cd8jbr Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi I feel very guilty but on Friday my lovely ex-bat, Dumpling, and I got a bit tangled up as I came out the back door and she came off worst. I had checked but seemingly she was behind a plant pot and suffice it to say she's now very lame and has some small s"Ooops, word censored!"es on her foot - but is very lame . I took her straight to the vet who examined her and couldn't detect any break in limb or foot and advised no pain killers yet but see how she goes... Saturday morning I took her back as she was just as lame, if not worse, she had another throrough examination and again no break could be detected. She had a painkilling injection and a dose of metacam to have every morning for a week. The advice is to keep her quiet and off the leg for a while but I don't have anywhere other than the run to do that and it's not possible to fence off part of the run to stop her moving around because the eglu is now on the floor so there's no ladder for her to climb up and down. I have put her in a cat carrier with lots of food and water for the day while I'm at work to keep her quiet (I know it's not brilliant but she can turn around and move if not flap her wings much) and will let her out when I'm home. The carrier is still in the run with the other so she can see them and vice versa so I'm hoping it won't be too traumatic. She is still eating and drinking well and is fine otherwise so....is there anything else I can do to help her heal? I feel awful about her being injured and want to do whatever it takes to make her better so....any ideas gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 you've done the right thing by getting her checked at the vet, and if it's not broken then that's very good news. She will be fine in a cat carrier for a short period, it will stop her trying to put too much weight on the injured leg. If it's no better after a day or two then you may want to ask the vet again, but in my experience they can be limping heavily one day and as right as rain the next, so I'd expect you will see some improvement soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Try not to feel too guilty, I've played chicken football with several of my ex batts. I think it is because they will go where ever they want to go - doesn't matter if your foot is already there or is about to be placed there - they have no sense of personal space I agree with Olly, it's great that your vet has seen her and is happy with her. I know a couple of times one of mine has developed a limp, not sure if they have just jumped down awkwardly. My usual line of thought is to check them over for any swelling or heat, if they seem otherwise fine, assume it is a simple sprain and rub a bit of arnica into their leg and get them to the vets if there is no improvement overnight. I've never had to take one to the vets yet because of it. (not sure if there are any contraindications to using arnica if she is already on metacam). I've had to put a mean girl in a carrier in the run when she was being the evilest of chickens towards one of my poorly girls with a tumour in her final days She wasn't overly impressed but she had everything she needed and was warm and safe enough in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 What a coincidence, im in exactly the same situation as you. One of my girls wont put any weight on her left leg at all. I cant see or feel anything wrong and she is eating and drinking so im hoping shes sprained something and will heal in time. i have given her some nutridrops and also put her in a cat box with food and water. Im going to keep her confined in there overnight so she cant move around too much. Im desperately hoping for some improvement by morning. Im keeping her in the kitchen though to keep her warm. Let me know how yours is tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fantasticjudyann Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 one of my recently acquired three ( large Bluebelle ) started limping the day after I got her as a POL. The vet could find nothing wrong and suggested that it was part of being moved from the breeders flock so did not treat her. She carried on limping for several weeks and seemed very quiet compared to the other two. Then she started to lay and has been galloping around the run like a mad thing ever since, perfectly happy and healthy Strange creatures chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 A calcium supplement can often help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 What would you advise for a calcium supplement Egluntyne? is it something you can get easily? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 ZolcalD is the one I have in my cupboard at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd8jbr Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Thanks for the messages - it's nice to know I'm not alone especially because I'm still a 'freshly laid egg' in more ways than one. these are my first chickens and I really do want the best for them. Interestingly after a day in the cat basket she does seem a bit more comfortable. I let her out to mingle with the others just before bed and she seemed to be walking a bit more easily - still lame but a bit better. While in the cat basket she ate quite a lot and seemed fine in herself when I let her out and she tucked into some mealworms quite happily. I think after that I will do the same thing tomorrow then see how it goes, I want to avoid 3 days in the basket if I can but it she need it....I feel guilty shutting her up in the basket though as she was only released from her battery cage in October and she deserves her freedom - but...what a dilemma! I will get some calcium supplement too - I've had another go lame in the past but that was a mystery - the vet could find no reason for the lameness and every now and again the same hen limps a bit but nothing serious and it certainly doesn't stop her running about the garden like a mad thing! I wonder if ex-batts are a bit more prone to leg injuries than hens which had a better start in life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I wonder if ex-batts are a bit more prone to leg injuries than hens which had a better start in life It could be that some have a touch of arthritis perhaps because they have been kept contained in cramped conditions? Glad to hear that your girl seems more comfortable now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd8jbr Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Another update - this morning Dumpling is still quite lame but not happy at the idea of staying in the cat basket so she's in the run free with the others. She's definitely not as lame as she was but still got a way to go. Giving her the metacam is fun though - I mix it with her crumb and some mealworm and she eats it reasonably happily the big problem is Funky wants it and desperately tries to get her beak into it despite her having other mealworms and food to go for...she goes over, under and round anything (including me) to get to the metacam laced food and squawks like a banshee when she can't have it! I'm hoping Dumpling keeps improving, another day in the cat basket might have helped but she really, really wasn't happy about it this morning so fingers crossed. I'm pretty sure it's her toe that's sore though as she waves the leg around as if she wants to put the foot down but knows it will hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
