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[Mercedes55]

I posted a few days ago about one of my new ex batts having a limp.

 

As suggested I have been using Arnica cream on her leg, although she is still limping.

 

This evening when my other half picked her up her leg was in a different position and I was able to put the cream right under her leg and onto the bits underneath it, which I think are the pectoral girdle muscles.

 

What worried me was that the whole of this area was a very dark blue/green colour and very hot to the touch.

 

I'm really not at all sure what this is, does it sound like just a bruise or something else that she needs to see a vet for

[Egluntyne]

Hmmm. Is she able to weight bear now?

 

It sounds a fairly extensive bruise. I'd be inclined to have a vet look at her to rule out any serious injury.

 

I think I'd confine her to a cage or crate for a few days, so that she doesn't exacerbate things by trying to keep up with her companions, and to give things time to settle.

[Mercedes55]

No she still can't put any weight on it. I did isolate her at the weekend but was told by the rescue people I got her from that doing that would only make her lonely and make it harder to integrate her back with the others.

 

This morning we got up early and put some more Arnica on her and I think the bruise seemed smaller, but it could have just been the angle that my other half was holding her at. She still felt hot under her leg so I felt under her other leg and that felt hot too, so perhaps they all run hotter than I thought. I haven't been able to get hold of any of the other hens to compare.

 

Here is a pic I took this morning, would appreciate your opinion on if you think she should see a vet

 

[Egluntyne]

That is a pretty extensive bruise.

 

Given that she can no longer weight bear, I would take her to the vet.

 

I wouldn't rule out the possibility that she may have a fracture. Best to get a professional opinion.

 

Hopefully, it will be nothing more than a bruise, but ex-batts do have very brittle bones.

 

I would also put her in the crate, as I suggested earlier, and place it where she can see and hear the others.

 

You can worry about the integrations later. This has priority really.

[Mercedes55]

I have phoned the vets and am waiting for them to get back to me to see if any of them are willing to see her.

 

I don't have a dog crate so can't put her in one. For the most part she is sitting on the nest in the coop. Now and then she hops out and eats, but I haven't seen her drinking.

 

Hopefully the vets will be able to see her today. I feel awful as I wanted to rescue these hens to give them a better life, not give one of them a life of pain

[The Dogmother]

Sterling advice from Egluntyne.

 

Do you have any Arnica pillules? I find that they work better than the cream.

 

Good luck at the vet.

[Mercedes55]

Sterling advice from Egluntyne.

 

Do you have any Arnica pillules? I find that they work better than the cream.

 

Good luck at the vet.

 

No I don't have any but I can get some. Is it easy to get them down the hens

[The Dogmother]

They usually peck them out of your hand, but if in doubt, crush them up and pop in something they like such as Weetabix.

[Mercedes55]

Thanks for that, will try and get some from Boots this evening

[Chucky Mama]

Can't really see where the bruising is in relation to the bone If it runs alongside a bone and your hen is having problems walking I think ruling out a break is important. Arnica is fine for bruising but wont help with a fracture. Does the bruising follow the lines of a bone?

[Mercedes55]

Can't really see where the bruising is in relation to the bone If it runs alongside a bone and your hen is having problems walking I think ruling out a break is important. Arnica is fine for bruising but wont help with a fracture. Does the bruising follow the lines of a bone?

 

I really don't know if the bruising follows the lines of a bone to be honest as I'm not very clued up about their anatomy. I will try and take a better pic later on when my other half is home so that you can see where it is in relation to the rest of her. From what I can remember it seems to be on the part of her body behind her leg and earlier on when she was hopping along it was running from left to right as I could see it as she hopped about. Sorry that most likely doesn't really help you in visualising where it is

 

If there was break what would a vet do

[Mercedes55]

Well I just took this pic as Mia came out of the coop and went and got some food. It isn't the best pic I've taken but if you look closely you can see the blue/green colouring on her body behind her leg and it goes from there to the other side of the leg, if that makes any sense

 

[The Dogmother]

Is it across her pelvis then?

