Chicken attacked by dog last week, questions about leg mobility and poop. No vet in area. Graphic photos

[Wyorp Rock]

The wounds aren't closed up enough for me to comfortably put her in the coop in isolation. I don't want bedding sticking to the ointment. I read on here to not cover them either, but leave it open. Is this correct?

She is not using her legs. The left one is pulled up under her body. The right leg was, but now she splays it out to the side. Both legs are warm. The right leg can now grip with her toes when encouraged. I cannot feel any breaks or see anything 'wrong' and wondering if it could be something up high close bro the body. She doesn't mind me massaging her legs, but doesn't like if I try to gently position them underneath her (manipulate the area up in the thigh).

I also gave her a half baby aspirin this afternoon because she has been shaking and more vocal when I am moving her to treat wounds. I was worried initially not wanting to have internal bleeding. I will only give a couple days if she's still seams in pain. Without vet, I don't know how to get Meloxicam.

Our home is heated by a fireplace and bathroom is cool. I had read to have them 75-80 degrees so she doesn't waste energy. Bathroom is probably 60ish. I open door at night when dogs are contained in our bedroom to warm, but keep closed most of the day.

Poor Girl!

Sounds like you are treating the wounds very well, they look good from what I can see in the photos.

You are correct about sling time, giving her breaks as needed. Propping her up on towels to lay on is a good idea too.
If the bathroom is cool, then by all means give her a cover up. A sick/injured bird often needs some supplemental heat since it does take energy for them to stay warm. Being in one place, they can get a little chilly. 70-75F is good, so a towel covering her should probably do it.

As for the legs not working well. She may have suffered some nerve damage and this will take time to recover from. Possible she may not gain full function, but you 6days is early to tell how much function she will have.

The shaking is a bit of a concern, it's probably a pain response.
For aspirin, you can give 1/2tablet of an 81mg Aspirin orally 1-2times a day for 2-3days. Aspirin use is short term, it can cause some intestinal bleeding if used longer.

It wouldn't hurt to start her on some vitamins giving B-Complex (1/4tablet) and 400IU Vitamin E.

Green poop can be from not eating well and lots of white urates can be from dehydration. There are other causes, but with her being injured and off food for a little while, likely it's all summed up with diet/hydration.
Wet mushy feed, bits of egg, fish (sardines/mackerel), bits of tomato, etc. She may get picky and you'll have to try a few different things. Eating something for now is good, encourage her normal feed, but sometimes they just are not interested, so you have to change things up. Once healed and feeling better, she will eat her normal feed.

It's good that she can spend a bit of time with the flock/outside time. Little visits can be uplifting for them. I agree with you, you don't want to put her back with the flock until she's healed and able to move about on her own. Visits are good. If weather is bad, if she has a friend that can come inside for short visits, that may be something to consider. Sometimes that goes well, other times not, you'd have to try it that and see.

 

[Bulcaoma]

Ok, Wyorp Rock.Thank you for the info.

So should I completely stop any poultry cell or nutri drench in water? Instead start b complex and vitamin e? I have a b complex and can go get E tomorrow.

I will try to keep food interesting .

I read that about aspirin. I gave in today since I spent more time treating her wounds followed with putting her in the sling. It's hard seeing her shaking and not feeling like a I have anything I can do as I don't have a vet to get prescription pain meds.

Any advice for keeping her out of her poo when she's spinning/flailing around in crate? This started yesterday. Gives me hope she's trying to move, but bad at it. I have puppy pads and put under her, but I try to not pick up if I can help it due to the amount of damage she has. I just don't want it getting in her wounds or me having to clean her often creating more disturbance.

Any thoughts on frequency of using the sling?

Thanks again

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So should I completely stop any poultry cell or nutri drench in water? Instead start b complex and vitamin e? I have a b complex and can go get E tomorrow.

Any advice for keeping her out of her poo when she's spinning/flailing around in crate? This started yesterday. Gives me hope she's trying to move, but bad at it. I have puppy pads and put under her, but I try to not pick up if I can help it due to the amount of damage she has. I just don't want it getting in her wounds or me having to clean her often creating more disturbance.

You can use the Poultry Cell or PND in the water if she's drinking it. Most all of my birds will not willingly drink vitamin water. I've found it easier just to give the vitamins orally and let them just drink fresh plain water, this way they don't become dehydrated.

They are going to get poop on them moving around, that's just a given.
I see you have puppy pads which can be helpful and makes for easier cleanup. You can try cutting a puppy pad into smaller squares, then putting a square under her vent so when she poops, you can toss that and put a new one down, this may help with more frequent cleanups, but again, they are going to get poop on them.

Frequency of using the sling. If she seems comfy in the sling, then put her in it for a while until she seems agitated. There's not really a timeline, you'll have to go by her behavior.

