Isobel Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Has anyone had to deal with a broken leg on a hen and if so could you give me some advice please? I have no idea how my little 15 week old hen could have done this but she is at the bottom of the pecking order and may have been bullied. I cannot see an obvious break but she cannot walk and is just lying on her side in my "hospital hutch" with the bad leg out in front of her, hardly moving all day. She couldn't get up to get food or water at all so I have had to put it right in front of her. Then she ate and drank heartily so has an apptetite. Do they just heal up as a rule? Is there any danger of her dying of shock from it? I had to clean the poo from her bottom area as she can't move - I am wondering if I should bathe her tomorrow as her feathers are getting dirty! Is that a ridiculous thing to try and do? Thanks for any help or suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 You really should take her to a vet as soon as possible. It is not fair to leave any animal with a broken limb and no treatment or pain relief. If it is broken the ends of the bone will be grinding against surrounding tissue causing considerable pain. It will not heal itself, the ends of the bone will need to be properly aligned and secured in order to facilitate healing and this should be done quickly. Can you actually feel a break in her leg or is she lying on her side for some other reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 11, 2012 Share Posted August 11, 2012 Are you sure its broken? It sounds like classic Mareks symptoms to me Either way she does need attention asap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 You must take her to a vet immediately or cull her. You are in beach of the Animal Welfare Act if you do not seek treatment for an animal that is clearly in need of it. Apart from anything else, she will be in pain if the leg is broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryissy Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 If her leg is broken the vet may well be able to splint it. One of mine broke a leg, I took her to the vet immediately and he strapped it up, we then kept her confined in a largish cat basket in the kitchen for 4 weeks and it healed well, you wouldn't have known that it had ever been broken. However, after she had broken it she stood on the good leg and managed to hop into the eglu. It was only when I noticed her standing on one leg at the back of the run that I realised there was a problem, and when I managed to extricate her from the run and examine her I realised at once that she had a break. What ever the problem, as the others have said she needs to get to the vet asap or to be culled. I do hope you get a diagnosis and that she recovers. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isobel Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 Thanks for the advice, I will take her to my chicken vet tomorrow and see what she says. I can't see a break at all, but can't think of anything else to explain it. She is still eating and drinking well and is quite perky from the neck up, i.e. bright eyes and looking all around her perkily, but no movement. I'm hoping that means that it is just a poorly let and not something more constitutional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egghead68 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Good luck at the vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 If you can't see a break or any injury there may not be anything wrong with her legs. It might be something like Mareks as Redwing mentioned. She does need to see the vet tomorrow regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