[Mercedes55]

Is it across her pelvis then?

 

It certainly seems to look like it is on that picture yes, but it seems to go right around to the top inside of her leg too.

[The Dogmother]

I think you'd need to get an upside down picture of her so that we can see her better. But if it causes her pain, don't try it.

 

If she's having trouble moving, then I;d get her to the vet for a check up.

[Mercedes55]

The only trouble she is having is putting weight on her leg. There is movement in her leg and foot and she can stand and eat, but as soon as she tries to put any weight onto it then she lifts it up and hops instead.

 

I'm kind of reluctant to go to the vet as when I spoke with them it was clear that none of the vets at our practice are very familiar with hens and my only other experience with an Avian vet some years ago for my parrot was one of 'it's only a bird' kind of attitude

 

I keep hoping that if I just keep an eye on her and keep on using the Arnica that it will all just go away or maybe I am just burying my head in the sand

[The Dogmother]

I can understand your reluctance, but can I suggest that you call around the vets in your area and see if any of them have an avian specialist. Quite a few do now.

 

I really think that you ought to take her to the vet - the hen may be in pain from this injury.

[Chucky Mama]

They don't really have to be an expert to diagnose a fracture - or bruising. I wouldn't be happy if someone kept feeding me arnica if my leg was broken -sorry but she could be in a lot of pain.

[Egluntyne]

Arnica won't mend a broken bone, if that is what she has.

 

Don't forget that chickens are very good at hiding how bad they are feeling, as a protection mechanism, so that they don't lose their place in the hierarchy.

 

I will mention again the fact that I think she should be resting, so as not to exacerbate her injury, and agree that you should find a vet who will advise.

[Chucky Mama]

Any news??

[sandyhas3chucks]

Hi, well if I am reading this correctly you have some newly released ex bats?

Severe bruising, broken bones and other injuries are par for the course.

Mostly though any badly affected ones would be kept back by the rescue until they are fit enough for re homing.

It may have been in the cages she was injured or in the collecting a "rescuing" process itself!

She needs somewhere safe and comfortable to rest lots of soft bedding. no bars to trip on etc.

I would suggest that even if only while she is recovering that you take out the roosting bars altogether, they will be wanting to just snuggle and it "could" be that there was arguing over the nest box and she has injured herself.

This is why taking her out has been advised.

They can be off their legs for a good couple of weeks, but you really need to be sure she does not have a nasty fracture, if it heals badly(not straight) she might be unnecessary-illy lame all her life.

By the way I have one severely disable girl cannot straighten legs or move far, one whos break was not looked at and the bone does not join at all in her leg, and had multiple other injuries including air sac damage. I now also have 4 more one had her eye removed 3 weels after rescue(when she was strong enough.) the others had severe bruising and various breaks and limp.

All enjoying a happy retirement

(just didn't want you to feel too despondent)

ALSO just wanted to say that my severely disabled girl was released in Dec but was not seen until I had her in April by a vet.

IF she had had some pain relief from the outset she would have been Soooo much more comfortable. She has been on prescription pain relief almost constantly, it really shows when she hasn't had any for a few days.

I KNOW Vets is not what you want to hear, but they really ARE right...

there ARE vets out there that have good chicken knowledge a few minutes ringing around and hopefully you will be surprised, there is also here, on practical poultry and on the ex bats forum, sections on personally recommended vets that would be well worth looking at.

[Mercedes55]

Just thought I would post an update about Mia our hen with the limp. She has improved such a lot and it nearly back to normal and keeping up with her fellow hens.

 

In this little clip she is the hen on the right eating the tomato

[sewitall]

Thanks for updating us. I love to read about chickens getting better.

[Mercedes55]

Thanks for updating us. I love to read about chickens getting better.

 

I have to say I was kind of sceptical about her ever getting better so it's been really wonderful to see her get so much better. It was hard enough taking on ex batts with no experience, but having a half featherless hen that could only hop about was a big worry to us