Dog attack - limp leg, no blood

[eguiney]

Thanks in advance...

My mom-in-law's tiny dog got out and attacked one of our chickens. The chicken is a 6 week old Australorp. The dog picked her up by the side in his mouth and shook. My wife grabbed the dog and the dog dropped her, and she dragged herself into a bush. One of her legs isn't moving and she doesn't seem to be able to extend and contract her foot on that leg. When I move the leg forward she sits on it normally but when she tries to move it drags behind her and she kind of flops for 6" or a foot and then gives up. She doesn't have any puncture marks, and when I manually move her leg she doesn't make any noises (I don't know if that's because she in shock, can't feel it, or...?).

3 Questions:

1. Any ideas on what's wrong? A cut nerve, tendon, muscle? Shock and she'll be fine tomorrow?brain damage from the shaking?
2. Depending on what it is do we wait it out? Kill her? Take her to a vet?
3. If it's not life-threatening but her leg is dead can a chicken live with one leg? Do we remove the dead leg? Do we need to change her coop, run, and food set up at all to accommodate or will she learn to live with it?

I appreciate the advice!

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like possible nerve damage, but I would see if you could get a vet to examine her. Xrays could help. I would confine her to a dog crate with food and water, and Google "chicken slings and chairs." Those can help position the chicken in front of food and water, and keep them up out of their droppings. They can stay in those for a couple of hours at a time with breaks, and sleep lying down at night. Try to get her drinking some water, and offer some treats of egg or tuna with her feed. I hope your chick gets better.

 

[eguiney]

Thanks for the tip on the sling. Today we just moved her around a lot and made sure she could reach food and water but we'll try her in one tomorrow. She seems to be hopping and flopping short distances, I'm doubtful this is something that will correct but we'll see how it goes.