Broken leg at joint.

[Egghead_Jr]

Has anyone had a chicken with broken leg at elbow (technically a birds wrist)?

At present, this was 3 hours ago, the shank was floppy with no movement of toes. We made a makeshift splint for now, felt for break and seemed right at joint. Held in place best we could to splint.

I'm dubious he'll be able to bend again at that joint and will re-avaluate tomorrow to also make a better splint/cast once gauze is purchased.

Looking for experience with breaks and particularly at the joint. If it was the actual bone I'd be O.K. with splinting and waiting but this is particularly difficult and concerned about the toes not moving.


Thank You


Edited to take out any drama. Just looking for suggestions and aid.

 

[ladyride]

Had a pol pullet get a break 3 days ago same spot we ended up processing her. Broke my heart but she would have always had aproblem with that leg . She had not laid her 1st egg yet. Consider quality of life considering they use those legs for everything . I don't mean to sound insensitive.

 

[flocksalot]

Well we've had two instances of a broken leg at the joint. The first was my African Grey. We made sure she couldn't use the leg for much and she healed up just fine. Now I know she's not a chicken, but they are similar in anatomy. The other was one of my overzealous young roosters. He chased a hen out in front of the 4 wheeler as I was tooling around doing chores. I swerved to miss the hen and never saw the roo coming. Cassidy's leg has never healed right. It's been a good while as it was spring or summer when it happened. He gets along fine by hopping, but he tries to corner hens and he is way rough on them trying to get on and stay on. He will be getting processed along with his curly toed brother in the next few weeks. I think if I had left the splint and wraps on him longer he may have done better, but it's all moot now. He was an absolutely beautiful rooster and I was bummed when it happened, but I think now it would have been better for all if I had just killed him when I hit him. I hope you have better results than me. Good Luck

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Quote:
Even though yours didn't heal right was he eventually able to move toes again? I'm unsure at this point how bad things are and trying to keep positive with our youngsters here. Definitely going to re-bandage and hope for the best. How long did you leave wrap on? I was thinking 3 to 4 weeks. Thoughts?

Ladyride- Yeah, it's not insensitive at all. Definitely keeping the processing in mind and have always told the children here that's what will happen to the roosters in the end. It's just sad as they and I were hoping to breed Cordon this spring. He's 8 months now and the POL pullet I want his seed with has yet to lay...ugh.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'm retiring to bed now,

Going to re-apply the splint with gauze base then stick with another gauze coating. This is all I can think of for now and know first few hours/day are rather crucial. Read about the archives and looking for some hands on... seriously, need some hands on.

I'll re-bandage in morning best I can with a gauze base then splint and another gauze hold to that.


Basically looking for best input before I do that. What I do in morning is what is. Give me some tips or what not. What happens will stay on his leg for however long educated posters say it takes. As for the how long? well....that can wait yeah?


Thank You.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Good Night

 

[mama chick]

the chicken can not even stand up.

 

[brandibaby23]

I just dealt with this. Little serama roo, got a broken leg at the "elbow" it just hung there. I used the tube of a tampon and put it in the best position I could, then gauze, and vet wrapped it and left it on for about 3 weeks, checking everyday to make sure it wasn't too tight. I did keep him isolated in a small cage for he first week to keep him from moving, around jumping ect. He is now doing fine, he CAN lift his leg AND open and close his toes!!!! He does have a slight limp but nothing that ruins his quality of life. He runs, cross and acs normal. I was not hopeful when I started with him but I am glad now that I did. It will heal, it just depends how close you can get the bone back to where it belongs and splint it there, it will heal!!

 

[spicegirls1213]

I have a bird with a break in the same spot - at what angle did you splint the leg? I can't get anything to stay if I try to keep it bent at the same angle as the other foot, instead of out straight.
She won't even sit up on her other leg right now, and won't eat or drink even when i put the dishes within pecking distance or even right up to her beak. She hasn't moved for hours, and then flapped and rolled over to one side, both legs sticking out.
Does anyone have any diagrams??

 

[redpennies15]

I've had chickens for years, but this is my first case of a broken leg. The chicken can move her toes, she even bends her leg when I am holding her, but is unable to stand. She keeps trying to stand on her "knee," can't seem to stand with the leg fully extended. No wound. I have looked at a diagram of a chickens skeletal structure, and I have felt for fractures/out of place bones. I didn't feel anything out of place. I think the problem must the in the "knee" joint. I have her in a No. 2 washtub layered with hay in the house. She has fresh food and water. It is taking some time to convince her that she needs to lay down, not keep trying to stand on it. I don't think a splint is going to help in this case. Immoblizing the knee would make it hard for her to lay down. I'm thinking she may need a week or two of rest. I've been looking up information on what else I can do, but haven't found anything about breaking a leg "at the knee." Maybe tendon/ligament damage? Suggestions?