Chicken with broken leg...what do I do?

[Obi]

My 4 year old gelding tends to chase my chickens (because they are the only thing that runs from him, lol). The girls usually get out of the way but it looks like my favorite chicken wasn't fast enough and has a broken leg. It is not an open fracture, but I can feel movement in the bone, between her ankle and 'hock'. She is eating and drinking and I have put a soft splint on it but she is having a great deal of difficulty moving. I have split her away from the flock and she seems uncomfortable but okay. Is there anything else I can do? She hops around on her good leg but she is not very mobile and is currently in the chicken house with a fan on. Please do not advise me to put her to sleep as she is my favorite chicken and if that time comes, I will know and do the right thing. Can she survive with one leg? Will it heal? But for right now, and words of wisdom?

[Alagirl]

no words of wisdom (since the BBQ is out of the question ;) )

Jingles for the Chicken.

[5]

I would bring her inside so the other chikies don't pick on her, put her in a dog carrier, in front of a TV so she can watch the movement, if she knows what to do with an egg give her one so she won't move around too much.
Get well soon chikie.

[stroll]

WE have had several chickens with broken legs and all have gotten better. We put them in a small cage by themselves, with food and water, kept them in the barn where they could see all their friends, and it took a while, but they all healed up. Most of them have learned what horses they have to stay away from now.:)

I forgot, it most likely will take adjustment time for her to go back to her buddies, as they tend to pick on the odd man out.

[dacasodivine]

I second 5. I've had to do that twice, minus the egg. Once in the crate, they didn't move around much. I kept food and water within easy reach so they didn't have to do anything but rest. You might want to check her bum now and then to make sure it's clean. Sometimes they don't get up to poo and that can cause a whole nother problem.

I can't remember now how long it took to heal but I'm thinking several weeks to a month before they were ready to go back outside. I didn't splint and both healed without a problem. Sadly, both were later taken by a preditor.

[sidepasser]

Keep her quiet and turn her every so often. If you are worried about infection, you can buy antibiotics for chickens that go in the drinking water, ask your vet what type would be best.

My goose got a broken leg from a horse that chased her and she healed just fine. I kept her immobile with a splint on the broken leg, turned her over twice a day and helped her stand and walk a few times a day by supporting her under her belly. I didn't want the muscles to atrophy while she was lying down.

(gosh I hope I used lying down correctly!)

Make sure she stays hydrated and clean - use straw if you have it with a few cedar shavings underneath to keep the bugs out.

Best wishes for speedy recovery for chickie!

[ReSomething]

We lost one this year, to a possible dislocation or broken back. We couldn't find anything to splint but she was in obvious distress and not doing well confined. She struggled and bloodied up a wing pretty badly plus she was losing weight so that was the end of her :( . I know of other birds including one we had years ago who made a complete recovery, hoping this for yours as well.

[Obi]

I would bring her inside so the other chikies don't pick on her, put her in a dog carrier, in front of a TV so she can watch the movement, if she knows what to do with an egg give her one so she won't move around too much.
Get well soon chikie.

What movies should I rent her? Babe? Barnyard? Perhaps a DVD of Green Acres? :lol::lol::lol:

Sorry, I could not resist. Thanks for the advice! I hope she makes it through this as she is like a cat, and she is on life number 3 now (1 run in with a possum, 1 with a neighborhood dog). Her official name is "Red Sonia, warrior princess" after that horrible Conan, The Barbarian movie, lol.

Hey, I can rent her the Conan the Barbarbian series!!!:winkgrin:

[dalpal]

What movies should I rent her? Babe? Barnyard? Perhaps a DVD of Green Acres? :lol::lol::lol:

Sorry, I could not resist. Thanks for the advice! I hope she makes it through this as she is like a cat, and she is on life number 3 now (1 run in with a possum, 1 with a neighborhood dog). Her official name is "Red Sonia, warrior princess" after that horrible Conan, The Barbarian movie, lol.

Hey, I can rent her the Conan the Barbarbian series!!!:winkgrin:

I think she would enjoy.."CHICKEN RUN"

[dmalbone]

I vote for Chicken Little! :lol: Best of luck for your chicken!

