Bird People:Chick with a Broken Leg?

Question

I have had chickens for a long time and I know what I'm doing most of the time, but this time I am kinda stumped.
I had a hen hatch out some baby chicks. Another bird attacked one and broke its femur bone.
The chick is probably about 2-3 weeks old.
It is a clean, jagged break.
I have it in a "splint" and the the whole leg is wrapped with vet wrap.
The bird doesnt seem to be in too much pain. He can hop to eat and drink and seems pretty content in the cage.

What else can I do for him?
Not the vet, they have no clue, and NO im not just going to kill him.

The swelling is going down, he is on an antibiotic, and it seems like it may be healing.

What do you think the chances are that the leg will heal?
What can I give him for the pain and swelling?

(and yes I understand it prob. wont heal correctly and he will be a hopper, thats fine I can handle that)

Any input or past experience would be nice! well unless it has just kill it in the answer!

I have been breeding and raising birds for years now.
This chick was attacked, badly by and adult.

Thank you all soo much.
The positive from you all really helped!

Answer 1

It sounds like you're already doing about all you can do. Chin up, though! Baby birds are miraculous healers. Our baby bird had a leg twisted around backward and sideways that looked like it would NEVER be back to normal. But with a splint, medication and time, the leg healed perfectly back to normal.

Just be sure to change the splint every once in a while and don't stop the medication.

Answer 2

The leg probably won't heal correctly as you already said, but if you insist on keeping the bird alive, I would probably do the following and hope for the best. Since it looks like it was a clean break. I would suggest lining the two ends of the bone up as closely as possible and making a splint for it. When making the splint, however you need to make sure the two ends of the bone will be as imobile as possible so it can have a chance to heal normally. Wrap it with vet wrap but make sure you do not cut off the circulation. You should also probably move the bird away from the other chickens for as long as it takes to heal. This is the best thing that I would do for it since you don't want it to be killed.

There is also an underlying fact that you need to look at. I have been around chickens for over 12 years and it seems funny to me that the leg would break so easiy by another chicken just picking on it. If the chickens are being fed properly the leg should not break that easily, especially since the chicken is young. If this had happened in an older bird I would say it was more possible. Usually legs break like that when it is caught or a lot of force ia applied. I would suggest evaluating your diet to make sure the chickens are getting the proper diet. Young chicks should be fed a starter chick diet or a grower diet while chickens that are laying eggs should be fed a layer diet. The ayer diet contains more calcium for egg shell production. You can get such diets at a farm feed store.

Answer 3

I think you did all of the right things now all you do is wait and the chick will heal. I had a chick and I did the same thing and the chick turn out just fine.

Answer 4

That infant is in soreness. it gained't live on this as their little heart gained't submit with it. you need to really attempt to locate a vet which will take funds. i does no longer attempt to tape a follow his leg as you may want to get the tape so tight it would decrease off the move and that does no longer be good. those children gained't educate how a lot they are in soreness or ill, no longer till it is too previous due. Please call different vets on your section and word if one among them will take funds. they are this little ones in elementary words desire. Have a backyard sale do some thing yet do not allow this toddler struggle through. really there is a few thing you may do through way of creating somewhat additional funds to pay for a vet. good success pricey

Answer 5

Hey I think your chick is going to be ok, the same thing happended to mine except a fox got it and it lived but will probably always have trouble with the broken leg, mine healed by itself and now just kinda limps around, he used to hop on one leg but now is using the broken one but has a limp and this will probably apply to your chick too but hey if its alive your happy you know? good luck if you want to email me I know a lot about chickens and heres my address, [e-mail]. thanks

js

Answer 6

YOU have done exactly what I would do...
and let Mother Nature take over...I even fixed a compound fracture once with a tongue depressor....but he should be by himself...mostly so you can watch him...but if he is eating and drinking OK he'll be fine...
I have seen alot of babies survive..and be normal...it might still be swollen, that's why he's hopping...Good luck, and email me if you have any questions..