harryissy Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Hello, 2 days ago one of our chickens broke her leg....no idea how she did it but I was a bit concerned as she was hiding in the Eglu whereas they usually spend all day trying their best to destroy the garden. Tempted her out with raisins and immediatley saw what the problem was. The vet has splinted the leg and she is now on 'bed-rest' in a fairly largish cat cage in the kitchen!! She seems quite perky and is eating and protesting at her incarceration. What I would really appreciate is any advice on how long it is likely to take to mend the leg and what is the best way to handle her rehabilitation. Many thanks Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 my vet pinned a really really really nasty break. 6- 8 weeks for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Hi, Thanks for that.....we're in for the long haul then!!!! Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 A normal 'healthy' break that is immobilised and the animal rested usually takes 6 weeks to heal. The quieter you keep her the better the chance of quick healing. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 I will point out this post to omletina, she had a girl who very successful recovered from a break , she will prob be able to remember how long it her girl to recover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 Thank you for the responses. We are keeping her as quiet as possible tho she seems to be craving attention each time someone walks past her!! She has eaten a huge ammount today which I take as a good sign! she obviously can't put any weight at all on the broken leg but I guess that is to be expected. I would be grateful for anyone who has had a chicken with broken leg to share their experience so I have a good idea as to what to expect. Kind Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Hi, As Mostin said, my Åsa broke her leg when I 'd only had her a matter of weeks. It was a lower leg break and the bone was protruding through the flesh. I took her to the vets and they said they didn't specialise in poultry but would do what they could but couldn't guarantee the results. They splinted her leg using the plastic part from a bic biro and then lots of bandages and the bandage was nearly as big as her. I kept her indoors in a cat carrier for a few days but then put her outside in the eglu with the other two youngsters I had. She managed to put her weight on it with the splint there and hobbled quite a bit after about a week, but managed to get around. She went back a couple of times each week for them to check her and became a bit of a celebrity at the vets, even ended up on their screensaver. The splint came off after a month and she was 100% ok and even laid an egg the day after the splint came off!!! She walked with a limp for about a month after the splint came off, possibly partly due to muscle wastage, but made a full recover and she is still with me and is one of my favourites. The vet said as she was young her bones would knit together quite quickly but like I said they said upfront that they didn't know what the outcome would be. Here is the original topic about her leg with some photographs of her with her bandages on! Brought back some nice memories (and not so nice ones as the now ex husband crops up in it!!!!) http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=34452 Sending you lots of hugs for your girl x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Hi Omletina, Many thanks indeed for sharing the story of your chicken's broken leg. It sounds as if her injury is remarkably similar to my Pepper's, hers is also at the lower end of the leg and it was accompanied by broken skin, so I think she got her leg caught and did the damage whilst trying to free it. Also my vet hadfn't treated a chicken before [though we're fairly regular attenders with our cats!] but he was more than willing to give it a go! The leg is splinted with a couple of metal pins well padded with tape and all held in place with more tape...so far it looks as if it hasn't got at all swollen so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this continues. I have got painkillers for her that I mix in with her food, usually with one of the many treats like banana, grapes and pear that she is devouring as if there's no tomorrow.She has also continued to lay though she must have stood or sat on yesterday's egg and broke it!! Just had a quick break to go into the kitchen to remove today's egg from her cat cage as I heard her making the usual noise she makes just as she's laying! Will let you know how she gets on, and once again many thanks to everyone who has replied to my original post. Kind Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Fingers crossed she continues to do well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 A bit of calcium & cod liver oil or Zolcal D wouldn't do her any harm - or you could give her some baked crushed up egg shells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted January 18, 2011 Author Share Posted January 18, 2011 Thanks for that advice. I did wonder about giving her some supplements in her diet to aid recovery, so I'll try what you suggest. I think I might also try an extra bit of protein such as tuna in water [though I know it's not really recommended for chickens!!] Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 I think I might also try an extra bit of protein such as tuna in water [though I know it's not really recommended for chickens!!] Really? Ooh, mine have tuna every few weeks as a treat and to give them extra protein, and especially during their moults. Anyway, fingers crossed that your girl makes a recovery like little Åsa did!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted January 19, 2011 Author Share Posted January 19, 2011 Yes, well mine get tuna as a treat and as an extra during moults!!! But I have it in the back of my head [a very strange place, I know!!] that DEFRA have said that chickens shouldn't be fed stuff like tuna....of course it is very likely that I am entirely wrong about this, and who cares what DEFRA say anyway, we just want to do the best for our beloved girls!!!! Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted February 2, 2011 Author Share Posted February 2, 2011 Hello All, I thought I ought to let you know how Pepper is doing. It is now nearly 3 weeks since she broke her leg and it appears to be knitting together well. She has been back to the vet to be examined and get the splint put back on. We are still keeping her quiet and confined to the cat cage in the kitchen, I think her confinement and inability to move around much has really helped the healing process. I usually take her outside each day and let her out for a few minutes while I clean the cage. She can then have a little peck around the grass and in the last 2 days she has started to put more weight on the broken leg which I am taking as a very good sign. Although she would obviously love to be back outside I am determined not to let her out again until we are quite sure that the healing is complete as we don't want to undo the good that has been done so far. Many thanks again to everyone who shared their stories of broken legs and sent good wishes for her recovery. I will let you know when all is finally better. Kind Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Glad to hear it has gone so well, Well done on your nursing skills Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 Great news, thank you for updating us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 3, 2011 Share Posted February 3, 2011 ah...lovely news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted February 3, 2011 Author Share Posted February 3, 2011 Hi All, Thanks for the messages, it's very comforting to know that there are so many chicken lovers willing to take the time and effort to share their stories and advice when needed. I'll let you know when she finally gets back into her eglu and the garden. Kind Regards, Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted February 15, 2011 Author Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hi All, Great news!! Pepper who had the broken leg visited the vet last Friday for a check and the break was declared to be mended! We re-introduced back to the Eglu and garden over the past few days and she is now running around as if nothing had ever happened to her! She is so happy to be back outside and we are so pleased to see her back where she belongs and the kitchen no longer smells like a farmyard. Many thanks to everyone for your messages and advice, all was greatly appreciated. Kind Regards Elspeth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megalin Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Wow, Chickens are amazing! Sounds like all the chooks with broken legs are doing better than my b/f when he broke his leg! Good luck, I'm so pleased to hear so much love and care given to the little souls. I'd imagine many people would give up on a girl with a broken leg. Healing vibes to her. Keep us posted on her progress. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
