AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Hi, our little chick (5 weeks old) has an injured leg after a metal frame fell on her leg with my 8 year old daughter on top of it... Not sure if it is broken, or extremely tender. I've bought her inside and she is lying still, probably too painful to move or bear weight but she is eating and drinking what we offer her.
If her leg is broken would there be symptoms of pain? She is not trembling and she is eating and drinking what we put in front of her, she seems calm. But her leg looks limp and her paw curled up. It is hard to tell without moving her and I do not want to do that for fear of causing more pain.
Should I keep her away from her little family of 4 for now? Is there anything I could do for pain?
Also if her leg is broken can they recover without treatment such as a splint.
If any one has nursed an injured chick back to health please give me some advice.
Thanks Julie

Julie if you are sure it is the leg and not further up it maybe able to be fixed. Keep her away from her siblings and keep her on her own so she has good access to food and water. If she gets a little stressed put the smallest of the remaining ones with her to keep her company. Splint the leg with tooth picks cut to size and tape. Micropore tape is good for this or use what you have even masking tape. I would use 2 tooth picks either side. also tape the foot open with soome tape underneath. Place the toes where they should be and then tape on top to stop them from curling. It maybe painful for the little chick while you do it. Try to get someone to help. There is nothing you can give the chick unless you may have some recue remedy herb drops. Just one via the beak on the tongue.

I am no expert but this is what I would do. The chick may end up with a permanent limp but hopefully get around OK.

I wish you luck and I hope it works out.

Hi Country Lodge
Thank you for your advice. I have put a splint on her leg and her paw is straight and tapped. She has been sleeping in the house but is outside with the others during the day but safe. They can see one another but she is separated by a screen. I think she is a little warm today. Giving her lots to drink and a cool pack near her body, off and on. Yesterday it was hot and humid in Brisbane so keeping her cool has been a priority. Anyway. She continues to eat and drink and rarely attempts to get up. I hope she makes it! How long might it take for her bone to knit, do you know?
Bye for now
Julie

It may take 4 to 6 weeks.

Hi Julie, how is your little chicken going???
Country lodge, may I ask you if you can tell somehow if there are broken bones in toes oe legs in a large pullet. Could a bone break when a large bird jumps off a perch??? We have concrete floors in our pens covered with wood chips and coconut fibre. But I have a lame faverolle hen, obviously in pain with no known cause. Any suggestions???? I would greatly appreciate any advice.

I don't think it is broken. I would check for splinters from the wood chip or bumble foot which is a very hard lump in the foot from and infection. Chooks pus is not like ours it it a hard cheesy type substance. She also may have just pulled a muscle or tendon when she jumped down. It will heal with time. Are the perches very high?

Thanks for your advice, perches are about my chest height, (I am a vertically challenged 5'2") so not real high, but she is growing into a big girl, and was concerned that it may be to high for delicate leg bones. Will go out and check her claws again for spliters etc. Any suggestions for treatment if it is infected???? Sorry for all of the questions, I have never had health isues with my chooks before, only since having a few some pure breds have I had any problems.

I have recently had a new coop built and have done lots of research on perch heights and widths etc and have tried a few different things. Everyone seems to have a different opinion but I have mostly read that perches should not be more than 90cm off the ground esp if the ground is hard and the birds are large. A lot of sites I read even suggested that perches should be no higher than 30cm!!! I am guessing that even at 5ft 2 your chest height would be much higher than this. I have set my highest perch at 60cm and the lowest at 30cm for the silkies but I have noticed a couple of my girls jump down from the high perch and then walk with a limp. Fortunately this has not lasted more than a few hours so I am guessing they have just strained a muscle. I have since put in extra perches in front of the high perch at a lower level so that they may hop down in steps rather than crashing to the ground in one go!!

I also found that the large round coppers logs to be the most sturdy and the best. They are approx 3 inches in diameter and very sturdy. I did use smaller perches but when trying to jump down on them sometimes they missed and landed awkwardly. Its all a matter of trial and error but hopefully without too many accidents along the way.

Hopefully your chook will recover soon

Maisyfleur

Thanks for the advice Maisyfleur, I think I will put in extra lower perches, as I can't seem to find any other reason for the injury, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Wish I had a way of containing her so she would give the injury whatever it is, a chance heal.She would not fit in a cat carry cage.

Hi all
It has been awhile since I have visited the forum but I am pleased to report our Silkie chick has fully recovered from her broken leg. She does rest more than the others but she has no trouble getting around and certainly can fend for herself if the others get testy around scraps. It seems the splint and separating her did the trick. We also gave her lots of calcium and protein rich food. A friend of mine gave her reiki every day too, and I noted each time she did the chick would perk up..... So who knows........
So thank you all for your advice
Regards
Julie