...they haven't had any in before, so they were "learning" with her.....they've done what they can for her with her makeshift splint, but they aren't poultry experienced at all!! They are very sympathetic though and great with my cats too!

 

They are Northlands Vets in Corby (also in Kettering and a couple of other local towns)

 

http://www.northlands-vets.co.uk/index3.html

[Omletina Kyckling]

Is her name pronounced 'Orsa'?

 

It is.....I' impressed!

 

But the name caused me some embarassment...

 

When I registered her at the desk, they asked me to spell it, which I did, but she said they didn't have an Å on the keyboard so they'd use an A....fair enough.....but whilst I was sitting waiting it suddenly occured to me how they might pronounce it......and then the door opened and the vet called out "Arsa"......I wanted the ground to swallow me up.....

 

[mostin]

......and then the door opened and the vet called out "Arsa"......I wanted the ground to swallow me up.....

 

 

 

Your poor little girl, I feel so sorry for her but that really tickled me.

[Karen & co.]

Bless her I'm so glad the op went well, I bet she will be the tamest most easily handled chook after all this

 

Karen x

[Joojoo]

Poor little thing Well done you and the vets for dealing with it so quickly. Hopefully she has a speedy recovery

[Omletina Kyckling]

I thought you'd like to know this morning's report from the Omletina Infirmary....

 

Åsa had a good night and has had lots to drink and eat...this morning I decided to put her outside so she could see the others, so she was in her cat basket and they were looking at her...they were all clucking gently at each other so I decided to reintroduce them...

 

I cleaned the Eglu out and moved it onto fresh grass and popped her in. Karin and Tiina immediately accepted her and they have been fine with her....she has sat down right in the middle of the run (as usual) so they are having to step around/over her, but all seems fine at the mo'....much relief as I was starting to think I wouldn't be able to fly to Sweden on Friday (I'm flying out to meet hubby and bring him home via Denmark for the last time!) as I don't think my mum is up to looking after sick chickens....

 

Anyway, here she is with her sisters enjoying some corn...

 

 

and here posing for the camera, showing off her poorly leg in a rather pathetically appealing fashion...

 

[Seagazer]

She is gorgeous, I'm so glad she's settling back in with the other girls.

[Mrs Frugal]

Oh bless her little heart!! She's being a brave little soldier, isn't she.

 

Thanks for the vets info, Diane. I'll add it to the forum list as some vets won't even see a chicken, let alone treat it so one that will give it a go is worth adding. My local vet 2 minutes walk up the road won't even see a hen to put it to sleep if it's dying which means a 20 minute car drive to Oakham instead .

[mostin]

She is such a little poser isn't she, definitley going to make the most of her injury and get all the attention and treats she can I bet .

 

She is absolutely gorgeous and I so glad she's gone back with the other girls ok.

[Christian]

I am so glad that the others are being ok to her. She will be fine I'm sure.

 

I used to work with a girl from Sweden with the same name.