Lame Chicken - feel terrible

[mini-eventer]

Hi guys just need some moral support. Any experience would be welcome. I've been treating a chicken for bumblefoot. Really good patient doing well. Then yesterday she got away from me when I was bandaging her and landed funny.

She is now lame barely weight baring on her good leg . I feel beyond devastated we have been straight to the vet and she is on Metacam and antibiotics (for the other leg)

I was hoping for some improvement this morning but she looks so sore still. Although still easting well etc.

I can't believe I may have injured her and feel sick to my stomach. My partner is been totally unsupportive and acting like I did it intentionally.

Anyone else had experience with chicken injuries?

We adore this chicken

 

[Clodagh]

I killed one once by dropping a hen house on it, nothing to boast about but just to say it happens.
Put her on box rest, it’s probably just a bruise or sprain.

 

[mini-eventer]

Thanks I appreciate it. I know sh*t happens but it hard not to feel awful.

We only have 2 hens now and the other is elderly and gentle. I have put the food and water next to the coop and lifted her out. She's not moving about much at all. I will cage her if she starts moving about

 

[JackFrost]

I rescued one, literally, from the talons of a buzzard. It was completely unable to walk, I suspect its leg was broken. I laid it on its side in a coop with another quiet hen, with food and water close by, and expected it would not live. For several days it lay like that, but slowly got back on its feet and was well again in a few weeks. It died years later of old age. Be patient, they are tough.

 

[Clodagh]

I got one off a Fox, she was an old game hen called Mildred. You could see her wishbone and innards.
She was a lovely hen so she went to the vets for ABs and made a full recovery. Never did lay another egg but I let her off. ?

 

[Birker2020]

Thanks I appreciate it. I know sh*t happens but it hard not to feel awful.

We only have 2 hens now and the other is elderly and gentle. I have put the food and water next to the coop and lifted her out. She's not moving about much at all. I will cage her if she starts moving about

When I volunteered for the British Hen Welfare Trust we rescued 650 hens in one morning from a barn set up. We formed a chain of about four of us, from the barn to where we parked the van to take the hens to the rescue place and where they would be collected later that day by adoptees.

I ended up for a time being front of the 'chain' and had to take three hens upside down in each hand off the farmer and then carry them to the next in line. DEFRA guidelines say that this is the best way to carry hens. Towards the end of the morning as we changed positions in the 'chain' I ended up right at the back of the chain so I was last person to hand the birds to the bloke in the van who was then putting them in the crate. As he went to put the six from me in one of the crates he found a lifeless one I'd handed to him. Somewhere along the chain it had died although none of us had been rough with them or accidently banged their heads or anything.

It really saddened me that it was so near to freedom and yet had died. It must have had a heart attack or maybe been sick anyway but I have never forgot the pathetic little bundle of feathers that didn't make freedom that day....

 

[Gloi]

I still feel guilty about holding one of my grandad's day old chicks too tight when I was about 4 and it died. I did get told off for it though even though I didn't mean to hurt it.

 

[Clodagh]

Birker just FYI It is a horrible way to carry chickens. It may be defra approved but that is because they need emptying out the shed quickly.
If you ever pick up a chicken when you aren’t in a rush let them sit on the palm of your hand with their legs between your fingers . They feel safe and even unhandled ones will sit quietly. You hold their legs with your fingers.
Not having a go, just saying.

 

[Birker2020]

Birker just FYI It is a horrible way to carry chickens. It may be defra approved but that is because they need emptying out the shed quickly.
If you ever pick up a chicken when you aren’t in a rush let them sit on the palm of your hand with their legs between your fingers . They feel safe and even unhandled ones will sit quietly. You hold their legs with your fingers.
Not having a go, just saying.

Don't worry we didn't handle our own like that, we had 8 and we really looked after them. The one used to sit on my shoulder lol.

The rescue day hens were so heavy but they didn't flap their wings at all, apparently that is why they are handled that way and I believe that's why they are slaughtered that way as it is less stressful to them, or so I was told.

Apparently they can quickly die upside down as they can't breathe properly.

 

[mini-eventer]

Thanks guys. Hopefully she will improve in the next few days. She's spent today sat under the hedge next to the coop. Ive taken food water to her so she doesn't have to move. Plus a few treats of course. Her best mate hasn't left her side

 

[mini-eventer]

To update, she seamed marginaly better today. Happier to stand and peck about rather than lay down all day, and brighter. Still extremely sore but I hopeful this is a good sign.?

 

[silv]

hope she makes a full recovery, we get so fond of our hens, they are such timewasters and funny personalities.

 

[millikins]

I hope she improves.
We had a beautiful part silkie cockerill who went very lame one day for no obvious reason. He appeared to have dislocated a hip and googling informed ne that it's not uncommon. Recommended small dose of aspirin and "coop" rest which we did and he got better though was still slightly lame then it went again and we euthanised him. It was sad, he was a sweetie unlike many bantam cocks.

 

[Clodagh]

I hope she improves.
We had a beautiful part silkie cockerill who went very lame one day for no obvious reason. He appeared to have dislocated a hip and googling informed ne that it's not uncommon. Recommended small dose of aspirin and "coop" rest which we did and he got better though was still slightly lame then it went again and we euthanised him. It was sad, he was a sweetie unlike many bantam cocks.

Could well have been Mareks?

 

[millikins]

Could well have been Mareks?

I've not heard of Mareks disease Clodagh but yes it could have been. He was otherwise healthy and in good condition, I believe shallow hip sockets are also not rare. Sadly killing him was the right choice for either condition

 

[Clodagh]

I've not heard of Mareks disease Clodagh but yes it could have been. He was otherwise healthy and in good condition, I believe shallow hip sockets are also not rare. Sadly killing him was the right choice for either condition

Absolutely right. I no longer breed Mareks prone breeds as I just can’t deal with the losses.