The leg feels very warm to the touch (the healthy leg is much cooler) and the break is a little looser. She has tried to hobble on it as she does not like being alone; she hobbled back to the main pen as soon as we turned our backs, so we put her in a small pen she can't get out of. The foot on the broken leg appears swollen. We changed the stick splint when my oldest son found a piece of hose to use. What now?

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), September 30, 2001

Answers

Is she eating? Im going to look for websites with ideas. I'd at least try to get her to eat and drink healthfully so she can mend. The hotness seems to me to say infection. But then hens are warmer than people to start with.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.

I've never dealt with a broken leg before, but some things that come to mind are....was the skin broken at all? did you daub with hydrogen peroxide and then apply some triple antiobiotic cream?

The splint sounds fine. I would also add vit/electrolytes to her water (available at the feed store in powder form). i'd also entice her to keep eating by giving her crushed boiled egg and/or dry cat food soaked in water. the added protein will be good for her.

I bet she'll heal just fine. chickens are incredibly resiliant. If you'd like to post this on a poultry only forum, go to

http://www.ameraserve.com/chicken.html#read

it's a verrrry active forum with many visitors such as this one. i'm sure someone that has actually dealt with a broken leg can give more specific ideas.

Good luck!

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), September 30, 2001.