We think our Hen broke her wing, it's just hanging down by her side. Is there anything we can do to help it heal?

-- Laura (snoopy@portup.com), March 11, 2001

Answers

Use some 2" vet wrap and wrap the wing into her body going underneath the good wing. Make sure it is snug enough to fit in place, but not too tight Dianne

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), March 11, 2001.

Don't you have to make sure the bones are properly realigned before immobilizing the wing? Though I don't know enough about chickens to tell you how to do that!

-- Joy F (So.Central Wisconsin) (CatFlunky@excite.com), March 11, 2001.

There are two ways of approaching this;

1. Plase the bird in a cage from which the perches have been removed, and observe the droop of the injured member. If the wing hangs in a graceful droop, as it would if the bird drooped it intentionally, place food and water within easy reach of the bird, and keep it there, for the next ten days, feeding and watering as normal. Make sure that the bird is in no way disturbed, or frightened into trying to use the wing. At the end of that period the injury will be healed, and there is a good chance that the bird will not be crippled.

2. If the wing hangs at an awkward, abnormal angle, it must be folded against the bird's side in as natural a position as possible, and held in place with Vet Wrap, passing the strip around the body in such a manner as to leave the other wing free. (I find that an 'X' over the back works well. Make sure not to restrict the bird's breathing across the abdomen). Stroud's Digest

Even if the bird is crippled in this respect, it will not hinder her in any way from breeding and egglaying, although you may have to make accomodations for her roosting to make sure she is safe at night.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), March 12, 2001.