[Lori]

Chickens are pretty darn hardy. You can make a splint with a stick or popcicle stick and set it that way. use vetwrap or that surgical tape stuff (white first aid tape). I have had to splint splayed chicks before and they manage. Then you can crate her like previously posted or keep her in a small cage. She should heal just fine.
Metacam works for pain in my cockatiels and an oral antibiotic won't hurt. I get all the good bird stuff because I have cockatiels and have used it on my chickens, too (Baytril and Anirobe are two I have used).

[nightsong]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

[Thomas_1]

What you're doing is fine and yes they can survive with one leg but they tend to be hen-pecked by the rest.

Chicken Run is an excellent film. She will be inspired :winkgrin: I watched it with 2 of my grandchildren at Christmas time. They also have a small flock of ex battery farm chickens for eggs. Including Sam and Ella!!!! I convinced them that their chickens escaped and landed up with them via a rocket :yes: ;)

[cloudyandcallie]

Chickens are pretty darn hardy. You can make a splint with a stick or popcicle stick and set it that way. use vetwrap or that surgical tape stuff (white first aid tape). I have had to splint splayed chicks before and they manage. Then you can crate her like previously posted or keep her in a small cage. She should heal just fine.
Metacam works for pain in my cockatiels and an oral antibiotic won't hurt. I get all the good bird stuff because I have cockatiels and have used it on my chickens, too (Baytril and Anirobe are two I have used).

Yes you can splint the leg and tape it up well. I only had Bantams which aren't as heavy as big chickens.
Remember the goose in New England or somewhere who had the artificial feet with tennis shoes that someone made for him? He was in a city park. (Unfortunately someone beat him to death.:( but he lived for a good while with fake feet.)

[Nes]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

It's a chicken...

Please tell me this is a pet/show variety of a chicken, not your average layer :dead: I hope she gets better.

[RacetrackReject]

I took a chickent to the vet once in a pet carrier. Everyone kept wanting to pet my cat =O. Then she started clucking and I became the crazy lady who brought chickens to the vet *sigh*. The chicken seemed to have vertigo and I didnt' know what to do about it. Apparently, the vet didnt' either..lol.

[Foxtrot's]

A $100.00 vet bill for a $10.00 aged chicken! You have to be the kindest people on COTH.

[meupatdoes]

OK, I would just like to state for the record that reading about everyone's favorite chickens and geese reclining in front of the TV while on the dotingly tended mend is quite possibly the cutest thing ever.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[Carol Ames]

Chickies do recover from broken legs ; keep her as quiet as possible; ie., bed rest; when it is healed you can do some passive motion with her leg' for now, take a pencil with a nice eraser on it, and stroke gently down the length of her leg, to the ground; if you have a feather handy you can use that, too; do not apply pressure just "connect her leg from top to ground; sounds strange:yes: but, you are helping her cns to reintegrate the leg into her body:yes::cool:.

[witherbee]

Nightsong, our rooster had an infected leg when he showed up at our place 2 years ago, and while I would heave preferred to have brought him to the vet, I was afraid he'd hurt himself more if we crated him and put him in the truck or car. We spoke to both our horse and small animal vets and just went with some Tribricen crushed up in his feed. Worked a charm.

[Cashela]

Good luck with your chicken. I have one that is recovering from a messed up leg, think it has marek's. You could go to the Backyard Chicken Forum and read up.

[Carol Ames]

I vote for star wars:cool:, the vet and another "breeder be sure to take a picture of her with her splint; I have a horse breeder friend who, has big picture of a young gosling with a splint, wrapped, I believe with green tape:lol:. He hopped around with the others; though he was limited to an enclosed area and gets along just as well as they do now:yes:

[poltroon]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

There aren't a lot of vets around who would have much if any expertise with healing chickens. Though, you might find one experienced with parrots and the like.

[2DogsFarm]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

Try finding one who can work with poultry.
Like finding a needle in a haystack here, and we are still largely Ag.

[Pirateer]

OK, I would just like to state for the record that reading about everyone's favorite chickens and geese reclining in front of the TV while on the dotingly tended mend is quite possibly the cutest thing ever.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Seriously!:):):)

[5]

I can rent her the Conan the Barbarbian series!!!:winkgrin:

Please don't Arnold is a bad actor and a worse Gov. Let his movies die so he gets no more money from them.

[Pirateer]

Please don't Arnold is a bad actor and a worse Gov. Let his movies die so he gets no more money from them.

Wow, way to derail!

