First time with an injury

[BigBen]

One of my largest hens developed and bad limp the other day. I'm assuming she crash landed off the upper roost and either hit the wall another chicken or the waterer.
Anyway. She doesn't want to put much pressure on it and on accasion she uses her wing like a crutch.
She is sleeping on the lower roost, eating and drinking and laying eggs on the floor.
I am hoping that with some time it gets better on it's own.
Has anyone else had anything like this happen to there birds and if so, what was the outcome.

 

[cobrien]

Have you thoroughly examined her injured foot/leg? If an external injury like a cut, you should clean and apply antibiotic ointment (no lidocaine). If internal, it is hard to say what will happen - if minor and no broken bones, it could heal but if broken and it heals wrong, she could be limping around for the rest of her life. I have a 4 year old one legged chicken so they can survive with only one leg, but with mine, her good leg is starting to fail due to the 4 years of extra work, so this may be the limiting factor on her lifespan. Also, she has started to get picked on by the others due to her weakness, so I have to keep her separated

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If it were mine, I would keep your girl inside in a dog crate for a few days to a week to limit her use of the hurt leg, give her vitamins and electrolytes and make sure she's eating and drinking a lot. Hope she feels better.

 

[BigBen]

I just went out to give the girls fresh water and a treat.I noticed none of them in there outside run were limping.
When I went inside the hen with the limp was in the nesting ox. First time in 2 days.
She jumped out and ran down the ramp to get some treats. She was still limping, but didn't seem to mind.
As I was finishing up she jumped back into the box.
It's starting to look like it might get better without any intervention. I'm keep'in my fingers crossed.

 

[chookchick]

Many, many people have posted on here with limping chickens. I had one that was limping one day. If it is only one leg, then it is probably an injury rather that deficiency etc...Since nobody ever posts back and says they had to cull, I'm assuming they pretty much all healed, eventually (the one-leggers, that is). Darn posters, why don't they ever update us!

You better let us know how she turns out!

 

[BigBen]

Looks like she is going to be fine. She is back on the upper roost and scratching in the shavings..or as I like to call it "doing the Michel Jackson thing" Shes a big girl and very friendly..I'd hate to have lost her.

 

[chookchick]

Thanks for the update! Good to hear that!