Hen leg just hanging, broken?

[skkm]

I have a 2 year old white leg horn hen. I just noticed she was not using her left leg. I examined it and it's just hanging. She's not even flexing her toes. It's just a totally limp leg. One day she was fine and the next day a cripple. I don't know how to tell if it's broken. She is lying down most of the time and doesn't go outside. She's eating and looks bright. When I was manipulating her leg she didn't seem to have any pain. I don't know if it could be broken or something with the tendons?
My vet is away for 10 days plus it's the weekend.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks so much,
skkm

 

[Kiki]

Can you post a video to Youtube and link it here?

 

[staceyj]

If you could, pictures would be very helpful.

Questions/suggestions:
Have you recently added any new birds to your flock?

Starting at the hip:
When you manipulated her leg did you feel any obvious unnatural movement or grinding ?
Is she choosing to lie on her side or her keel bone?

Is the foot splayed out like an open hand or contracted?

If you pinch her toes one at a time, does she react in any way?

Stroke her foot pad, any response at all?

In good lighting, are her pupils equal in size, normal in shape and reactive to light?

How high up do your chickens roost?

 

[Quackers3211]

Please post pics. You can click the upload a files in the reply section and upload a pick from your phone. If your using a different device there is an icon with mountains and a sun next to a smiley face you can use.

 

[Quackers3211]

The more info we have the better we can help you.

 

[skkm]

Ok I think I have the answers to your questions:
I have not added any new chickens.
I didn't feel any unnatural movement or grinding.
She chooses to lie on her keel.
The foot is contracted.
I pinched the toes there was no reaction.
I stroked her foot pad no response.
Her pupils are normal.
My highest roost is 36".
I will try posting a picture. She's getting around pretty good on one leg and even layed an egg.

 

[staceyj]

If she’s eating and laying and doesn’t seem too upset you could just watch her.

I’d be tempted to watch her more closely though. I’d probably bring her inside and make her comfortable in a crate for a day or two. With observation, I think you could determine if it’s a harbinger of impending illness or if it’s an injury.

She might benefit from a splint if it’s an injury (but not if she’s got no control of the foot)
or even a hanging sling to take the weight off the leg.

I’m sure hoping someone else has a constructive idea because I am finding myself shrugging my shoulders here.

 

[Quackers3211]

I agree with staceyj, I’d just watch it. That for me is something I’d need to see in person to give you a good answer. All I can recommend is just watching it. I had a chicken that had an issue similar to that because my roo got too ruff and I just separated her into my quarantine pen and gave her a week. Her foot is fine now she just didn’t really react to me touching her foot because she was so tame.

 

[skkm]

Ok upon inspecting my chicken again I would say the problem is in the hock joint. It just sways and turns and there's no resistance there. I can just twist it and turn it and it's just limp from that point down. It's like the joint may be broken? Does anyone have an idea of what can happen to a hock joint?
She's the same as yesterday, hopping around on one leg, eating and drinking.
I've separated her from the others where she can rest.
Thanks so much!

 

[staceyj]

There’s another thread going on right now that is similar to yours.
Here’s the link.

Looks like something that
@Eggcessive has knowledge about.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-help-possible-broken-leg.1240567/#post-19909494