[chism]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

One of my guinea hens had an injured leg & my vet's office basically refused to treat him. They do cats,, dogs & horses, but apparently don't do fowl. I kept him quiet for a couple weeks and he healed up fine. He did however, eventually become coyote food.

[equineartworks]

I seem to be the local Chicken Vet :lol:

(for the record, I am NOT, I repeat NOT a VET!!! People just bring me their injured poultry because no one else will take them lol!)

[Eireamon]

I have had several over the years who have had complete fractures. (Just hanging from a thread) I have amputated with a pair of scissors and then sprayed with a antibiotic. Both lived fine with one leg.

[glitterless]

How's chicken doing? We've had a few with broken legs. The latest is Frieda and she's doing fine. She spent a couple of days not moving around very much, so we made sure that she had food and water nearby, but she's bearing weight on the leg now (a few weeks post-injury) and seems like her usual self.

I doubt my vet would treat a chicken. I took a pet rat in once and they looked at me like I was crazy. My vet admitted that they don't see many rats in the clinic and wasn't exactly sure where to start with the exam! You can't really splint a chicken's leg...it's probably easier and less stressful on the chicken to give it a quiet place to rest than to bring it into a vet clinic.

[slc2]

Du vin, du beur, d'oignon, et un petit feu.

[equineartworks]

mmm....coq au vin

(We do not eat our chickens BTW..just sayin' :lol: )

[JSwan]

mmm....coq au vin

(We do not eat our chickens BTW..just sayin' :lol: )

Well - really - that's why there are not a lot of vets out there that treat chickens.:lol::lol:

My vet is a 'real' large animal vet and I've no doubt he'd be happy to help out but he'd also give me a few recipes.... hint hint.:winkgrin:

[danceronice]

I was going to say, deep fry, but....rest and keep her away from the others or they'll peck hre to death. The only vets I know who handle poultry do it from an ag perspective. Though if there are any exotics vets within a reasonable distance you could give 'em a try--many are avian board-certified and a bird is a bird...sort of....

[HuntJumpSC]

"You know I like my chicken fried, cold beer on a Friday nite, a pair of jeans that fit just right, and the radio on..." :winkgrin: Couldn't resist!

Hope chickie is doing better~ I can just see her in front of the TV, watching Charlotte's Web & Chicken Run, with a little bell to ring in case she needs you! ;)

[Obi]

Well, Sonia seems to be doing okay. I replaced the bandage and splint and it looks like she has a bit of an infection. I cleand & dressed it with a topical solution, reapplied the splint and she is quiet but eating. She is also still laying eggs so that is a good sign. She kinda lays on her side a bit and seems confused why she cannot go out with the others but she will have to deal.

And btw, my vet will treat her but I am being realistic, she is a pet chicken that I got to help with the manure in the fields and to get a few eggs. She is not suffering but I do not think a vet visit is in order. Yes, she is my favorite chicken but I am not going to spend $100 plus on x-rays and vet visits...

[saratoga]

This January, we had a pullet who either broke her leg or dislocated her hip and we got some Metacam for pain.......worked great- she felt better right away and she ended up fully recovering. Maybe see if a vet will just give you some, ours did.

[SmartAlex]

Chicken vet... this is still cracking me up.

My first response would have been "boil water", but I do know how attached we can get to our chicken friends. I was just thinking what I would do. The vet my sister works for rehabilitates eagles, hawks and owls. I doubt he'd bat an eye if I brought in a chicken.

So, how is she enjoying the movies?

[Obi]

Well, I have offically gone off the deep end:no:. Sonia was doing well, or so I had thought, when I change her splint on Saturday morning, there was a massive infection brewing. Her leg was hot, still very swollen, and she was looking rather pathetic. Now, I supposed I should have 'let her go' but she laid an egg that morning for me so I felt that she was still trying. I called my large animal vet to find out if there was an antibiotic (other than the tetracyline that I was putting in her water) that I could give her. They do not treat chickens but their small animal clinic does so what do I do? I drive her in to be examined.

Well, $100+ (I am way to ashamed to admit the total amount:()later, she was dx. with a broken leg and is on pain meds, two antibiotics, and she has a bright blue 'spoon splint' on her leg. She is perkier and is doing much better. Of course, I cannot eat her eggs for 2 months, but heck, she is worth it.

