[juliag]

Hoppity Hen
Last week as i let the hens out i realised that one was still left in her house tipped over to one side as she looked out of the door, I went and carried her out (terrible weather) and took her over to the polytunnel where we are storing straw and the hens have adopted it as 2nd home in bad weather. On close inspection her leg appears to be broken right at the top and although warm is just hanging limply. Oh God I thought as she was one of my favourite hens. As she appeared to be quite happy I left her eating and drinking with bowls next to her. When I went in I asked O/H if he had noticed this when he put her away the previous night to which he hadnt and said it must have happened overnight. He also said he would go up later to dispatch her.
During the course of the day he arranged for someone else to go up with him that evening and if it was necessary they would kill her. They found her still hopping but seemingly quite happy. Now a week on she is still hopping , but gets herself quickly from her henhouse up to the poly tunnel, is eating and drinking well and in the evening is taking herself back down to her house again. She is still holding her own with the other hens and generally seems happy, broken leg and all!!
Are we doing the right thing letting her hop her way into old age?

[little blue]

Is there any way to splint it? 
We had a hen who ripped all her claw off, we bathed it, sprayed it with iodine and wrapped tons of plaster and bandages round it, then isolated her.
If yours doesnt seem in pain, then give her a chance, I'd say!

[shetlandpaul]

nope can't agree. unless the leg was properly fixed your causing unnessery pain. the options are vets treatment, try imoblising the break or killing her. to be honest you need to kill her. we have to  remain detached. the chuck will be in pain but they will not show it.

[Roxy]

I think it would have had to be splinted right away, if thats what you were going to do.

I have had a few hens got trodden on by the big goats or the llama.  A couple of weeks ago one of the silkie pullets was hopping, with one leg hanging.  I have never had one that bad before, and considered culling her.  Then someone told me to leave her, and see what happened ......I put her in a large indoor rabbit crate, plenty of bedding and food and water within reach.  She wobbled round on one leg, took a few days to adjust her balance.  Never stopped eating or drinking, and singing away to herself, so to my mind, she did not look miserable or in severe pain.  Had that been the case, she would have been culled of  course.

Over the last couple of days, she has been standing up - on both legs, and taking a few little steps round her little home!!  I suspect she will always have a  bad limp, but I have grown fond of her, watching her battle along this last fortnight.  I have a little coop and run, and will put her with one of the ex battery hens in there, where she will be safe from any more clod hoppers in the field.

[nerka]

i keep racing pigeons as well as chickens and ducks and have had numerous pigeons break legs over years and have tried splints and immobilising them but have found by far the best way is to lock them up in a box on a really deep bed of shavings and its amazing how quickly they heal, just ensure the shavings form a nice soft bed dont let them get compacted
all best nerka

[juliag]

Thanks Roxy, and to be honest shetland paul I would normally agree with you immediatley, however this hen really does seem quite happy and is making her way around fine and very fast! One minute she is on the muck heap scrabbling around after worms the next she is back down the bottom of the field having a drink! She comes when you call her and is acting perfectly naturally ............just on one leg!  She is even managing to perch at night much to my suprise, she has always been high on the pecking order (pardon the pun) and still is, so I dont think the other hens have noticed too much wrong with her.

[Hermit]

You really do need to see a vet if she is not using it soon as the leg might be 'dead' If it is dead it will feel cold as there is no circulation, if there is circulation there is a chance she may recover. Glad she is getting a chance though. Hermit

[juliag]

Hi hermit, the leg is warm and today she used it to get up, she was sunning herself in the polytunnel,  This was the first time I have noticed her putting weight on it although once up she did hop away.

[Hermit]

Glad to hear it,all the best Hermit

[shetlandpaul]

Hi hermit, the leg is warm and today she used it to get up, she was sunning herself in the polytunnel,  This was the first time I have noticed her putting weight on it although once up she did hop away.

good news if she is. we had a lamd with a broken leg. we were debating trying to save it but the vet over ruled us. if she is a family pet still get her checked. it should not cost a fortune for a quick check.

[Roxy]

Nice spring like day today, the sun is out!!  Thought it would be nice for limpy hen to go out in the little run to enjoy the sunshine. Put her in with an ex battery hen for company .......limpy hen stood up straight, put weight on the broken leg and walked round the pen - very pronounced limp as predicted, but I was so pleased to see that happen.  The leg was really limp, and hanging, and I thought there was no way it would come right.

There is one thing I am not pleased about though.  After doing a lap of the run, limpy silkie stood up straight and crowed ....twice   On closer inspection, my pullet seems to have developed the makings of a comb.  Yes, it has turned into a cockerel.  It never crossed my mind, as it was so dainty and small. 

[shetlandpaul]

oh dear.

[Roxy]

Yes.Shetland Paul, that is just what I said ......

[doganjo]

Yes.Shetland Paul, that is just what I said ......

Bet it wasn't what you said   I said a helluva lot more when I first heard Jamie crow!  Unil then he was Jasmine!

[Roxy]

  

I was feeling pleased with myself at just having reduced the numbers of bantam cockerels round the place ......I have noticed a few young cockerels advertised locally.  Looks like other people have heard their "pullets" crowing too. 

What is annoying, is that my present bantam cockerel seems to be infertile, or I think he may be, as all the eggs I sat from the silkies last year did not hatch.....so really I do need a replacement......but not a very lame one of course!!