 

[Bulcaoma]

You can use the Poultry Cell or PND in the water if she's drinking it. Most all of my birds will not willingly drink vitamin water. I've found it easier just to give the vitamins orally and let them just drink fresh plain water, this way they don't become dehydrated.

They are going to get poop on them moving around, that's just a given.
I see you have puppy pads which can be helpful and makes for easier cleanup. You can try cutting a puppy pad into smaller squares, then putting a square under her vent so when she poops, you can toss that and put a new one down, this may help with more frequent cleanups, but again, they are going to get poop on them.

Frequency of using the sling. If she seems comfy in the sling, then put her in it for a while until she seems agitated. There's not really a timeline, you'll have to go by her behavior.

Thank you for res

You can use the Poultry Cell or PND in the water if she's drinking it. Most all of my birds will not willingly drink vitamin water. I've found it easier just to give the vitamins orally and let them just drink fresh plain water, this way they don't become dehydrated.

They are going to get poop on them moving around, that's just a given.
I see you have puppy pads which can be helpful and makes for easier cleanup. You can try cutting a puppy pad into smaller squares, then putting a square under her vent so when she poops, you can toss that and put a new one down, this may help with more frequent cleanups, but again, they are going to get poop on them.

Frequency of using the sling. If she seems comfy in the sling, then put her in it for a while until she seems agitated. There's not really a timeline, you'll have to go by her behavior.

Thank you for responding Wyorp Rock. I appreciate you giving me a little more clarification. I've slipped the b complex and vitamin e into a treat of homemade canned tuna.

Like the puppy pads trick when she's moving around in circles her body keeps her poop off the wounds.

UPDATE: She's putting weight on the right leg in the sling and it is what is helping her move around in circles in the crate.

 

[coach723]

It's good you are seeing some improvement in the right leg. You can probably raise her up a little higher in the sling, so the feet just touch, but she doesn't really bear weight, that may help with the spinning some. When out of the sling if you prop her up with rolled up bath towels, make it like a donut with her in the middle, she may settle down. I have a big pile of old towels I save for animal use and just wash them as I use them. I've found that has helped with some birds, keeps them comfortable and more upright and they don't struggle so much. See if it works for her. I just give the the vitamins in their beak, push back a little and she'll swallow. Sometimes they really try to spit the b complex out depending on the form, it has a strong taste. But do what works.

 

[Bulcaoma]

It's good you are seeing some improvement in the right leg. You can probably raise her up a little higher in the sling, so the feet just touch, but she doesn't really bear weight, that may help with the spinning some. When out of the sling if you prop her up with rolled up bath towels, make it like a donut with her in the middle, she may settle down. I have a big pile of old towels I save for animal use and just wash them as I use them. I've found that has helped with some birds, keeps them comfortable and more upright and they don't struggle so much. See if it works for her. I just give the the vitamins in their beak, push back a little and she'll swallow. Sometimes they really try to spit the b complex out depending on the form, it has a strong taste. But do what works.

Thank you coach723. The spinning or scooting around in circles is when she's laying down in crate. Sorry that wasn't clear. In sling she is touching just enough to make flat foot with a little pressure on right it if she wants. Left still not doing much. Today she was putting a bit of pressure flat footed, a little shaky at first, that I thought was pain, but the shaky stopped and she still had a little pressure. I'm wondering if it was more weakness and getting a little work out .

I've been rubbing/massaging the left leg and foot. Might be pointless, but hoping she'll 'feel' something and make progress.

I tried vitamin in her beak and she wasn't having it. Scrambled eggs aren't as exciting as she gets a little almost daily now, but she really gobbled the tuna. How long should I give her b complex and vitamin e? Until fully healed, or to a specific point?

This morning she was almost sitting like normal with legs practically up under her. Very encouraging. Not sure if she moved left leg or it was a lucky mistake. I like the towel donut idea. I've been doing a bunch of chicken towel laundry I started using puppy pads on top of towels now that she's scooting circles in crate because they soak up odor better. Keeping hubby from pushing to get her outside immediately as we only have 1 bathroom.

I appreciate all the knowledge you're sharing. I'll take all I can get.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You can give the vitamins for a couple of months if necessary.

It's good that she's putting some pressure on the leg. It can take time for them to start to work things out. She may be testing to see what she can tolerate. She may be very sore.

Massaging the legs is a good idea if she's agreeable. It may be helpful and feel nice too.

I think you are doing a good job taking care of her.

 

[Bulcaoma]

You can give the vitamins for a couple of months if necessary.

It's good that she's putting some pressure on the leg. It can take time for them to start to work things out. She may be testing to see what she can tolerate. She may be very sore.

Massaging the legs is a good idea if she's agreeable. It may be helpful and feel nice too.

I think you are doing a good job taking care of her.

Ok Wyorp Rock. I'll keep up with the vitamins longish term and massaging.