And she will be forced to watch a mini series of all the worst B movies I can find to make up for the *(&%# vet bill I just paid!

Am I crazy or what. BTW>>>I am getting a copy of the x-ray and framing it!

[JSwan]

And she will be forced to watch a mini series of all the worst B movies I can find to make up for the *(&%# vet bill I just paid!

Am I crazy or what. BTW>>>I am getting a copy of the x-ray and framing it!

Yes, you are crazy. :lol:

May I suggest you both settle in for Bruce Campbell movie marathon? Start with Evil Dead. It's a classic. Watch all the Evil Dead movies first - to get you in the mood.

I was up early this am and was treated to Alien Apocalypse. Pure Genius.

A possible side effect of a Bruce Campbell movie marathon is that your hen may go insane and jump in a pot of boiling water just to get away from the tv. :lol:

Hope she's better soon. :)

[5]

Well, I have offically gone off the deep end:no:. Sonia was doing well, or so I had thought, when I change her splint on Saturday morning, there was a massive infection brewing. Her leg was hot, still very swollen, and she was looking rather pathetic. Now, I supposed I should have 'let her go' but she laid an egg that morning for me so I felt that she was still trying. I called my large animal vet to find out if there was an antibiotic (other than the tetracyline that I was putting in her water) that I could give her. They do not treat chickens but their small animal clinic does so what do I do? I drive her in to be examined.

Well, $100+ (I am way to ashamed to admit the total amount:()later, she was dx. with a broken leg and is on pain meds, two antibiotics, and she has a bright blue 'spoon splint' on her leg. She is perkier and is doing much better. Of course, I cannot eat her eggs for 2 months, but heck, she is worth it.

And she will be forced to watch a mini series of all the worst B movies I can find to make up for the *(&%# vet bill I just paid!

Am I crazy or what. BTW>>>I am getting a copy of the x-ray and framing it!

Good for you! If she lives you will 'not' reget this.

Hoping that the rest of the re'coop'eration goes uneventfully after this.

Don't feel stupid. I took one of my macaws into three different vets for tests because he sneezes and all three vets told me 'some birds just sneeze.' The last vet was the state expert and I took all three birds in for a rundown so I am well into the four digits in vet bills for healthy birds who never 'were' sick. The sneezy bird also gets carsick (fun fun fun I love to cleanup bird york.) I thought I bought a dying bird when I got him and was driving him home. I'm sure he thought he was dying too. He now rides so he can't see out the window.

For bad B movies you can download MST3K in 10 minute clips off of youtube. Movies don't get worse than that.

Best spoof B movies that I have seen (Killer tomatoes '78 & '88, Skeleton of Cadavra '01)

If Sonja doesn't have a last name may I suggest she be called Sonja Sortafryer.

[BelladonnaLily]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:

For a chicken? :lol: Seriously, I had a boss that hauled his to Va Tech for SURGERY. She had a stuck egg :yes: She passed on the table...he still got teared up about it year later. So apparently yes, some people do call the vets for a chickens.

But it sounds like the open has this one well under control. I doubt the vet would do anything more than tell the OP what everyone else here has.

OP, Hope your chicken gets well soon...sounds like you've had good advice.

Whoops...just read your update. Sounds like something crazy my sister would do...she spent $40 in vet bills for an $8 hamster once. :lol: Just means you have a good heart! And at least you didn't pay for surgery at Tech ;) Again, hope chickie is feeling better soon!

[Trixie]

I can top that... I had a friend that spent $180 to euthanize a rat.

[2DogsFarm]

may I suggest she be called Sonja Sortafryer.

:lol::lol::lol:

I wanna hire you to name my next hen!
So far I have pullets named:
Noodle
Salad
&
Xtra Crispy

[saratoga]

Aww, we would surely do it too!
Hope she gets well soon :)

[MintHillFarm]

My 4 year old gelding tends to chase my chickens (because they are the only thing that runs from him, lol). The girls usually get out of the way but it looks like my favorite chicken wasn't fast enough and has a broken leg. It is not an open fracture, but I can feel movement in the bone, between her ankle and 'hock'. She is eating and drinking and I have put a soft splint on it but she is having a great deal of difficulty moving. I have split her away from the flock and she seems uncomfortable but okay. Is there anything else I can do? She hops around on her good leg but she is not very mobile and is currently in the chicken house with a fan on. Please do not advise me to put her to sleep as she is my favorite chicken and if that time comes, I will know and do the right thing. Can she survive with one leg? Will it heal? But for right now, and words of wisdom?

My Indian Runner, Missy, must have gotten stepped on too years ago. I kept her in a very small area, with food and water, for many months; she basically let me know when she was ready to move out. My vet at the time suggested I put her to sleep but I wasn't going to give up as long as she ate and drank...She's fine today (at age 13!) and although she has a distinctly odd gait, she manages fine. She now has a 12 x 12 stall and 15 x 30' paddock that she shares with another duck, a goose and a chicken. They have a small door opening to their paddock but she no longer has the whole barn area to use. She would not be able to get out of the way of a horse quickly if she had to.

I would continue doing what you are doing now and I would bet your girl will be ok!

[ponygirl]

Yep, I did indeed call a vet for Dorey, a silver gray dorking. I asked if the vet would see a chicken and followed that question up with: "She's a rare breed chicken." hoping they'd not think I was crazy. The vet agreed and the office person was taking my info when she said: "There is no chicken in the database but we do have an alien so I'll put her in as an alien" About 30 minutes later, I arrived with said alien and took my seat in the waiting area. I was told I looked too well dressed to be bringing in a chicken. I had just come from work and sat there pondering what they were expecting an owner of an alien to look like. I was ushered into a room about 20 minutes later and heard a vet tech say "The alien is in room two." In comes the vet. She felt her abdomen and said she'd like to take an x-ray. Oooook. Twenty minutes later and $110 later, I was driving my alien chicken to the avian specialist. I was somewhat stunned that the specialist agreed to see a chicken.

When I arrived I asked if the vet was indeed told it was a chicken or if she was told I had an alien. Vet assistant laughed and said that she knew it was a chicken. Turns out, the vet's very first "poor mans parrot" was a chicken she named Wanda. I knew I was not considered crazy by this vet. She ended up having egg yolk peritonitis (non septic) and had surgery. Vet also removed a 1.2 lb cyst and cleaned her up. She survived and I was told to come get her the following day. When we arrived to retrieve alien chicken, an older woman with a beautiful small red parrot said to me: "Are you the chicken's mom?" My husband about died. lol We went home with metacam, baby parrot food, a stomach tube and baytril. Total bill from specialist was $135.

Dorey had best not lay eggs again and if she does, she better lay golden eggs. And yes, I'd do it again.

[5]

How is Sonia doing?
It's been over a day since your last post and our feathered friends can go downhill quick.

Jingles! Jingles! Jingles! Jingles!

One from me and one from each of the beastie, bitey, overbeaked parrots.

Stay strong Sonia. Stay with us. Do it for your family.

A kind spirit has no price tag. Be it a 12 cent fish or a 100K warmblood.

[Obi]

Well, Sonia, Warrior Princess (aka, the next chicken dinner at Le Cirque) is doing great! I replaced her bandage yesterday and the infection is much better. She is moving around much better and is spending her nights in a private 'chicken coop' suite and her days in the extra large dog cage where she can have a view of her chicken friends without being in harms way.

Her appetite is great, she is eating her medication without a problem and she is laying eggs again.

Thank you all for your support (both medical advice and emotional "I have not gone off the deep end" comments.

[Auventera Two]

Well, I've taken my goldfish to the vet so you're definitely not crazy. Or if you are, I'm probably more crazy than you are. :lol:

And I did get some funny looks when I sat in the waiting room with my Rhode Island Red hen, Henny in a Pottery Barn box on my lap. :o She had to be euthanized, she was 10+ years old and had been unable to walk for a couple of days. I don't know what happened but I know I sat in the waiting room and cried like a baby while the staff tried not to laugh too hard.

[johnnysauntie]

I once took an itty bitty pet lizard - the little green kind you get in a pet shop for a buck ninety-five - to a vet for an eye infection. I lived in the city at the time, researched and found an exotic pet vet out in the burbs. I flat out liked that lizard (after he jumped down the cleavage of a beloved uncle's horrible girlfriend, that little lizard won my loyalty.) I am sorry that you had to take your birdy to the vet but I understand why you did! I'll second the jingles for Sonia! :winkgrin: She IS worth it!



Well, $100+ (I am way to ashamed to admit the total amount:()later, she was dx. with a broken leg and is on pain meds, two antibiotics, and she has a bright blue 'spoon splint' on her leg. She is perkier and is doing much better. Of course, I cannot eat her eggs for 2 months, but heck, she is worth it.

And she will be forced to watch a mini series of all the worst B movies I can find to make up for the *(&%# vet bill I just paid!

Am I crazy or what. BTW>>>I am getting a copy of the x-ray and framing it!

[Carol Ames]

I propose we form a support group like cpla crazy pet lovers anonymous; membership to which will become :yes::cool:prized!and we will keep vet bills in a registry of some sort; My father always said that the bill for my dogs' broken leg built the fancy new building for our local:lol:vet! He never mentioned my sisters' hamster who, the vet referred to as "a r:mad:odent" upsetting my :cry:mother who, was the "charge :winkgrin:nurse"

[SmartAlex]

Too heck with being crazy for taking a chicken to the VET... there was one woman in our area who used to bring her little red hen to horse shows. She sat in her lap, dressed in the costume of the day. It was ADORABLE. I think she even painted her nails. I remember seing her in a little calico dress.

[sisu27]

I can top that... I had a friend that spent $180 to euthanize a rat.

That doesn't blow my mind. I don't get having a rat but what the hell. The animals worth shouldn't have anything to do with spendng the $$ to make them well...IMO. My rescue Dobe Mak cost $225....between bloat surgery and misdiagnosis of heart disease with 4 different vest, pancreatitis, home euth...I bet I paid over $15 000 in his lifetime (8 yrs) in vet bills. Wouldn't change a thing...he was worth every penny and then some. If others chose to do otherwise that is their perogative but it bothers me when people question your sanity for spending X on a vet bill when animal is only "worth" X-Y. So what? We have horses for cripes sake....talk about poor "investments"!!

[starrysky]

I am so glad she is doing well!

Count me in as one of the "crazies" - I had a guinea pig who started out with what we thought was a scratched eye from his buddy. Took him to the vet, and got medicine for the eye. Eye proceeded to get worse, and begin to bulge out of the poor guy's head. Took him back to the doctor, where he did have to be PTS. It was sad. I think I was around 19 or 20 at the time.

I am pretty sure the vet bill was around $150 for the poor little pig. I loved him and as an animal owner, no matter what the animal, I will do what I can to provide a good life for my pets. I'd do it again.

[Quinn]

I think you're a star for taking Ms. Chicken to the Vet. Good for you.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ballyduff

[Blue Bandit]

While visiting Southern Pines recently, my sis and I went to a local feed store (in Vass, I think) to pick up a few things for our hosts...it was one of those great old-timey places with old wooden floors and all kinds of wonderful aromas and a warm southern feel. As I talked to the man behind the counter I noticed what looked like a stuffed rooster perched there about a foot from me. Then I realised he was breathing! "Yup," said the counterman, "thet's Barney" (or whatever his name was, I can't truly remember) Apparently he has the run of the place and no one could remember how old he was...eight...nine...(he looked ANCIENT) They ruffled his feathers affectionately and woke him up to meet me. Have to admit, it was pretty cute. If you're ever in Vass, have a look at him!

[5]

Too heck with being crazy for taking a chicken to the VET... there was one woman in our area who used to bring her little red hen to horse shows. She sat in her lap, dressed in the costume of the day. It was ADORABLE. I think she even painted her nails. I remember seing her in a little calico dress.


You HAVE to post pictures of that.

[4whitefeet]

Don't feel bad about spending money on the chickie, my hubby still gives me He#! for spending $225 on the goat, when he too didn't move quick enough and ended up getting kicked by one of the horses and ended up with a broken leg. Everyboy told me that I would have to put him to sleep, but I wasn't having any of that. The vet put a cast on him and you wouldn't believe how well a goat can get around on 3 legs. He was even able to jump up on the round bales to nap. :eek: Oh yeah, this happened 8 yrs ago, and I even put him in the front seat of the truck to take him to the vet.:lol:

Hope your chickie is doing better...

[Carol Ames]

I'm sure she felt much better with the pain relief :yes:and infection subsiding; remember mark 25:40 in as much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me. my mother lived her life this way :yes:, and I have chosen this as my lifes' scripture verse.I think you are doing the right thing:yes:, for how can caring for another being be wrong:no:? though, I do sympathize with your having to justify :yes:the expense :mad:to others

[Carol Ames]

I can't help myself:lol: fast forward past the Canada promos to Jay Leno
http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/video/clips/terry-bradshaws-love-connection-51909/1107561/

[moribelle]

Well, Sonia, Warrior Princess (aka, the next chicken dinner at Le Cirque) is doing great! I replaced her bandage yesterday and the infection is much better. She is moving around much better and is spending her nights in a private 'chicken coop' suite and her days in the extra large dog cage where she can have a view of her chicken friends without being in harms way.

Her appetite is great, she is eating her medication without a problem and she is laying eggs again.

Thank you all for your support (both medical advice and emotional "I have not gone off the deep end" comments.

Nope, and in fact, we had a Rhode Island Red whose belly was so bloated, and she just laid there and groaned, I had to take her to the vet. Outside chicken mind you, plenty of "scratch", she just had to poop. Enema given, pooped in the vet's office. Cost me $60.00. He didn't seem to mind.:D:D

[5]

Is Sonia up and on her feet yet?

[Pennyhill]

Doesn't anybody call vets any more? :confused:


I have actually asked 2 different vets what I should do with an injured chicken, and they both gave me the same advice - "get a pan. put some oil in it and heat to 375...."

[RiverBendPol]

This is a great thread! THANK YOU for taking Sonia to the vet. I was starting to get cranky as I was reading...I'm so pleased she's doing well.

We had a Rhode Island Red one time who was mauled by my good friend's dog. The chicken (Jane) was not doing well so I took her to the vet. After some palpations and xrays, we agreed poor old Jane needed to cross The Bridge. ($chi-chinggg$) She had hatched in a small basket in our kitchen under a hanging light bulb, my children's grubby little paws turning the egg several times a day. I never dreamed she's actually hatch but sure enough! She was about 4 years old when she met her demise. Our daughter Kate said a few words at the burial in our garden. The last sentence from Kate's eulogy, (age 6) were, "Jane.....She was a good bird." There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

The other time most of you would deem me crazy was when I came upon a flock of white puddle ducks next to the road by the Charles River in MA. Obviously someone had dumped them. I stopped the car, got out to see what the heck and they all came scuttling over to me. One of them had a huge hole in her croup (?). I scooped her up and took her home. Put her in the bath tub with some food and water. She was starving. She gobbled up the stuff and it came pouring out the hole in her chest. Eeeeeeeeew. Took her straight to the vet who LOVED DUCKS. I had never used this clinic before, they were the bird doctors. She did a big surgery, called to report the duck had had an infestation of MAGGOTS (I was really grossed out by now) but that the duck was fine and happy and ready to go home. I jumped in my car, zoomed over to pick the thing up, all excited to be adding a duck to the crowd at home. When I got there, the vet was no where to be seen, the receptionist told me the duck had died. Huh? In the 15 minutes it had taken me to get there? We doubt it. We suspect that old duck-loving-vet snatched her and took her right home.

[harveyhorses]

I'm glad Sonia is doing better. Too bad she can't rate the movies.
I think my vet would look at a chicken, but I KNOW he does not do spiders. We had taken a cat with a broken leg in late on a Saturday, and while we were there a woman called and asked if he coul see her sick spider. He suggested a heavy book and made dropping motions. This did NOT get relayed to the spider owner. It is (in my little mind anyway) much easier to love a chicken than a spider. (shudder) To each their own.

[kookicat]

I'm glad Sonia is doing better. Too bad she can't rate the movies.
I think my vet would look at a chicken, but I KNOW he does not do spiders. We had taken a cat with a broken leg in late on a Saturday, and while we were there a woman called and asked if he coul see her sick spider. He suggested a heavy book and made dropping motions. This did NOT get relayed to the spider owner. It is (in my little mind anyway) much easier to love a chicken than a spider. (shudder) To each their own.

:eek::lol::lol::lol::cool:

[Dajuliz]

You can splint the leg with popsicle sticks to help it heal straight; she might squawk if you need to place the break, but don't mess around with it too much. A crooked leg is better than none. Use plenty of duct tape to secure the splint and keep her from moving as much as possible, plus anything to stop infection or speed up healing (Antibiotics, etc.). If you still have any questions, you can check out http://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/index.php. The members there will certainly have an answer. Good luck with your bird!